The Olympic Oath, which was first sworn by Belgian fencer Victor Boin at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, is a legacy that has been continuing since the ancient Olympic Games. Unlike the ancient times, when athletes would take the oath on the entrails of a sacrificial animal, oath in modenr Olympics is taken holding the Olympic flag.
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As a part of the protocol of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, an athlete from the host country takes the oath on behalf of all the athletes participating in the event.
Who has written Olympic Oath?
The modern Olympic oath was written by Pierre de Coubertin. It has been modified over time to reflect the changing nature of sports competition. The original oath used to read: "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."
What is the Current Olympic Oath?
The current Oath, which was introduced in December 1999, includes a clause on refraining from doping. It reads: "In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams."
It was was sworn for the first time at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
Olympic Creed
A judge from the host nation recites the Olympic creed during the Opening Ceremony:
"The most important thing in the Olympic games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well."
| OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SWORN THE OLYMPIC OATH | |||
| Venue | Year | Name | Events |
| Munich | 1972 | Heinz Pollay | Equestrian |
| Montreal | 1976 | Maurice Forget | Athletics |
| Moscow | 1980 | Aleksandr Medved | Wrestling |
| Los Angeles | 1984 | Sharon Weber | Gymnastics |
| Seoul | 1988 | Lee Hak Rae | Judo |
| Barcelona | 1992 | Eugeni Asencio | Water polo |
| Atlanta | 1996 | Hobie Billingsly | Diving |
| Sydney | 2000 | Peter Kerr | Water polo |
| Athens | 2004 | Lazaros Voreadis | Basketball |
| Beijing | 2008 | Huang Liping | Artistic Gymnastics |
| London | 2012 | Sarah Stevenson | Taekwondo |
Last updated on April 26, 2016
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