The Olympic Games are more than a global sporting event. They are a living tradition rooted in education, culture, and shared human values. From their origins in Ancient Greece to today’s international movement promoting peace and collaboration, the Olympics have long been a powerful tool cultivating both mind and body.
The legacy of the Olympics and the continuation of the games into the modern era give educators a unique opportunity to bring timeless Olympic ideals into today’s classrooms.
This article offers readers a brief, classroom-friendly overview and free resource on the history of the Olympic Games and an overview of an exciting partnership between Hudson Global Scholars and International Olympic Academy that allows students to explore Olympic history, values, and global citizenship in immersive, meaningful, and inspiring ways at the International Olympic Academy Student Leadership Conference.
The Olympic Games began in 776 BC in Ancient Olympia, Greece, as part of a religious festival dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. These games were not simply athletic contests; they were deeply embedded in Greek religion, mythology, and civic life. The Games were held every four years, a period known as an Olympiad, a system still used today to mark Olympic time.
In Ancient Greece, youth education emphasized the cultivation of both the body and the mind. Athletic training existed alongside academic and philosophical study. Over time, however, the emergence of the “Olympic athlete” placed increasing emphasis on physical excellence, as victory brought honor not only to the athlete but to their city-state as well.
Unlike modern games that include many sports, Ancient Olympic events included:
Victors were crowned with olive branches, symbolizing honor, excellence, and virtue rather than material reward.
One of the most enduring Olympic traditions was the “Olympic Truce,” which ensured safe travel and a temporary cessation of conflict so athletes and spectators could journey to Olympia in peace. This ideal—sport as a bridge between people—remains central to the Olympic mission today.
The ancient Games continued for nearly 1,000 years, until they were abolished in AD 393 during the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
The modern Olympic Games were revived in 1894, inspired by ancient traditions but shaped by modern educational ideals. At the Sorbonne University in Paris, Baron Pierre de Coubertin envisioned the Olympics as a vehicle for promoting peace, solidarity, and international understanding through sport and education.
The first modern Games initially allowed only men, but by 1900 in Paris, women competed for the first time. That year included 997 athletes, 22 of whom were women competing in five sports: a small but meaningful step toward inclusion.
The Olympic Movement is rich in symbolism that educators can use as teaching tools:
At its core, the modern Olympic Movement promotes the idea that education—alongside sport—is essential to forming values for life.
Founded in 1961, the International Olympic Academy (IOA) operates under Greek law in support of the International Olympic Committee and the global Olympic Movement. For more than 65 years, the IOA has served as the primary organization for disseminating Olympic values worldwide.
The Academy emphasizes:
With 156 National Olympic Academies (NOAs) around the world, the IOA plays a central role in helping individuals become ambassadors and multipliers of Olympism in their own countries.
Its work spans academic study, cultural exploration, and athletic engagement grounded in humanistic values such as respect, cooperation, and dignity.
Hudson Global Scholars is proud to partner with the International Olympic Academy to bring these principles directly to students and educators worldwide.
Through a student conference and teacher training resources, this collaboration connects:
Led and informed by experts in Olympism education, students and educators are invited to explore not only what the Olympics are, but what they stand for.
For students ready to move beyond the classroom, the Hudson Global Scholars × International Olympic Academy Student Leadership Conference brings youth together from around the world. Students participate in hands-on workshops, challenges, and interactive leadership sessions led by expert educators. This experience offers an unforgettable opportunity to engage directly with Olympism in a historical international setting.
Through this experience, students:
As a unique experience for Hudson Global Scholars partners, students become global citizens who understand the Olympics not just as a competition but as a way of life grounded in education, culture, and respect for humanity.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be held in Italy. As the games unfold, it is an ideal time to bring the values and sportsmanship into the classroom through discussion, reflection, and activities, but also in the classroom culture of learning and collaboration.
To help educators bring this learning into their classrooms, we have created a printable Olympism Mini Magazine designed for upper elementary and middle-grade students.
Give students a hands-on way to explore Olympic history and values while building critical thinking and global awareness in your classroom.
From the sacred grounds of Ancient Olympia to modern global classrooms, the Olympic Movement continues to remind us that education, culture, and sport are deeply connected. Through intentional teaching and meaningful experiences, educators can help students see the Olympics as an enduring model for cooperation, excellence, and peace.
With the partnership of the International Olympic Academy and Hudson Global Scholars, those lessons are more accessible than ever.