Ancient Olympia is located in a gently swinging bucolic countryside decorated with pine trees
hills and grazing grounds for sheep and goats friendly dogs and shepherds. Flowers blossom
everywhere. Through the idyllic landscape flows the scenic river Alpheios born in the mountains
of Arcadia and winding along the long and greening valley. Eventually it passes by next to
many coarse and giant grey stone discs and huge columns ruins of temples dedicated to the
highest Greek gods as Zeus and Hera. It is the Holy Sanctuary of the land of the Greeks of old
the Altis at Olympia below the foot of Kronos Hill. Here almost three millenia ago was the
Center of the ancient Greek culture of Olympic gods and Great Games. Arcadia was considered the
origin and Golden Age of elegiac literature Olympia of top-level agons at the stadium. And of
public encounters of political religious and military leaders as well as agons of rhetoricians
historians and philosophers. This is even nowadays a place of ever again coming back to:
Rolling home to Old Olympia. Even modern Olympians are lured into the magical entourage and
scenery. Including the author of this booklet. Sixty years ago he taught here as a first
Olympic docent at the Olympic Summer Academy organized by the Hellenic and the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) after having written the first socio-philosophical book on Values
Aims Reality of the Modern Olympic Games (1964) summarized in English. Later he wrote S.O.S.
- Save Olympic Spirit (2012). Now he was invited to come back to present the opening lecture
of the International Philosophy Olympiad (IPO) which was for the first time held in Ancient
Olympia. Enthused he came flying rolling home to Old Olympia - as a former Olympic Champion
in rowing - metaphorically: Rowing home to Old Olympia. Not only does he here present this
keynote address but vividly he offers his Olympic experiences and other quite funny but real
Olympic stories - even his climb on Mt. Olympus. The Philosophy Department of the University of
Patras organized this year's IPO which was cosponsored by the International Olympic Academy
(IOA). The IPO meeting is the final essay contest for high-school students who had to qualify
in their previous national pretests in 50 nations (two for each land). 250 young philosophy
enthusiasts took part. The over-all topic was Life in Fair Competition. The young students had
a wonderful time together enjoying the acquaintance and blossoming international friendships.
This is in full agreement and accordance with the values and ideas of the Olympic movement as
fostered by the IOC and IOA. Quite in the same mood like the mentioned Olympic Summer Academies
for sport students teachers and officials - as well as the values of the Olympic Games and
their rather new Olympic Youth Games. A hopeful value congruence of international solidarity
and fostering friendship between young representatives all over the world. Only with such
values embraced by the young generations we can hope for a better world. Therefore it is
really imperative to go international and come back rolling home to Olympia - in sport and
philosophy as well.
