Author George Hirthler honored by IOC With DeCoubertin prize

The author of the bid book for Atlanta’s successful bid for the 1996 Olympics is the latest recipient of the Pierre de Coubertin Medal.

“It was one of the greatest moments in my life, including the birth of my children and Atlanta winning the 1996 bid,” George Hirthler said in Lausanne, Switzerland following a ceremony last week at International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters.

The medal has been presented 41 times since 1997. It is meant to salute corporate leaders, educators, cultural figures and others who support the Olympic Movement.

Hirthler and business partner Brad Copeland were commissioned in 1989 to prepare the bid book Atlanta would present to the IOC. As part of his research, Hirthler became familiar with the life of Olympics founder Pierre de Coubertin, turning Hirthler into a devotee of the baron. Hirthler helped erect a sculpture to the French sports leader that stands in Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta. In 2016 he published The Idealist, a historical novel about de Coubertin which IOC President Thomas Bach mentioned in remarks at the ceremony.

“George Hirthler has put his creative skills at the service of the Olympic Movement for more than 30 years, and never more so than in ‘The Idealist,’ his inspiring fictionalized biography of our founder, Pierre de Coubertin. Even in fictional form, ‘The Idealist’ captures faithfully de Coubertin’s humanity and spirit. George’s work brings de Coubertin to life and illustrates his genius, and this medal reflects George’s considerable contributions to our work and to keeping alive our founder’s legacy.”

The medal for Hirthler was approved in 2020 by the IOC Executive Board but could not be presented due to pandemic travel restrictions.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Spencer Eccles, a key leader in the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Games are the only other U.S. recipients of the prize, a gilded medal that’s weighs nearly a kilogram.

Hirthler also created the website Coubertin speaks https://www.coubertinspeaks.com/, which presents a daily quote from the writings of the Olympic founder. Hirthler says his words and philosophy may come from another century but they apply to life today.

“These times are marked by the great divisions. There are divisions that are as great as have ever been. Not just class divisions, economic divisions, social divisions, political, religious, ethnic. Not just those divisions, but divisions of hatred and animosity between people. What other counterpoint to that division, what other positive force for unity is there in the world than the Olympic Movement?,” Hirthler asks.

“Pierre de Coubertin took me deeper into the Olympic past. He not only took me to founding of the Olympics in 1894, but he constantly takes you back to ancient Greece and the meaning of the Games.

“When I discovered the Olympic Games were more than a sporting event, but something to unite the world through friendship and sport, that’s Coubertin’s vision, to bring us together and overcome our divisions, I realized I had to make an act of faith in the future to support the Olympic Movement,” says Hirthler.

In his work across three decades, Hirthler has worked on numerous Olympic bids in addition to his research on Coubertin. Hirthler says discussions are ongoing for a screen adaptation of The Idealist.