30 Years Since Baden-Baden

(ATR)Wednesday marks 30 years since the influential 11th Olympic Congress convened in Baden-Baden, Germany.

In September of 1981, roughly 500 delegates assembled in the southwestern spa town amidst political turmoil as well as challenges inherent within the Olympic climate of the times.

Despite the enormous difficulties posed – many provoked by the 1980 Moscow boycott and uncertainty surrounding the 1984 Los Angeles Games – the Congress would manifest itself in a positive light, one that has continued to shape and define today’s Olympic Movement.

On Wednesday, German Olympic Sports Confederation President Thomas Bach addressed approximately 300 guests at the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden in a celebration ceremony paying tribute to the historic congress.

"Baden-Baden 1981 is a milestone in the Olympic history, the long-term effect of which is still bearing fruit to this very day," said Bach, who served as chairman of the German Athletes Commission at the 1981 gathering.

"A new, modern Olympic self-confidence in keeping with the times has emerged," Bach added.

"And despite all the challenges posed by the spirit of the times, this has given our most valuable asset, the Olympic Games, a new lease of life."

Presiding over Wednesday’s festivities was former German speed skater and 1994 Olympic medalist Franziska Schenk.

IOC President Jacques Rogge delivered the keynote speech to a crowd that also included Prince Albert II of Monaco, Hungarian president Pál Schmitt, London 2012 chairman Sebastian Coea and IOC Athletes’ Commission chair Frank Fredericks.

"In many ways, those five days in Baden-Baden ushered in the Olympic Movement’s modern era," Rogge said.

"The 1981 Congress marked the start of a revolution – the Samaranch Revolution.

"Juan Antonio Samaranch had been elected IOC President at the 1980 Moscow Games," the IOC president explained, "so Baden-Baden was his first real opportunity to exert his leadership."

New Ideals and Principles

Less stringent guidelines for Olympic eligibility, proposals for the abolishment of amateurism, a new strategic marketing program and the foundations for tougher sanctions against doping were all realized at the groundbreaking conference in Baden-Baden.

Other milestone outcomes included the separation of the Summer and Winter Games, a stronger Olympic solidarity program, a commitment to equality and non-discriminationin sport, closer ties to the United Nations and a more unified Olympic Movement.

Rogge, who did not attend the 1981 Congress due to a scheduling conflict with the sailing world championships, also emphasized the broader significance of the 13 Olympic Congresses to date.

"The first, in June 1894, in Paris, created the Olympic Movement and the International Olympic Committee," he said.

"Every succeeding Congress, about once a decade on average, has refreshed and renewed our organization."

Voice of the Athletes

For the first time in IOC history, the concerns of athletes were a focal point at the Baden-Baden Congress.

This important change in philosophy championed by Samaranch paved the way for the creation of the first IOC Athletes’ Commission.

Peter Tallberg of Finland, a five-time Olympian in sailing as well as the first chairman of the IOC Athletes’ Commission, spoke at length Wednesday about this significant development of 1981.

In an IOC first, Samaranch invited 38 active medal-winning athletes, eight of whom were women, to attend the Congress in Baden-Baden.

"They understood the importance of this role and immediately realized that this was the moment for them to show what an important new and vital partner of the Congress they formed," said Tallberg.

"The newspapers applauded the President’s visionary decision to include the athletes within the Olympic family as full members."

The Athletes’ Commission, an integral player in IOC proceedings and decisions ever since, celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2007.

Secret Nicknames

A panel discussion also hosted by Schenk capped off Wednesday’s festivities in Baden-Baden.

Participants included Bach, Coe, Schmitt, Fredericks, Prince Albert, two-time Olympic distance running champion Kip Keino of Kenya and five-time Olympic champion gymnast Nadia Comaneci.

During the panel, Bach and Coe revealed the secret nicknames they’ve been calling each other ever since the Congress of 1981. Coe explained that "The Professor" is ideal for Bach because of his ingenious ideas and political thought, while "Shakespeare" is suitable for himself given his proficiency to translate Bach’s concepts into more eloquent English.

The celebration ceremony appropriately came to a close with a rendition of Leonard Bernstein’s "The Hymn for the Olympic Congress 1981 in Baden-Baden".

Written by Brian Pinelli.