“Furthermore, the Olympic idea comprehends something, yes much, quite aside from contests of foremost experts in sport and play. For the Antwerp Olympiad arrangements included lectures, preliminary in the not too distant future to contests in belles lettres and the fine arts. Such competition is already in evidence as actually existent though still inchoate. In particular, however, and poignantly the Olympic idea as represented by its carriers proposes ‘all sports for all’ in the literal sense of the words. The Committee hopes that the day is not far distant when through its moral influence, orient as well as occident may be nationally organized for competition and that the benefits of ‘play for country’ as well as for self may by such organizations be alluringly offered to youths and adults of both sexes in every walk of life. To this end its plans are already laid, and already great portions of the globe hitherto inert athletically are girding themselves for Olympic organization. The field therefore of the Olympic idea is not merely sportive and social, it is educational and sociological as well. The intercourse of athletes and their friends makes for reciprocal goodwill and international peace; but in its largest aspect the idea makes for the general uplift and personal purity of untold millions....” [Illustration: FIG. 60.—The Stockholm Stadium (1912).] [Illustration: FIG. 61.—Stockholm, 1912: The Swedish Gymnasts Marching into the Stadium.] [Illustration: FIG. 62.—Stockholm, 1912: Swedish Women on the Long Horizontal Bar (_Bom_).] [Illustration: FIG. 63.—Stockholm, 1912: The Danish Gymnasts.] [Illustration: FIG. 64.—Stockholm, 1912: The Finnish Gymnasts.] [Illustration: FIG. 65.—Stockholm, 1912: Finnish Women on the Ladders.] The first international congress for the promotion of physical education was held at Paris, June 8-15, 1889, in connection with the Universal Exposition. Its organizer and general secretary was Pierre de Coubertin, and the presiding officer was Jules Simon. At the same time came the fifteenth annual fête (_Turnfest_) of the _Union des Sociétés de gymnastique de France_, attended also by representatives from gymnastic societies in Belgium, Holland, the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, the three Scandinavian countries, Bohemia, and Switzerland. The Scandinavians did not take part in competition, but the delegations from each of the three countries went through their exercises separately in front of the tribune. In addition the group of Stockholm gymnasts, under the direction of Captain Viktor Balck of the Central Institute, appeared before the international congress on the 14th, at the Nouveau Cirque, rue St. Honore, in another exhibition of the Swedish system. A second _Congrès international de l’Éducation physique_ met in Paris August 30-September 6, 1900, during the progress of the _Exposition universelle_ of that year, with M. Georges Demeny (1850-1917) as general secretary.[183]