The revival of the modern Olympic Games in 19th Century Greece and the nature, content and dynamics underpinning the advancement of Olympic Education in numerous countries were presented by two Greek participants at the acclaimed Beijing Forum held recently at Peking University (November 7-9). Approved by China’s State Council and under the auspices of the Beijing Municipal Government, Beijing Forum ---initiated in 2004--- is an international forum co-sponsored, amongst others, by Peking University.

Beijing Forum 2008, the fifth annual conference has as its core academic idea for further debate and reflection the motto “The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All – The Universal Value and the Development Trend of Civilization”.  

The Ionio University Professor of History Eleni Angelomatis-Tsougarakis presented the less well known social and economic context of the efforts of the revival of the Games in modern Greece in early 19th Century. Her paper highlighted the various efforts, amongst others, the unsuccessful efforts of reclaiming and reconstituting the ancient Games in the Ionian Islands and the Peloponnesus peninsula.

On another panel, the Associate Professor of the University of Peloponnesus and Dean of the International Olympic Academy Constantine Georgiadis presented the results of a recent survey on the content and dynamics of Olympic Education in more than 70 countries and regions. Professor Georgiadis emphasized the importance of governmental institutions and funding and the significance of the training of the teachers involved in the teaching of the history of the Olympics and the Olympic