In tribute to Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894.
The History of the Olympic Arts
told by their founder, Marc Verrière
The Olympic Arts, or Olymp’Arts, are an olympiad devoted to art, separate from the sporting Olympic Games. Marc Verrière founded them: on 10 and 11 July 1995, their first Charter was signed at UNESCO by cultural figures from 65 countries. Their first modern competition will take place in 2027, at a venue yet to be revealed.
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Five dates, five stars
Each date bears the colour of a star from the Olymp’Arts symbol: six stars, one for each continent, forming a pyramid that rises towards the sky. Discover the meaning of the six stars
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566 BCThe ancient arts olympiad
The Athenian festival where poetry and music joined sport: for Marc Verrière, the first arts olympiad.
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1912Sport and art, an abandoned experiment
From 1912 to 1948, the Olympic Games also awarded medals for art.
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1995The Charter signed at UNESCO
The first Charter, Nelson Paillou’s letter and press coverage around the world.
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2025The Charter turns 30
Athens and UNESCO: the milestones of thirty years.
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2027The first modern arts olympiad
The first modern competition: venue and dates yet to be revealed.
The road to 2027
The cycle leading to the 2027 olympiad opened in Athens in 2023, with the premiere of this film.
Take part in the 2027 olympiad on olymp-arts.world (external site, opens in a new tab)
The founder
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A music producer, Marc Verrière founded the World Philharmonic Orchestra in 1984. In 1992, he conceived the Olympic Arts, which he has championed for more than thirty years.