Pope Pius X and the Olympic Games

July 28, 2012: On the eve of the 2012 London Olympics, an Italian historian has recalled the involvement of Pope Pius X in helping to arrange the 1908 Olympics in London.
St. Pius X was an advocate of sports at a time when few people participated in any sort of organized sports, Antonella Stelitano told Vatican Radio on Friday. The author of Pio X e lo Sport said that in the early 20^th century, sports were seen as “only a form of military training or as a pastime for the upper classes.” St. Pius X, who came from humble origins, took a different view, encouraging sports as a means of training young people in important virtues.
"St. Pius X ... was aware of the educational potential of sport" Stelitano said, adding that he saw it as a way "to approach young people, and to bring them together while following certain rules and showing respect for adversaries. ‘I believe’, the author explained, ‘that he understood that it was possible to bring people together simply, without any problems of race, religion or differing political ideas.’

At that time in history many people did not understand the importance of exercise, said Antonella Stelitano. He concluded her interview by recalling an anecdote whereby Pope Pius X told one of his cardinals: "All right, if it is impossible to understand that this can be done, then I myself will do exercise in front of everyone so that they may see that, if the Pope can do it, anyone can do it".