IOC approves adding "together" into Olympic motto

Members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) attend the 138th IOC Session in Tokyo, Japan, on July 20, 2021. The move of adding "together" into the Olympic motto of "faster, higher, stronger" was unanimously approved at the 138th IOC session here on Tuesday. (IOC/Handout via Xinhua)

TOKYO, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved adding "together" into the Olympic motto.

The new Olympic motto now reads "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together" after it was unanimously approved at the 138th IOC session here on Tuesday.

The change in the Olympic motto recognizes the unifying power of sport and the importance of solidarity.

The addition of "together" was proposed by Thomas Bach after his re-election as the IOC president during the virtual 137th IOC Session in March, and the recommendation was approved by the IOC Executive Board in April.

"Solidarity fuels our mission to make the world a better place through sport. We can only go faster, we can only aim higher, we can only become stronger by standing together - in solidarity," said Bach.

The Olympic motto was adopted with the launch of the Olympic Movement in 1894, as its founder Pierre de Coubertin wanted a slogan that expressed excellence in sport.

The IOC said the update also addresses its goal to use sport to encourage global solidarity around the values of sport.

"We want to put a strong focus on solidarity. That's what the word 'together' means - solidarity," Bach commented.