Coubertin’s humanism facing post-humanism – implications for the future of the Olympic Games

Abstract

The idea of human perfection and progress, expressed by the Olympic motto swifter, higher, stronger, one of the core concepts of Coubertin’s humanism, will probably foster all kinds of performance enhancement and sooner or later engender post-human athletes. The ideal of harmonious education that had a moderating effect on the ambition of permanent progress was more or less abandoned when the IOC had definitely to choose between what Coubertin called the market and the temple. Since then, the moral discourse on doping has replaced the discourse on amateurism/professionalism. But the quixotic anti-doping fight will perhaps end like the combat against professionalism as the doping issue seems to be an aporia. The rapid progress and convergence of the so-called NBIC technologies and sciences (nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science) will help to create numerous and powerful tools and methods that will allow enhancing human (sport-) performances and probably even transform human evolution. Sooner or later, the IOC will face the problem of athletes who could be characterized as cyborgs or post-humans in the sport arenas. To prepare this future, the IOC needs visions for the mid and long term to lead the Olympic movement in a proactive manner.