Olympic historian David Miller has been awarded the prestigious Pierre de Coubertin medal for his outstanding contribution to the Olympic Movement.
Miller attended his first Olympic Games at Tokyo 1964, marking the beginning of an illustrious career as a journalist and author in which he became chief sports correspondent of the Daily Express, and subsequently The Times. Across over six decades as a writer, Miller has covered a total of 25 Olympic Games, both Summer and Winter, and authored several books on the Olympic movement with his latest published just last year.
Named after the founder of the modern Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Pierre de Coubertin medal was created in 1997 as a means of paying tribute to those who help to promote Olympism through teaching, research, writing or art. Miller was presented with the medal by IOC member Sir Craig Reedie on behalf of IOC president Thomas Bach.
'Reading a personal citation from Bach to Miller, Reedie said: “Few people can claim to have been to 25 editions of the Olympic Games. Even fewer can say they have written extensively about the historical context and significance of each one. In this illustrious and very exclusive group, David Miller has a special place. David can be considered not only one of the most prolific sports writers over the past decades, but also one of the foremost experts on the Olympic Movement.
“David, today we have come together to celebrate your passion for sport, your passion for writing, your passion for Olympic history, and your passion for the ideas of Pierre de Coubertin. Today we are celebrating your Olympic life.”