"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and the respect for universal, fundamental, ethical principles."
A great source of information on the history of the Olympics courtesy of the web site of Great Britain's Olympic Team Official Training Site for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics.