International Society of Olympic Historians

The International Society of Olympic Historians (ISOH) is an international nonprofit organization devoted to the study and preservation of Olympic history. It was established in London in December 1991 after several years of correspondence among people working on Olympic research, statistics, collecting, journalism, and historical scholarship. The society was created to provide a structured community for people interested in the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games, while also improving the quality and availability of historical information about them. ISOH's work centers on research, the collection and verification of historical and statistical data, and the publication and exchange of findings among members. Its subject matter extends across the modern Olympic Games, the broader Olympic Movement, athletes and results, host cities, ceremonies, institutions, memorabilia, and the historical context surrounding Olympic competition. The organization serves both academic researchers and specialist enthusiasts, including sports historians, archivists, collectors, journalists, authors, and statisticians. A principal ISOH offering is the Journal of Olympic History, published three times a year. The journal was formerly known as Citius, Altius, Fortius and provides a dedicated outlet for historical research, documentary analysis, statistical studies, reviews, and other scholarship concerning the Olympics. Through the journal and its website, the society helps circulate research that might otherwise remain dispersed among specialist archives, national Olympic collections, university projects, and privately conducted investigations. The society's membership has included influential Olympic writers, researchers, collectors, professors, and statisticians. Many books and reference works on the Olympic Games have been produced by ISOH members, reflecting the organization's role as a network for specialist knowledge rather than as a commercial sports or media company. Notable associated members include Olympic memorabilia collector Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, university professor and International Center for Olympic Studies founder Bob Barney, and Olympian and academic Bruce Kidd. ISOH has been led by a succession of figures active in Olympic historical research. Ian Buchanan was its first president, followed by Bill Mallon in 2000. German sports historian and academic Karl Lennartz served from 2004 to 2012, writer and broadcaster David Wallechinsky led the organization from 2012 to 2020, and archaeologist and sports historian Christian Wacker became president thereafter. The leadership changes reflect the society's combination of historical scholarship, statistical expertise, publishing, broadcasting, and museum or archival interests. ISOH is best understood as a specialist knowledge and publishing organization rather than a conventional consumer brand. Its reputation rests on the credibility of its members, the preservation of Olympic records, and the availability of research through its journal and related publications. The society has an international scope even though its founding meeting took place in the United Kingdom, with early participants and later leaders drawn from countries including the United States, Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, and elsewhere. Its current public-facing activities are represented by its official website, journal, membership network, and Olympic-history resources.

The International Society of Olympic Historians was formed in London in December 1991. Its creation followed years of correspondence, particularly between American Olympic researcher Bill Mallon and Swedish historian Ture Widlund, about the need for a dedicated organization devoted to Olympic history. On 5 December 1991, potential members gathered at the Duke of Clarence pub in Kensington. Those recorded as attending included Ian Buchanan, Stan Greenberg, Ove Karlsson, Bill Mallon, Peter Matthews, David Wallechinsky, and Ture Widlund. A number of other specialists were invited but sent their regrets, including Anthony Bijkerk, Peter Diamond, Pim Huurman, Erich Kamper, Volker Kluge, John Lucas, and Wolf Lyberg. The new society was intended to promote and study the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games. Its practical methods included historical research, the compilation and preservation of Olympic historical and statistical information, publication of research, and cooperation among members. This mission positioned ISOH between a scholarly society, a specialist reference community, and a publishing organization. Rather than organizing athletic events or representing a national Olympic committee, it focused on the documentation and interpretation of Olympic history. Ian Buchanan served as the first president. Bill Mallon succeeded him in 2000, bringing to the presidency the perspective of a prominent Olympic researcher and statistical authority. In 2004, German sports historian and academic Karl Lennartz became president and remained in the role until 2012. He was followed by David Wallechinsky, an American writer and broadcaster who led the society from 2012 through 2020. Since 2020, the presidency has been held by Christian Wacker, a German archaeologist and sports historian. Publishing has been central to ISOH's identity. The society produces the Journal of Olympic History, which appears three times each year and was previously titled Citius, Altius, Fortius. The journal provides a recurring forum for research on Olympic events, institutions, athletes, results, host cities, artifacts, and historical sources. It also gives the society a durable means of sharing specialist work beyond meetings or private correspondence. The ISOH website supports the journal and provides information about the organization and its activities. The society's influence is also reflected in the work of its members. According to the organization's public descriptions, a substantial proportion of recent books about the Olympic Games have been written by ISOH members. Its network has included collectors such as Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, academics such as Bob Barney, and Olympians and university professors such as Bruce Kidd. This range illustrates the society's broad conception of Olympic history, encompassing material culture, institutional history, statistical research, athlete experience, and public scholarship. ISOH operates internationally despite being founded in the United Kingdom. Its founding participants represented several countries, and its later leadership and membership have included specialists from Europe, North America, and other Olympic communities. Its principal outputs are intellectual and documentary rather than commercial: a membership network, research, historical and statistical resources, the Journal of Olympic History, and related publications or recognition activities. The society remains an active specialist organization whose public identity is tied to the preservation, verification, and communication of Olympic historical knowledge.

• 2020

  Christian Wacker becomes president

  [1]International Society of Olympic Historiansen.wikipedia.org

  Archaeologist and sports historian Christian Wacker assumed the presidency.

• 2012

  David Wallechinsky becomes president

  [1]International Society of Olympic Historiansen.wikipedia.org

  Writer and broadcaster David Wallechinsky succeeded Karl Lennartz.

• 2004

  Karl Lennartz becomes president

  [1]International Society of Olympic Historiansen.wikipedia.org

  Sports historian and academic Karl Lennartz began his term as president.

• 2000

  First presidential succession

  [1]International Society of Olympic Historiansen.wikipedia.org

  Bill Mallon succeeded Ian Buchanan as president.

• 1991

  Founding meeting in London

  [1]International Society of Olympic Historiansen.wikipedia.org

  Prospective members met in Kensington, London, on 5 December 1991, establishing the International Society of Olympic Historians.

A specialist international authority and membership network for Olympic history, combining research, statistical documentation, historical publishing, and collaboration among scholars, writers, collectors, and enthusiasts.

• Specialist journal

  Journal of Olympic History

  The Journal of Olympic History is ISOH's principal recurring publication. Issued three times per year, it presents research and analysis concerning the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games. Its subject matter includes historical events, athletes, results, institutions, host cities, statistics, documentary sources, and Olympic material culture. The publication was formerly titled Citius, Altius, Fortius and is supported through the society's website.

• Research resources · 1991

  Olympic historical and statistical resources

  ISOH supports the collection, study, and circulation of historical and statistical information about the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games. These resources are produced and exchanged through member research, publications, and the society's broader network rather than through a conventional commercial data-product model.

• 1991

  Create a dedicated society for Olympic historyStrategy

  Background

  Researchers and other Olympic-history specialists had identified a need for a formal international organization focused on the study of the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games.

  Action taken

  The founding participants established ISOH to coordinate research, gather historical and statistical information, publish findings, and promote cooperation among members.

  Aftermath

  The society developed into a specialist international network and publishing organization whose members have contributed substantially to Olympic books and historical reference work.

  Source

• Rename the society's journal as the Journal of Olympic HistoryOther

  Background

  ISOH maintained a recurring publication for specialist Olympic-history research.

  Action taken

  The publication formerly known as Citius, Altius, Fortius became the Journal of Olympic History and continued to appear three times annually.

  Aftermath

  The journal remains the society's principal publishing platform and is supported by the ISOH website.

  Source

1. 1International Society of Olympic Historiansen.wikipedia.org
2. 2International Society of Olympic Historians official websiteisoh.org
3. 3ISOH Awardsisoh.org