The Man Who Brought The Olympics Back To Life

One of the leading creative talents at work in the Olympic Movement today, Hirthler is a seasoned campaign director who has served as lead writer or chief communications strategist for ten international winning bid campaigns, including the winning campaigns of Atlanta 1996 (his start), Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010. THE IDEALIST is an intricate and compelling story of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the visionary who saw the possibilities of uniting the world in friendship and peace through sport—and became the first international entrepreneur of athletic competition. In 1996, the Republic of France awarded Hirthler the title of Chevalier in the Order of Arts and Letters for his work promoting the Olympic Ideal and the legacy of Baron Pierre de Coubertin.  In 2004, Sports Business Journal named Hirthler one of the 20 Most influential People in the Olympic Movement for his work on bids. A graduate of Temple University's School of Theatre and Communications, Hirthler lives in Atlanta with his wife, Carole.