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THE MODERN OLYMPICS (1896 ONWARDS) The purpose of the Modern Olympic Games was “to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practised without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play”. Baron Pierre de Coubertin
Background information: Revivalist Games – Robert Dover’s “Olympick Games” Signs of interest in the Ancient Games came in the early 17th Century Britain. The country was enjoying a growing interest in classical Greek and Roman studies. Robert Dover, an Englishman from Norfolk, was one of the leaders of this movement. He decided to revive the idea of the Ancient Olympic Games and every Whitsun from 1612; he encouraged people to take part in his own “Olympick Games”. These Games were held in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. People of all classes took part in the events on Dover’s Hill. The events consisted of running, horse riding, jumping, wrestling, fencing, hunting, coursing and throwing. In addition to the sporting events there was a cultural festival, including games such as chess, dancing, poetry and music. Local authorities prevented the games from continuing in 1852 due to rowdiness and dangerous activities. However in 1980 they were revived by local people and today are celebrated in June of each year.
The Wenlock Games – Britain’s Olympic Contribution The revival of the Olympic tradition was the brain-child of the French nobleman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. One of the major influencing factors on Coubertin’s thinking was the work of a Shropshire doctor, William Penny Brookes. In 1850, Brookes started the Wenlock Games. He had a keen interest in the values of antiquity and felt that a healthy body was as important as a healthy mind. The games were held annually at Linden Fields, Much Wenlock and consisted of traditional English rural sports. Coubertin travelled extensively during the 1880’s and 1890’s researching for a programme to reform French education. He believed that the French were physically degenerating and wanted to revitalise the youth of the nation through physical activity. It was during these travels that he was invited by Brookes to the Wenlock Games. Coubertin’s enthusiasm and appreciation of the games were evident by his statement: “Much Wenlock is a town in Shropshire, a county on the boarder of Wales and if the Olympic Games that modern Greece has not been able to revive still survive today, it is due not to a Greek but to Dr. W.P Brookes. It is he who inaugurated them 40years ago, and it is still he, now 82 years old but still alert and vigorous, who continues to organise and inspire them”. Much of Coubertin’s influence came from his visits to British public schools. In 1894 Coubertin held an international conference in Paris to discuss the idea of a modern Olympic Games. Twelve countries attended and 21 others sent a letter supporting the idea. At the conference on 23rd June 1894, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was formed. It was agreed that there would be an international sports competition held every four years – the Olympic Games. Coubertin believed that international competitions between amateur athletes would help promote friendly relationships between people from different countries. “Why did I restore the Olympic Games?” “To ennoble and strengthen sports, to ensure their independence and duration, and thus to enable them better to fulfil the educational roll incumbent upon them in the modern world. For the glorification of the individual athlete, whose muscular activity is necessary for the community, and whose prowess is necessary for the maintenance of the general spirit of competition” (1894) Pierre de Coubertin. The IOC was entrusted with the development and control of the Games. On 5th April 1896, the first Olympic Games of the modern era were officially opened by King George I of Greece, in Athens. The Olympic Games are known as the Games of the Olympiad. An Olympiad is a period of four successive years. The Olympic Games cannot, under any circumstances be postponed to another year. The Olympic Winter Games began in 1924 and have been held every four years since.
Find out about the Olympic rings, flame and torch history by clicking the globe.
Were the competitor’s amateurs or professionals? When the modern Olympics began the concept of amateurism and professionalism became a big issue. Very little is known only that it was related to your social class. If you were classed as a gentleman then you were from the middle to upper class system. This meant that you had plenty of time to participate in sport and therefore did not need to be paid. You would be referred to as a professional. Amateurs were the lower class people who had to be paid to play sport usually after a hard day at work. They played against other amateurs for money i.e. boxing. Nowadays the thoughts of amateurism and professionalism are very different. A professional is one who receives money for competing in sports and an amateur is a person who participates for the love of their sport. Baron Pierre de Coubertin was born into an aristocratic family and so the ‘Games for the world’ concept was constrained by his values. De Coubertin was known to have open views on the issue of class and sport. It was some time before Coubertin’s dream truly embraced all classes, colours and creeds. The IOC stated that sports performers should not make a living or any profit from sport. The Games were increased in the Olympic Ideal – the important thing was to take part, not to win. Avery Brundage who was President of the IOC from 1952-1972 was a supporter of the amateur principle for which the Games stood. He was also against rising commercialisation and political pressures on sport and the Olympics. He displayed this by stating “If participation in sport is to be stopped every time politicians violate the laws of humanity there will be few international contests”. (Brundage 1954) The following year, when questioned on his view of professional sportsmen, he replied, “As soon as you take money for playing sport, it isn’t sport its work”.(Brundage, 1955) Brundage convinced both the USA and the rest of the world that the 1936 Games in Berlin should go ahead despite the views of many of Hitler’s opponents. To find out more about Avery Brundage click of the globe.
Lord Killian – Mr Michael Morris, President of the IOC from 1972 to 1980. Lord Killian was criticised by many as being weak and lacking the grit and fire of Brundage. However his quiet manner told the Russians that if they walked out of the 1976 Games then their own hosting of the event in 1980 would be in serious jeopardy. The rise and reforms of Samaranch Antonio Samaranch – President of the IOC from 1980-2002 Since 1980 Samaranch has contended with boycotts, the rise in professionalism and the accusations of miss-conduct amongst the organisations president. More positively he has seen the return of South Africa to the Olympics after many years of isolation due to its policy of apartheid. Samaranch also experienced the rise in performance and the needs of the media which led to the athletes having to train all year round and so require money from sport. In the 1980’s the Olympics became more open and the rules were altered so that both amateurs and professionals could take part. The latter will soon dominate as more and more sports become professional.
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