Olympic and paralympic games (presentation) ppt

JSIS A 239/CLAS 239 GREECE: ANCIENT TO MODERN

Context for establishment of first modern Olympics 6-15 April 1896: first modern Olympics. Pierre de Coubertin19th-century nation-states and national self-definitions. Late 19th-century international contests: forums where nations competed for international rank. Lingua franca of Hellenism: shared ideology that framed modern Olympics

Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937)Conceived the idea of reviving Olympic Games. Created International Olympic Committee (IOC)Congress held in Paris on 23 June 1894 chose Athens to stage inaugural modern Olympic Games. Coubertin was inspired by the Olympics organized by Ev. Zappas in 1859, 1870, 1875, and 1888 Zappas was inspired by Al. Soutsos’s poem ‘Dialogue of the Dead’

Pierre de Coubertin

1896 Olympic Games. Panathenaic Stadium was main venue. Crown Prince Constantine, president of the 1896 organising committee after D. Vikelas, opened the Games ‘Olympic Hymn’ music was composed by Spyridon Samaras and lyrics were written by Kostis Palamas14 national teams in 1896 Olympics. Greece won 10 gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals (total 46); second national team after the US team (11 gold medals)

1896 Games Opening Ceremony

Panathenaic Stadium

Christian undertones in 1896 Games. Blend of classical Hellenism and Christian Orthodoxy in 1896 Games. Greek athletes prayed to God and Virgin Mary before participating in the Games. Resurrection of Jesus Christ was seen as resurrection of modern Greek nation

Spyridon Louis (1873-1940)Louis won the marathon; during the last part of the race Prince Constantine and George joined Louis for his last lap. Ancient Athenian Phidippides run from Marathon to Athens to announce to his fellow Athenian citizens Greek victory over Persians in Battle of Marathon in 490 BCELouis was compared to ancient Greek Athenian runner who run the distance from Marathon to Athens. Louis’s father was compared to Diagoras, the ancient Greek father who witnessed victory of both his sons before he died. Louis was a guest of honor in 1936 Olympics held in Berlin; he was received by Adolf Hitler and offered him an olive branch from Olympia as symbol of peace

Spyridon Louis

The 1896 Games from the Greek perspective1893: Greek state bankruptcy. Total cost of 1896 Olympics was 3,730,000 gold drachmas. Greek benefactor George Averoff donated 920,000 drachmas to restoration of Panathenaic Stadium. Despite recent bankruptcy, Greece displayed its modernity and claimed a position in the family of civilized nations

Americans in 1896 Games. American team in 1896 Games consisted of 13 athletes only, yet they won 11 gold medals. American athletes came from Boston Athletic Association, Princeton University et al. Prospect of American athletes travelling to Greece was met with concerns in the US due to living conditions in Greece, fears about safety etc. Aim of American athletes as conveyors of American spirit was to prove to the Old World the strength of the New. Americans joined the Greek celebration over the Greek victory in the marathon

Sports in America (late 19th c.)Up until 1870s sports were a privilege of upper classes. Between 1870s-1880s popular sports developed alongside upper class sports. Athletics would soon become a national mark of distinction in international competitions

America and the Classics. Americans inherited classical tradition (Greek and Roman) from Europeans and applied it to their education, statecraft, literature and arts. First half of 19th century: Greek classical tradition took precedence over Roman19th century: middle class Americans travel to Europe as part of Grand Tour 19th-century American Philhellenism19th century: Americans study classics in Germany

Modern Greece and American investing. Speculative and opportunistic tendencies. Americans viewed Greek antiquities as commodities. Investing plans for development of tourism industry in Greece

Modern Greece seen through classicist lenses Articles appeared in American periodicals on ancient Olympic Games. For American travelers ancient Greek sites were more liteary topoi than geographical realities. Modern Greek landscape was interpreted through knowledge of classical past

The ‘religion’ of Hellenism. Coubertin’s interpretation of Hellenism as ‘religion of humanity’Western travelers to Greece educated in classics constructed Greece as a sacred ground – idealistic interpretation. Travel to Greece was seen as modern ‘pilgrimage’ Sacred undertones were also attributed to 1896 Games‘Missionaries’ of religion of Hellenism would not allow sacred spirit of Games to be polluted by money and professionalization of athletics