Olympics

Ancient Greece Greeks were very competitive and very health conscious Palaestra- work out area in each polis. Only men were allowed. Also a place to discuss issues of the day.

First reference to competitive games- Homer’s Iliad First reference to competitive games – Homer’s Iliad

First games held in 776B.C.E. – only events were foot races >Citius, altius, fortius – swifter, higher, stronger (Olympic motto) >Quadrennial – every 4 years or a period of 4 years >Held at Olympia in honor of Zeus >Winners received – a wreath at the games, prestige and rewards when back home >”Arete” – striving for your best

394 A.D. Roman Emperor Theodosius bans the games, considering them pagan (non-Christian) spectacles *The games won’t be held again for 1,500 years!

Modern Olympics First held in Athens (1896) Role: peaceful international athletic competition, national pride, and cultural interchange

Some significant Olympic moments: Jesse Owens at 1936 Berlin Summer games – black American who wins 4 golds in the face of Hitler’s “master race” philosophy

Bob Beamon at 1968 Summer games – sets amazing long jump record * Black Power Demonstration at 1968 Mexico City Summer games – protesting race discrimination and poverty in the U.S.

Munich 1972 Men’s Basketball – controversial loss to Soviets in gold medal game Israeli Athletes killed – by Palestinian terrorists

~Moscow 1980 > American Boycott due to Soviet invasion of Afghanistan ~LA 1984 »Soviet Boycott of us! 1980 Lake Placid’s “Miracle on Ice” – U.S Amateurs beat heavily favored Soviet “Red Army” team

Barcelona 1992 “The Dream Team” – first time professional players were used by U.S.

Atlanta 1996 ~Atlanta vs Athens – Athens badly wanted centennial games of the modern Olympics but Atlanta gets them instead * Bombing of Olympic Park by Eric Rudolph who was politically opposed to abortion, homosexuality, and socialism. He later bombs 2 abortion clinics and a gay nightclub and is currently serving multiple life sentences in the Super Max prison in Colorado