1. SECTION V: A Social and Political History of the Modern Olympic Games
Mechikoff, R.A., A History and Philosophy of Sport and Physical Education, Sixth Edition © 2014, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Pioneers and Progress: 1896 - 1936
Chapter 15

3. Origins of Modern Olympic Games
Originated in Athens in 1896
Evolved into one of the most significant social forces of the 20th century
Purpose:
To produce an international athletic festival
Bring people together
Promote world peace
Educate the youth of the world

4. Modern Games: Athletes
Meet and compete against athletes representing all colors, creeds, and political beliefs
Establish communication and dialogue with fellow athletes
Test themselves against the best athletes in the world

5. Modern Olympic Games Promote ideals of fair play Games promote ideals
Character formation through participation
Games promote ideals
Peace, harmony, cooperation
Transcend political barriers

6. Spirit of Olympism Viable social force
Integral part of the modern Olympic Movement
“Way of life based on the joy of effort and mutual respect” (Coubertin)
Olympic Games are inclusive
Promote peace and understanding throughout world

7. Spirit of Olympism
Games are the world’s premier international sporting event
Significant political and social events
Balancing patriotism with internationalism
Ongoing problem
IOC committed to the spirit of Olympism

8. Architect of the Modern Olympic Games: Dr. William Penny Brookes
Father of British Physical Education
the Wenlock Olympic Class
made ceremony and pageantry an important feature of this event
known as Wenlock Olympian Society
Worked with the Zappas family, J. Gennadius, and Pierre de Coubertin to revive Olympic Games in Greece

9. Architect of the Modern Olympic Games: Baron Pierre de Fredy de Coubertin
Dedicated his life to educational reform:
Focused on improving French pedagogy and revitalize the youth of France
Games were a means to this end
International travels influenced his plan
Athletic competition would be the catalyst
Promoted athletics throughout France and gained control over amateur sport

10. Baron Pierre de Coubertin
Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.

11. Reestablishing the Games
June 23, 1894: Coubertin organized Sorbonne International Congress
International Olympic Committee (IOC) formed during that Summer
Coubertin elected IOC Secretary General; became IOC President after 1896 Games
1924 Olympic Games in Paris were Coubertin’s last as President

12. The Important Thing in the Olympic Games Is Not to Win but to Take Part Pierre De Coubertin

13. The 1st Olympiad: Athens, 1896
Preparation for the Games
Construction of the stadium
Money
Legitimizing Olympic Games
Participation in the Games
Track and field, gymnastics, target shooting, and fencing matches
311 male athletes from 13 National Olympic Committees (NOC’s)
William Sloane of Princeton University assembled and trained the American team
American James Connolly won the first Olympic medal in triple jump

14. Athens, 1896 Olympic stadium in Athens, built for 1896 Games
Image source: Photo © R. Mechikoff

15. The 2nd Olympiad: Paris, 1900
Governing body of French sport did not cooperate with IOC
Official and unofficial Olympic events caused controversy
1319 athletes from 22 NOCs participated
Female athletes made their first Olympic appearance in tennis and croquet
First appearance: Golf, polo, rugby, cricket

16. The 3rd Olympiad: St. Louis, 1904
St. Louis wanted Games along with Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Games were originally awarded to Chicago
James Sullivan and Pres. Roosevelt changed
Coubertin refused to attend
Games were primarily American event
681 athletes from 12 NOCs participated, including the first Africans to compete in the Games
American women: competed & won all archery events
1st and only time American football was an event
Canada—gold; U.S.—silver

17. The 4th Olympiad: London, 1908
Games were held in conjunction with the Franco-British Exhibition
1,999 athletes from 22 NOCs participated
36 women from 4 countries competed
Games became involved with political turmoil and nationalism
Flag issues
British advocacy of the creed of fair play versus American attempts to devise their own, more favorable scoring systems

18. The 5th Olympiad: Stockholm, 1912
Last Olympiad for Russia until 1952
Women's swimming, equestrian, modern pentathlon
Olympic trials ensured best American athletes
Hosted 2,490 athletes from 28 nations
57 women athletes represented 11 nations
Competitors included Jim Thorpe, Douglas McArthur, George Patton, Avery Brundage

19. Stockholm, 1912 Members of the 1912 U.S. Olympic squad
Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
Members of the 1912 U.S. Olympic squad; Jim Thorpe is wearing a
turtleneck warm-up sweater

20. Stockholm, 1912
100-meter race from the 1912 Olympic Games, Stockholm
Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.
100-meter race, won by Ralph Craig of the United States

21. Stockholm 1912: Jim Thorpe Won both pentathlon and decathlon
Accused of playing semipro baseball less than one year after Stockholm
Thorpe admitted to playing baseball and being naïve about amateur rules
Stripped of medals by USOC and IOC
1983: medals restored posthumously

22. The 7th Olympiad: Antwerp, 1920
Games initiated tradition of Olympic oath and five-ring Olympic flag
Paavo Nurmi, distance runner from Finland, made Olympic history
One of greatest distance runners of all time

23. Participation of Women
Coubertin not in favor of women competing
Mme. Millait established Federation Feminine Sportive Internationalle (FSFI)
Organized First Women's Olympic Games 1922
1920 Olympiad - 27 women from 13 nations competed

24. The 8th Olympiad: Paris, 1924
2,956 athletes from 44 nations; 136 women athletes
Paavo Nurmi won four gold medals
Fights in the stands
Booing during national anthems
Friction between British and American teams caused distractions

25. 1st Winter Olympics: Chamonix, 1924
Featured speed, figure skating, cross-country skiing, bobsledding, ice hockey
258 athletes from 16 nations competed; 13 women athletes

26. The 9th Olympiad: Amsterdam, 1928
2,724 athletes from 46 nations competed; 219 women athletes
U.S. won 55 medals and Germany won 37

27. The 2nd Winter Olympics: St. Moritz, 1928
464 athletes competed from 25 nations; 26 women athletes
Norway continued to dominate

28. Issue of Amateurism Important topic before 1932 Olympics
In 1913, Jim Thorpe was stripped of his 1912 pentathlon and decathlon gold medals for playing one summer of semipro baseball
IOC opposed outright payments to athletes
Failed to define “compensation for loss of salary”
Abuse of the amateur ideal
Coubertin did not support an “amateurs only” rule

29. The 10th Olympiad: Los Angeles, 1932
The most grandiose athletic festival in modern history
1281 athletes from 37 nations
Spirit of Olympicism and cooperation

30. Los Angeles, 1932 Stadium for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games
Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.

31. The 3rd Winter Olympics: Lake Placid, 1932
252 athletes competed from 17 nations
First Winter Olympics held in U.S.
Everyone would have to compete under American rules

32. The 11th Olympiad: Berlin, 1936
Politicians used Games for blatant political purposes
Hitler tried to undermine ideal of Olympism
Used games to send message of Nazi superiority
American athletes threatened boycott
Wanted Nazis to allow other races to compete

33. The 11th Olympiad: Berlin, 1936
Torch run was initiated in the opening
ceremonies
3,738 athletes competed from 49 nations; 328 women athletes
American Jesse Owens was a superstar
Americans collected 56 medals

34. Berlin, 1936
Jesse Owens at the start of his winning 200-meter run, 1936 Olympic Games
Image source: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C.

35. The 4th Winter Olympics: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1936
668 athletes from 28 nations
80 women from 28 nations competed in figure skating and skiing

36. Olympic Interim Next Olympic Games not until 1948
Coubertin dies in 1936
Count Henri de Baillet Latour successor
Dies suddenly
J. Sifried Edstrom was elected IOC president during 1946 London meeting