sports&soc ses 03a olympic games
TRANSCRIPT
Olympic Gamesin
the modern era
Ses 03
Sport and Society in Spain & Catalonia
Xavier Carmaniu Mainadé
Basic characterics of original GamesIt was a religious act.
776BC (aprox) to 392 AC: 293 games.Only for free greek men (not slaves, not
women) Women couldn’t enter the stadium.
Victory was not as important as honor for the participants. The most important were character, courage and integrity.Now the most important is victory.
Types of competitions3 types:
1) physical: athletics, fighting, penthatlon (discus, javeline, shot put, carriage races, long jump & fighting) and pankration.
2) Musical: playing instrument.
3) Cultural: poetry, theatre.
Pankration: boxing + fighting.Everything was allowed minus biting, gauging out eyes, and putting fingers into the mouth and nose of the oponent. They would commonly go for the genitals, and break bones.
The first olympic athlete from BarcelonaLucius Minicius Natalis,
born in Barcino 97 AC. Barcino only had 2000
habs.He was a child of a rich and
aristocratic family.129 AC OOGG won a
carriage race with 4 horses.Probably a slave conducted
the carriage. He was the owner of the carriage.
Before winning he gave money to charity in Barcino.
Barcino remembered him with an inscription (and maybe a statue as well).
The end of the Olympic GamesIVth BC started the decline: there were more
athletes in the colonies than the greek polis (=cities).
Cities spent a lot of money to win to be seen as more prestigious.
Professional atheletes emerged.Poor menfighting games (pankration, boxinx).Betting and games turned inhonorable.
Romans visiting OOGG (tourists).
146 BC Rome conquered Greece.
OOGG 67AC, Emperor Neron
participated: won every
competition (including carriage
race despite falling) --> they
named “Anolimpiadas”.
393 AC Teodosius prohibeted
OOGG: he considered them
against christianity.
After the Olympic GamesOOGG was forgotten.The conditions didn’t
allow for sport to take place (politics, economics, socials structures…).
Christianity hide the body (carnal things were sin).
This started to change in the Renaissance until a new era for sport came about in XIXth century.
In Medieval Era training was just for knights.It was a stratified society. It’s impossible to change your social class (aristocracy, peasant). Everyone had their job.
The rediscovery of Olympia The Greek Classic became trendy in
XIXth century Excavations in Olympia.
EVANGELOS ZAPPAS (1800-1865) Rich greek living in Romania. 1856 gave money to Greece to
organize the Games in 1859. Only Greece and Otoman Empire
participated. The Zappeion ("pavillion") was built.
2004 Athens was the Centre for Press.
His Will: money to be given for the OOGG.
1866 England copied Zappas idea OOGG in Cristal Palace.
Coubertin knew these 2 stories and was inspired by them.
Pierre de Coubertinb. 1863 - d. 1937Aristocratic family. Was forced to
be in the military but he studied pedagogy.
Travelled to the UK: “Muscular Christianity”To be cristian but also active.
Strong Manhood birthed the YMCA (Young Men Cristian Assotiation)
He took the idea to France : implement sport in High Schools.
His dream: an international competition that promoted peace and unity of humanity.
1894 presented the idea of OOGG and organized them in Athens in 1896.
Atenas, 1896
Some images of Athens 1896: http://youtu.be/6H78sdM3Cx8
Evolution of the Olympic Games
Paris, 1900.First female participation.
St. Louis, 1904. First gold, silver and bronze medals.(OOGG were part of International Exhibit)
London, 1908.First inauguration parade.
http://youtu.be/HUpW6blZLyQ
Amsterdam, 1928. J. Weissmuller, USA swimmer.
Antwerp, 1920. Flag and olympic pledge.
Amsterdam, 1928. The olympic flame in the stadium
París, 1924. Motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius.(faster, higher, stronger)
Berlín, 1936
Hitler used the OOGG for political propaganda and demonstrate arians superiority.Leni Riefenstahl, movie director: “Olympia”.
Jesse Owens, hero of Berlin4 gold medals : 100m,
200m, 4x100m, long jump.
Grandson of slaves.Wasn’t recived by
president FDR for fear of the critics.
He was discriminated against in university.
He was honored after his death.
Olympic Games after WWII
Politics and boycottsOOGG Mexico DF 1968:Local demonstrations and Black Panters
JJOO Munich 1972: terrorist attack against Israel:Terrorist Group “Black September” (Palestinian)
assassinated 11 israeli athletes.Boycotts:
Moscow, 1980.Los Angeles, 1984.
