One of the most popular sporting events is the Olympic Games. This event transcends time, location, and culture and originates from ancient Greece. The Olympic Games remain one of the best celebrations of athletic prowess today, and they are a loud testament to the human spirit. Most people might not know, but this sporting event was a religious festival to honour Zeus in ancient Greece, Over the years, this sporting event changed and evolved to not only become a symbol of international unity but also peace and sportsmanship.
In this article, we will look at not only the Olympic Games' societal changes but also the phases of its history and the growth it went through. We will also look at some of the challenges that the Olympic games faced as well as the development of the Paralympic and the youth Olympics.
The Ancient Olympic Games
As we mentioned earlier, the Olympic games started in ancient Greece The earliest recorded event of the Olympics took place in 776 BCE at Olympia and this event took place every four years. It was a religious festival that honoured Zeus who was the father of all the Greek gods.
During this event, athletes from all over Greece would travel to Olympia to participate in various competitions such as running, chariot racing and many more.
In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were not just a normal sporting event. It might come as a surprise to many but the Olympic Games held deep cultural and political importance. A truce is declared during the games and warring cities will hold off so that athletes and spectators could travel safely. The winners of the games would be celebrated not only as winners for their respective states but as heroes as well. They were adored with wreaths made of olive and their accomplishments were noted down in history.
The Olympics was held for almost 12 centuries. It was abolished in 303 CE by the Roman emperor Theodosius 1 because he saw it as a threat to Christianity. As the traditions of the Olympic games declined, so did the Greek civilization. Over the centuries after that, this pivotal event in the Greek culture slowly disappeared and was forgotten.
The Revival of the Olympic Games
In the 19th century, Pierre de Coubertin who hailed from France believed that physical education was pivotal for the development of youth. He dreamt of restoring the Olympic games not only for the aforementioned reason but also as a symbol of internationalism and peace.
The first modern Olympic games came about in 1896 and it was held in none other than Athens Greece. This marked a significant point in Olympic history in the entire world. At its beginning, only 280 athletes were competing in the 43 events. The games were more focused on wrestling, athletics and swimming. Although the event was simple, it captured the interest and the eyes of the world. It was no surprise that the games quickly became popular and this gave birth to the International Olympic Committee in 1894. This paved the way for all future Olympic events.
Although the Olympic games’ revival faced a lot of challenges, it slowly gained momentum and the second-ever Olympic games were held in Paris, France.
The Paris Olympic Games was held in 1900 and this event marked a pivotal moment in Olympic history - it was the first to include female athletes. This sporting event was an important moment as it shifted society’s attitude towards female athletes in sporting events. As the Olympic games became more and more popular internationally, the symbols we have today, the Olympic rings came about in the year 1913.
The Growth of the Modern Olympic Games
It was starting the 20th century that the Olympic games started to grow tremendously. It was during this time that the Olympic Games expanded to include winter sports. This step not only allowed France to hold the first-ever Winter Olympic games but also attracted a wider range of not only athletes but also audiences.
People might think that the Olympics is a platform where an athlete and country can showcase their athletic prowess and talent, but over the years, it became an event where countries could showcase their technological advancement and national prestige. Countries all over the world started seeing the games as an opportunity and this in turn made them invest heavily towards getting their athletes prepared for the games.
A good example of countries using the Olympics as a tool is Germany in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. During this time, Adolf Hitler used the Olympics as a tool to promote his nazi ideology. This is a testament that the Olympic games hold cultural significance which resulted in a very complex intertwining of social movements as well as politics.
The 20th century also saw the Olympic games go through a tumultuous time due to the world wars. Although this affected the Olympic games, when the war ended, there was a renewed unity and spirit of cooperation among most of the nations that participated in the Olympic games. The Olympics was an important tool that fostered peace after a very difficult period for the world.
Another pivotal moment for the Olympic Games was during the 1960 Olympic Games which was held in Rome. The Rome Olympics was the first ever game to be broadcast live on television. This was the first ever time the Olympic games were experienced in households all over the world.
Challenges Faced in the 20th Century
The Olympic games might have grown and achieved pivotal changes and achievements but it also had its fair share of controversy and challenges. Examples of these are doping and political boycotts.
Over the years, doping became a common issue and it brought to light the ethical issues and dilemmas in sports. To combat this, the international Olympic community started implementing rigorous drug testing to ensure to maintain fair competition. Although steps have been taken, these controversies continue to affect the Olympic games which has affected and tarnished the image of this prestigious event.
There were also incidences such as the 1972 Munich massacre that seriously affected the image of the Olympic games. During this massacre, the members of the Israeli team were taken hostage and killed by the Palestinian terrorists. This incident only highlighted the vulnerability of the games due to geopolitical conflicts.
The 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics saw the boycott led by the United States in response to the invasion of the Soviets in Afghanistan and retaliation by the Eastern Bloc.
The Olympics no longer represented unity instead it became a stage for political demonstrations which in turn transformed this game into a sort of battleground for national interests.
Interested to find out about Singapore's achievements at the 2024 Olympic Games? Click here!
The Development of the Paralympics and Youth Olympics
During the 20th and 21st centuries, there were changes and additions to the Olympic games. It was at this time that there was significant inclusion of the Paralympic and Youth Olympics which not only reflected the evolving landscape of the games but also society and its values.
The Paralympic Games started as a competition for World War 2 veterans in the year 1948. This has since changed and evolved to become a prominent international event that has not only promoted athleticism but also the capabilities of athletes with disability. The inclusion of the Paralympic Games into the Olympic games has reinforced the message of celebration of diversity in sports worldwide as well as the message of inclusivity.
Another event was the Youth Olympic Games which was held in Singapore. This event was aimed towards young athletes aged between 14 to 18 years old. This event not only showcased Olympic values but also values to encourage, develop and foster youth in sports. If you would like to know more about Singapore’s Journey in Olympic History, click here.
Both the Paralympics and the Youth Olympics have catered to and acknowledged a wider range of athletics. This has not only emphasised inclusion but also contributed to a broader definition of sport. This shift in the Olympic games has truly reflected the societal’s attitude towards not only the growth, expansion and importance of sports but also its attitude towards disability and youth engagement. This shows the pivotal role that the Olympics holds as a catalyst for social progress in sports.
Check out Singapore’s Standout Olympic Performances
As mentioned previously, the Olympics started as a religious festival honouring Zeus in ancient Greece and it began evolving into what it is today.
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Although Superprof is not linked to the Olympics, it plays a very important role in promoting and providing athletic education as well as coaching. Superprof believes that each student has the right to the opportunity to learn and this can be seen at the very core of Superporf. It not only provides aspiring athletes access to expert trainers but also the ability to grow and learn. Superprof’s values also align with the Olympic spirit that we all know about; determination, sportsmanship and even personal growth.
If you are someone who is looking to train for a sporting competition or learn a new sport, you should head over to Superprof and find the right tutor for you.
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