Olympic Controversies Essay Research Paper The most

Olympic Controversies Essay, Research Paper

The most important thing at the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the important thing about life is not to conquer but to struggle well. The words spoken by Pierre de Coubertin, father of the Modern Summer Olympic Games. Baron Pierre de Coubertin may have intended for the new Olympic Games .to be a period of concord in which all differences of status, religion, politics and race would be forgotten. but unfortunately as the Games have progressed, so too have the political overtones associated with them.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, by reviving the ancient Olympic Games hoped that competition in sports would .lead to a new international friendship and better cooperation amongst the nations, whilst also allowing athletes to be exposed to different values than those of their own.. It is with misfortune that the Olympic Games have taken an unexpected turn and are used time and time again as another measurement for the ultimate victory, the ultimate dominance, the ultimate triumph on the world stage.

In the commotion of the promotion of the Olympic Games, it is often forgotten that the original principles of the games included that individuals were to be contested against one another, and that countries played no part. In fact, in the first Olympiads, there were no formal teams of nations, rather an assortment of individuals who came to Athens on their own expense for their own purposes.

As the Olympic Games progressed, it became more and more apparent for participating nations that it was an excellent opportunity to promote their country. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the Olympic Games is relayed to countries all over the world, exposing it onto a world audience. Even before technological advances of television, the Olympic Games were used by the countries to elevate themselves amongst one another. Even in the first Olympiad of 1896 in Athens, the realisation of the chance or promotion was evident, the Greek royal family of George I .used the games as a device to build its power.. In addition, when television was initially introduced, the prospect of exposure was heightened. Although television was first used to transmit images from one country to another in the Summer Olympic Games of 1960 in Rome, it was further intensified in 1964 in Tokyo. The mayor of Tokyo announced that .without the Olympics, Japan would not have risen to its high position so fast.. Nowadays, it is obvious that television and the Olympic games intertwine with each other, all scheduling of events and ceremonies are processed with television in mind, athletes now wear numbers not only on the front and back of their uniforms, but on the side as well to provide for the television audience.

The opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, similarly are now used to publicise the host countries accomplishments, and to reveal the countries culturally elements. In 1932 the Olympic Games in Los Angeles overcame the problematic times of depression, and what was to become known as the .Hollywood Extravaganza. set the tone for the world. The tone was that Los Angeles was now on the map as a city of power and prestige, and that the Olympics was a vehicle that publicized and promoted its site as no other sporting event could. The notion of cultural publicity has become increasingly popular- .Gershwin.s music in Los Angeles in 1984, a taekwondo display in Seoul in 1988, flamechuo in Barcelona in 1992- have become increasingly prominent..

Indeed, smaller nations realised that victory in the Olympic Games would lead to a lifting of their stature. In 1928, smaller nations were able to distinguish themselves. For example, the soccer gold medal was known by Uruguay; Argentina and New Zealand won gold medals in boxing; India was won the gold for field hockey, Ireland won the hammer throw, and the small nation of Haiti won a silver medal. This recognition of the games for exposure has paved the way for significant funding for the athletic development in many countries. In Romania, they are .seeking to gain a national identity and thereby further political integration through its sports champions.

Unsurprisingly, as the Olympics are a contest between the nations, it is understandable that nationalism plays a colossal role. Medal tallies, the victory stand where the playing of nation.s anthem, coupled with the display of their flag, provokes emotions of nationalism, which can lead to passionate acts that often result in violence. Also, the mentality that one nation is more deserving, or has more authority over another is heated up in moments of nationalism. Take for example 1900 in Paris, France; the opening ceremony was scheduled for a Sunday, however the Americans refused to participate, the date was then changed to July 14, a Saturday, which coincidentally was Bastille Day, an important day for the French. Although the opening ceremony was to be on a Saturday, the actual competition was to begin the following day, a Sunday. Once again many Americans refused to compete.

Another influence upon the Olympics is the issue of flags and anthems. As time passes and governments change in various countries, so to do their symbols and songs. In 1908, London England, in the opening ceremony the officials from Britain neglected to display the flags of America and Sweden around the stadium. When the Ameri