Physical Education · Ch 2 — Olympic Value Education
Modern Olympic Games
Modern Olympic Games
About 1503 years after Theodosius I closed the ancient Games, the Olympic Games took place once again - in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The idea of restarting them came from the French nobleman Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Deeply interested in education, he believed that the best way to develop the minds of young people was to develop their bodies as well, and that learning and athletics should go together. After visiting the ruins of ancient Olympia, he resolved to revive the Games - hoping to bring back the ancient ideals of physical, mental and spiritual excellence, to build courage, endurance and fair play, to resist the growing commercialism of sport, and to bring all nations together on one platform without barriers of race, creed, language or colour. He proposed the idea in 1892, and in 1894 founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and began planning the first modern Olympiad.
Differences from the ancient Games
Although the modern Games are patterned after the ancient Greek Games, there are important differences:
- Modern nations have not stopped wars for the Games - the Games were cancelled in 1916, 1940 and 1944 because of the two World Wars.
- The modern Games include many team events, whereas ancient athletes competed individually.
- The modern Games are not a religious festival.
- The ancient Games were open only to Greek males, who competed without clothing; the modern Games welcome athletes from all nations that have an IOC-recognised National Olympic Committee, men and women are equally honoured, and all competitors must wear proper sports kit.
Growth of the Games
- 1896 Athens: 241 athletes from 14 countries in 43 events (Panathenaic Stadium).
- 1900 Paris: about 997 athletes from 24 countries - the first Games in which women competed (22 women in select sports).
- 2016 Rio: 11,238 athletes from 207 nations in 28 sports.
The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. For many years the Winter and Summer Games were held in the same year; after the 1992 Albertville Games, the IOC changed the schedule so that, from 1994, the Winter Games are held two years after each Summer Games.
Host cities of the modern Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
| Year | Host City |
|---|---|
| 1896 | Athens, Greece |
| 1900 | Paris, France |
| 1904 | St. Louis, USA |
| 1908 | London, Great Britain |
| 1912 | Stockholm, Sweden |
| 1916* | Not held (World War I) |
| 1920 | Antwerp, Belgium |
| 1924 | Paris, France |
| 1928 | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| 1932 | Los Angeles, USA |
| 1936 | Berlin, Germany |
| 1940* | Not held (World War II) |
| 1944* | Not held (World War II) |
| 1948 | London, Great Britain |
| 1952 | Helsinki, Finland |
| 1956 | Melbourne, Australia (equestrian events in Stockholm, Sweden) |
| 1960 | Rome, Italy |
| 1964 | Tokyo, Japan |
| 1968 | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 1972 | Munich, Germany |
| 1976 | Montreal, Canada |
| 1980 | Moscow, USSR |
| 1984 | Los Angeles, USA |
| 1988 | Seoul, South Korea |
| 1992 | Barcelona, Spain |
| 1996 | Atlanta, USA |
| 2000 | Sydney, Australia |
| 2004 | Athens, Greece |
| 2008 | Beijing, China |
| 2012 | London, Great Britain |
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 2020 | Tokyo, Japan |
Winter Olympic Games
| Year | Host City |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Chamonix, France |
| 1928 | St. Moritz, Switzerland |
| 1932 | Lake Placid, USA |
| 1936 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany |
| 1948 | St. Moritz, Switzerland |
| 1952 | Oslo, Norway |
| 1956 | Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy |
| 1960 | Squaw Valley, USA |
| 1964 | Innsbruck, Austria |