GWSS 262 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Jingoism, No Age, Olympic Charter
27 Jun 2018
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GWSS 262 – LECTURE 9
What makes the Olympic Games different from other sports events?
Held every four years
Largest sporting celebration in the world
Part of a broader framework known as the "Olympic Movement" whose purpose is to:
oLink sport with culture and education
oPromote the practice of sport and the joy found in effort
oHelp to build a better world through sport practiced in a spirit of peace, excellence,
friendship, and respect
Olympic History:pier
The ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece between the 8th century BCE and the
4th century CE
Pierre de Coubertin of France
oInspired by the ancient games
Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894 in Paris
First Modern Olympic Games were in 1896 in Athens, Greece and referenced the ancient games
in several ways
Innovations:
Each edition of the Modern Olympic Games takes place in a different city and country
Modern games
oare longer (no more than 16 days though)
oOpen to people from all nations
Athens Games in 1896 welcomed athletes from 14 countries
Summer Olympics feature athletes from every country without exception
Women in the Olympics:
Coubertin was not in favor of women participating in the Olympic Games
oHe said, "the true Olympic hero, in my view, is the individual adult male"
The ancient Olympic Games were only for men, and so was the first modern Games in 1896
Women were permitted to compete beginning in 1900 (Paris, France)
oBut the only women-only events were TENNIS and GOLF
Sailing, croquet, and equestrian were co-ed
Women increased their participation throughout the 20th century
oSwimming (1912)
oAthletics (1928)
oVolleyball (1964)
oRowing (1976)
oCycling (1984)
oFootball/soccer (1996)
oWrestling (2004)
With the addition of women's boxing to the program in 2012, women can now compete in every
Olympic sport
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Both women and men now compete in every Olympic SPORT but not in every DISCIPLINE
Women are NOT ALLOWED to compete in one Winter Olympic Discipline
oNORDIC COMBINED (downhill skiing + jumping)
ONLY WOMEN are permitted to compete in synchronized swimming and rhythmic gymnastics
45% of the athletes at the Rio Summer Olympics (2016) were women
oHighest percentage of women ever in the Games
Winter Olympics:
Not included in Coubertin's revival of the Olympics in 1896
1920s: snow and ice sports gained popularity
1924: IOC held an International Winter Sports Week in Chamonix (France) where athletes from
16 countries (mainly European and North American) competed
Two years later, that 1924 competition was retroactively named the first Olympic Winter Games
Olympic Sports:
IOC sets the Olympic program and decides which sports will be included
oCan accept or cut any sport, discipline, or event as they see fit
Olympic Sport criteria:
oMust be widely practiced
oThe World Anti-Doping Code must be applied
oMust not rely on mechanical propulsion (no motors)
1896: Athens Games
oNine sports were on the program
Athletics
Cycling
Fencing
Gymnastics
Weightlifting
Wrestling
Swimming
Tennis
Shooting
2020: Tokyo Games
oThere will be 5 sports added
Baseball and softball
Were discontinued in 2012
Karate
Sport climbing
Surfing
Skateboarding
Sport:
For a sport to be made an Olympic sport it HAS TO BE governed by an International Federation
recognized by the IOC
oEx. Aquatics is considered a sport and is governed by the INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING
FEDERATION (FINA)
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Part of a broader framework known as the "olympic movement" whose purpose is to: o o. Promote the practice of sport and the joy found in effort: help to build a better world through sport practiced in a spirit of peace, excellence, friendship, and respect. The ancient olympic games were held in olympia, greece between the 8th century bce and the. Coubertin founded the international olympic committee (ioc) in 1894 in paris. First modern olympic games were in 1896 in athens, greece and referenced the ancient games in several ways. Each edition of the modern olympic games takes place in a different city and country. Modern games o are longer (no more than 16 days though: open to people from all nations. Athens games in 1896 welcomed athletes from 14 countries. Summer olympics feature athletes from every country without exception.
