The Olympics : A Special World Tradition

The Olympics have shown over the decades that they can be affected by political conflict. However, it seems that this is the point of the Olympics, to illustrate national pride, by competition. Bloodshed should not be the way for pride of one’s country to be shown, but it should be shown through competition, in the words of the founder of the modern Olympic movement, Pierre de

This research paper will be about how the Greek Olympic Game changed the world for the greater good. Some examples of this, would be that it has brought many people together, who had a conflict with another country, every time there was an Olympic Game (Every Four years). It had also given many people and countries respect over the years, for participating and winning in the Olympics. One other example would be, when the Olympics gave the countries new ideas of sports to add in the game. Since they added new sports for the Olympics, it allowed every country to choose what their civilization wanted to play.

The greatest athletes of all time have their names set in stone. Every year a new star comes out of the shadows and becomes the focus of global interest. Nations back their athletes financially to ensure they receive a medal. Winning gold in the Olympics Games is seen as the highest honor an athlete can achieve because of its prestigious image. The Olympics have not always been about the athletes. Nations competing have been victims of political scandals. When one country goes against another country, some people do not only view it as a fight for gold, but as a war amongst nations. Soccer fields have become battlegrounds and players, soldiers. Swimming pools turn into bloodbaths, and tennis court nets as do territorial partitions. Since

Sports have played a major role in society for as far back as dated history goes. Today’s greatest sporting events capture the interest of billions of people. No one sporting event is greater than the Summer Olympic games, for it brings together athletes from all across the globe to compete and represent their respected nations. Winning an Olympic gold medal can create a widespread feeling of patriotism and unite a nation. Unfortunately, the events of the 1972 Olympic Games were a catastrophic disaster. Consequently, the following will reveal the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games tragedy and the ramifications of its build up, the event, and the lasting effects on society.

The Olympics have always been a way to bring people together. Even when the city-states were fighting each other, they put aside their differences and competed peacefully. Mark Cartwright states, “The Games started with a procession which went from the host town of Elis to Olympia…and on arrival at Olympia all athletes and officials swore an oath to follow the established rules of the competitions and to compete with honour and respect” (Cartwright). Basically, the athletes were promoting unity among the city states by swearing to uphold their oath of truce during the games. This unity has come into our modern games when athletes from warring countries can enjoy one another’s company, even if their countries hate each other. According to the author of the website International Olympic

The Greek city-states were often at war with one another. Throughout the course of the games the relationships between the states grew much stronger. But, if the games were scheduled during a time of war between some of the participating states a “Sacred Truce” was sent out to the states granting safe passage and one month of peace before the games began. This was always abided by and respected, because the Olympics had many religious ceremonies that were viewed as more important than war(The Olympic Games”).

The Olympic Games has been a lens through which to scrutinize the world’s political, social, and economic spectacles. It has seen tsarist autocracy, fascism, despotism, and the great associated movements of the political solidity and contrariety of communism and capitalism. During the Cold War, sport was a sphere in which the USSR and the West competed bitterly. Following World War II, the Soviet Union utilized the Olympics to assure the world of its superiority and to prove communism’s stability as a political ideology. Purportedly amateur, sport meant a lot to Soviet authorities, as did awards and gold medals. Athletes often spent most of their time training in world-class facilities, even though they were meant to be factory workers or army officers. From 1950 to 1980, the United States exploited the Games as a platform to undertake a propaganda operation against communism, releasing an abundance of material to promote American ideals. On February 22, 1980, in Lake Placid, New York at the XII Winter Olympics, one unlikely hockey game served as a catalyst for newfound patriotism in America and marked the commencement of a new era in Soviet and American Cold War politics. The tensions between the United States and the U.S.S.R following the 1980 Winter Olympics and the Miracle on Ice represent strong, unwavering surges of nationalism. By analyzing the story of how 20 men and a determined head coach shocked the world- through the words of those present and affected-

The ancient Greek people came up with many ideas and made many advancements that changed today’s world. One such creation was the Olympics. Athletes all over the world dedicate their lives to a sport, using a combination of talent and hard work in the hope they they will one day represent their country in the Olympic Games. These Games first came into existence in ancient Greece during the year 776 BC. According to an article published by the Penn Museum, “The ancient Olympic Games were primarily a part of a religious festival in honor of Zeus, the father of the Greek gods and goddesses.” Though the Games died out around 400 AD, the idea remained. Then, in 1896, the first modern-day Olympics took place in their place of origin- Olympia, Greece- with 34 participating countries. From there, they continued to grow in size until they became the massive global event that they are today (The ancient Olympic games, 2017). Even though few people know much about Zeus, and even fewer people care, it is thanks to him and the rest of the Greek gods and goddesses that the world can come together every four years and honor the the best of the best.

In the present age, sports are more and more popular over the world because it is not only a good way to leisure but also can help people to keep fit. So, the most famous sports party the Olympic games become more important in people’s lives. The Olympic games will be held evey four years and people all over the world will enjoy the glamor of sports during that time. Then, who will host the next Olympic games becomes very important and many countires want to host the Olympic games. London will host the 2012 Olympic games. The issue of which it is good or bad to be the national host becomes a hot issue. Some people assert that there are more advantasges than disadvantages to be the host. At the same tme, many people argue

The most popular way that the Olympics we're able to give nations an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities was through competition and to demonstrate who was the best. True, these competitions are supposed to be through friendly competition, it was also a way for countries to show their national prowess through orchestration of impressive events and through a nation's triumph with their nations athletes. Naturally, these competitions became very intense through times of war such as the events before World War II. In regards to orchestration of these events many countries and even cities, like Los Angeles, went above and beyond to make the event special and as engaging is possible spending millions of dollars for things such as facilities,

The modern-day Olympics are supposed to be times where unification of athletes can set the stage for the highest level of competition for certain sports. For many of the athletes it is a high priority to win but for others just being a part of this grand stage is the moment they look forward to. It was quiet the different stage from the ancient Olympics since now most countries are involved. For the 1980 Winter Olympics, the games had a whole new meaning. Months before the games politics would stamp a whole new meaning to the nationalism pride that each sport, athlete, and team would represent with the logo of their country on them. The games after World War II had a new showing besides the top athletes from their respective countries and winning

There are two different eras in Olympic history. One is the origin of the Games in the ancient times when it was held in Greece. The other is the modern era when Pierre de Coubertin revived them. Different issues dominated the Olympics in the different eras. Religion was emphasized during the Olympics in Ancient Greece. On the other hand, it is politics that have dominated the modern Olympics. Despite the International Olympic Confederation’s or as it is generally known, the IOC, best efforts to keep politics out of the Olympics, there have been many instances throughout several Olympic Games in which politics has transcended the Olympics.

Over many lifetimes the Olympic games have been a symbol of the most prestigious sporting event in the world. Throughout time the games have evolved from two events to two hundred. Along with the events, the athletes and vision of the games have changed as well. This paper is going to show the changes for better or worse of the games.

For nearly as long as humans have been around, some form of athletic competition has also existed. Dating back to the ancient Romans, people would travel from all around to see their men compete. Since 1894, the International Olympic Committee has organized the worldwide event we know as the modern Olympic Games. The games have for a long time been a center point of many protests, revolving around the current events and arguments of the time. American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos created one of the most iconic and socially important Olympic protests at the 1968 Summer Games, when they raised their fists up while giving the Black Panther salute on the podium. A gesture that has been celebrated, criticized, and discussed to this day.

If we analyze The Olympic Charter which marks the beginning of modern Olympics we will realize that these events originally were based on a philosophy and certain principles. As it is mentioned in fundamental principle 2: Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles. (Girginove et al 2005).