The Olympic Games (of modern times)

Synonyms

Olympics, Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics

introduction

The Olympic Games take place every 4 years. Popularly called the Olympics (Period of 4 years) refers to the Olympic Summer games and olympic Winter games a regular competition. The modern Olympic Games were created by their founder Pierre de Coubertin first brought back to life in 1896. The International Olympic Committee is responsible for awarding the Olympic Games to a city. Based on the ancient Olympic Games, the first modern Olympic Games took place in Athens under the then appointed IOC President Dimitrios Vikelas instead of. It was not until 1924 that the Winter Olympics took place for the first time. In 1992 the last Summer Olympics and Winter Games took place in the same year. From 1994 onwards, the first Winter Games were held separately from the Summer Games. The venue was Lillehammer. Since then, the Summer Games and Winter Games have alternated every two years.

Origin and development

On June 23, 1894, the philanthropist Pierre de Coubertin founded the international olympic committee and thus awakened the idea of Olympic Games of modern times into life. As the largest sporting event of modern times, the first modern Olympic Games were a complete success. The Greek officials were so enthusiastic about the success of the games that they suggested that the following Olympic Games always be held in Athens. The International Olympic Committee decided, however, that the participating countries would rotate.

After the initial success in Greece, however, the first crisis of the Olympic Games quickly arose. The games in Paris in 1900 and in St. Louis in 1904 were played parallel to the then World Exhibition and lasted for several months. The result was a lack of interest on the part of the audience. As a result, the Olympic interludes took place in Athens in 1906. The international Olympic Committee approved this execution under the name Olympic Games, but never recognized competition results.

While almost 260 athletes from 13 countries were represented at the first games of the modern era, the 2004 Summer Games in Athens had over 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations. A total of 301 competitions took place. The Winter Olympics are not very popular compared to the Summer Games. In Turin in 2006, with almost 2500 athletes, significantly fewer athletes were involved in the competition than in the summer games.

Crises

Even if the idea Coubertin was based on global peace, the Olympic Games did not avoid numerous crises. The Olympic Games of 1916 were canceled because of the First World War and in 1940 and 1944 because of the Second World War. In addition, the National Socialists the 1936 Olympic Games for propaganda purposes. A climax of the crises occurred at the 1972 Games in Munich, when Palestinian terrorists captured 11 members of the Israeli team and all the hostages, as well as a police officer and five terrorists lost their lives in the unsuccessful rescue attempt at the Fürstenfeldbruck airfield. Another tragedy occurred during the 1996 Summer Games, when two people died and 111 were injured in a bomb explosion.

One of the main problems of the recent Olympic Games is the unauthorized increase in performance through targeted doping. In 1967 the IOC issued a doping ban for the Olympic Games. In 1990 the doping scandal of numerous GDR athletes was exposed in numerous documents. The WADA (W.elt- anti- D.oping- A.gentur) tries to curb doping abuse through stricter and targeted controls. Investigation into the recent Beijing Games is ongoing.

Olympic movement

The Olympic Movement is an association of organizations for the planning and implementation of the Olympic Games. The focus is on the international Olympic committee Jacques rye as the current president.

The organizations include:

• The international sports federations (IF`s) e.g. Fifa etc.
• The NOKs (National Olympic Committees)
• Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games

Similarities to the ancient games

• take place every 4 years.
• Only professional athletes take part (in the modern Olympic Games since 1992.
• Festival idea (opening ceremony / closing ceremony).
• musical competitions (1912-1948).
• The ceasefire idea has remained as a peace idea.
• olympic oath.
• Public honor
• Court of marriage (today IOC)
• Exclusion as a punishment (see Ben Johnsen)

Differences from the games of antiquity

• Today the motto is, being there is everything, in the past it was only the victory that counts.
• Wars were interrupted because of the ancient games.
• The games used to only take place in Athens.
• Ancient games had a religious background.
• Women were not allowed to participate in the ancient games. At the modern games for the first time in 1928 while swimming.
• the games were played naked.
• In the games of antiquity there was only victory (1st place)
• The visit was free

further interesting information

• Only since 1990 have professionals been allowed to take part in the Olympic Games. Boxing is still on an amateur basis.
• Only three over 23-year-olds are allowed to play in a male soccer team.
• In 1960 the Ethiopian marathon runner ran the entire distance barefoot.
• Olympic art competitions were also held from 1912 to 1948.
• In 1936 a prize was awarded for the best mountaineer.
• In 1984 the games (los Angeles) for the first time privately organized and financed.
• With revenues of 3.4 billion US dollars, the 2008 Olympic Games surpassed the 2006 World Cup with around 1.1 billion.