Since the inception in 1896 the Olympic Games have been used by nations and groups to make political statements.Discuss how the Olympic ideal has been undermined by social and political protest.

Over the years, 3 Olympic games have been cancelled because of World Wars. In 1920 Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey weren't allowed to take part because of their roles in WWI. One of the most recognised games that was influenced by politics is the 1936 Berlin games. When the games were awarded to Berlin nobody thought that Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany would have control of the Olympic games.

Hitler Wanted to used the games to prove his theory of racial superiority. He failed in his attempt. He was frustrated by Jesse Owens because he won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump and the 4 x 100m relay. After WWII the Olympics were looking forward to a peaceful celebration of the Games. In 1948 at the London Games the communist countries competed together for the first time but Germany and Japan were not invited due to there roles in WWII.

The Olympic ideal is amateurism, playing for the love of sport not for the money. This is what De Coubertin believed the Olympics should be about. From the Nazi Olympics in 1936 to the Cold War boycotts in Moscow and Los Angeles lots of great political moments have dominated the Games. China who r the host of the 2008 Olympics has got a history of combining sport and politics with the ping pong diplomacy of the 1970s so the 2008 games may be emerged with politics where as the 2004 games were less involved with politics.

The government play a big role in the Olympic games at the moment. They provide the money to bid to host the Olympics because of this money from the government London is hosting the Olympic games in 2012. I think politics and the Olympics will always be closely connected because the Olympics is such a big event . In our government we already have a sports minister who controls the way sporting situations are carried out. One of the governments main points is sport and how they will use it to bring societies together- "sport reflects society, society reflects sport"