Over the years three Olympic games have been cancelled due to World Wars. In 1920 Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey were not permitted to participate because of their role in World War I.
One of the most recognised Games to be influenced by politics was in 1936 at the Berlin Games. When the Games were awarded to Berlin in 1931, no one suspected that Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany would have control of the Olympic games. He used the Games as a display of political strength. Many Jewish communities, in various countries, asked for a boycott of these Games.
However, Hitler failed in his attempt to use the Games to prove his theory of racial superiority. In this, he was frustrated by Jesse Owens, an American black athlete, who won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump and the 4 x 100m relay.
One of the most horrifying political events linked with an Olympic games happened at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. On 5 September, eight Arab terrorists broke into the Israeli team headquarters. The terrorists killed 2 people immediately and another 9 were murdered after a rescue attempt, by the German police, failed at the airport. The Olympic Family was stunned. A memorial service took place, the next morning, in a packed Olympic stadium. Competition resumed later that day with the consent of the Israeli team who returned home immediately.
All of these examples are showing how countries are using the Olympic games as a venue to make a political stands. I think the reasons for this are because of the large scale that the Olympics is on.
Drugs
‘’Doping is cheating. Doping is akin to death. Death physiologically, by profoundly altering, sometimes, irreversibly, normal processes through unjustified manipulations. Death physically, as certain tragic cases in recent years have shown. But also death spiritually and intellectually, by agreeing to cheat and conceal one's capabilities, by recognising one's incapacity or unwillingness to accept one, or to transcend one's limits. And finally death morally, by excluding oneself de facto from the rules of conduct required by all human society’’."
H. E. Juan Antonio Samaranch, President, International Olympic Committee
The issue of drugs in the Olympic Movement and Games has wide spread ramifications. Drug abuse is considered to be the deliberate or inadvertent use by athletes of substances or methods that may enhance performance.
The Eligibility Code governs competitors who participate in the Olympic games. This Code states that competitors must abide by the IOC Medical Code. The Code provides for the prohibition of doping; establishes lists of the classes of prohibited substances and procedures; provides for the obligation of competitors to submit themselves to medical controls and examinations and makes provisions for the sanctions to be applied in the event of a violation of the Code. In addition, a list of permissible products is also published.
What is olympism?
Olympism is not a system it is a state of mind. It can permeate a wide variety of modes of expression and no single race or era can claim to have a monopoly on it.
You do not have to be an Olympic athlete to have Olympism. Olympism is about the pride in you gained through the glory of participation and the quest for achievement. The five ideals that should guide your life are embodied in the concept of Olympism: Vision, Focus, Commitment, Persistence and Discipline. Olympism is being the best you can be.
A second attribute of Olympism is the development the ability to play fair as you play for fun. As in the ancient Games, hatred are put aside during the Olympic games as individual athletes compete against themselves to excel for the pride of their nation.
Baron de Coubertin summarized the Spirit of Olympism in five ideals, which were established as a part of the first modern Olympic games held in 1896. These goals continue to shape the Spirit of Olympism today:
- To help develop better citizens through the building of character that accompanies participation in amateur sports.
- To demonstrate the principles of fair play and good sportsmanship.
- To stimulate interest in fine arts through exhibitions, concerts) and demonstrations during the games, and in so doing contribute to a well-rounded life.
- To teach that sports are played for fun and enjoyment.
-
To create international friendship and good will that would lead to a happier and more peaceful world.
Can Olympism exist today?
This is a hard question to answer because of people’s opinion, in my opinion it doesn’t because of all of the political scandals and the drugs that are now involved in the games. According to the Olympic charter “ To demonstrate the principles of fair play and good sportsmanship.” And “ To teach that sports are played for fun and enjoyment”. By taking drugs and making political stands this is not demonstrating fair play and good sportsmanship.
Although there is only a minority that takes drugs, but they are still competing in the games. I think that their international governing bodies should test every athlete that is competing in the games to make sure that only the athletes that are sticking to the charter.
The reason’s why they can’t do this is, because it is time and money. Because the Olympics are such a large scale and it has so many viewers’ countries use the games for political stands. For example Hitler failed in his attempt to use the Games to prove his theory of racial superiority. In this, he was frustrated by Jesse Owens, an American black athlete, who won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump and the 4 x 100m relay.
Jessie Owens proved Hitler wrong by beating his entire superior race. Hitler was using these games to try and show the world that his race was the best. This games was no longer ‘’SORTS FOR SPORTS SAKE ‘’
So I have come to the conclusion that the Olympic games is being used to make lot’s of money and make political stands and is no more “SPORTS FOR SPORTS SAKE”
