THE MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES

THE MODERN OLYMPIC GAMES

By Molly Harrison and Uma Cheyne.

Pierre De CoubertinFrenchman, Pierre De Coubertin (born 1st January 1863 in Paris, France) was the founder of the Modern Olympic Games. He died from a stroke on 2nd September 1937 whilst in Geneva, Switzerland. Pierre had three siblings called Paul, Albert and Marie. He married Mary Rothan and had two children - one boy and one girl- both of whom were disabled.

Pierre De Coubertin wanted to make sports an important part of the personal development of young people. He made plans of an international competition to promote athletics. To publicise these plans, he organised an international meeting on 23 June 1894 at the Sorbonne in Paris. There he proposed to revive the ancient Olympic Games. Later in the year, he invited friends and colleagues to a meeting in Paris, France. Pierre told them about his plans to start the Modern Olympic Games. Pierre had to work for around six years to convince the public that it was a good idea. The group became widely known as the International Olympic Committee (IOC). New Zealand were one of the thirteen countries represented at the signing of the IOC. At the Ancient Olympic Games, awards were given to all who participated in the games. Pierre kept this in mind by creating symbols and encouraging ceremonies, music and pageant in the Modern Olympics, setting it apart from all other international sporting events.

Host Cities

The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, which occur every four years, and organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that started in 1904. Including this year’s 2012 Summer Olympics, there will have been 30 held. London have hosted the games three times including this year. In 1906 the games were not recognized by the IOC. Also, the Olympic games were not held in 1916 because of WW1 and in 1940 and 1944 the games were cancelled due to the second world war.

Olympic Flag

The Olympic Flag was created by Pierre De Coubertin in 1914. The five rings represent the five inhabited continents of the world - America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Every country which competes in the Olympic Games has at least one of the five colours (Blue, Black, Red, Yellow and Green) on their own flag. The five being interlocked represents all the countries in union. Pierre De Coubertin is said to have found the original five rings symbol engraved on an altar stone which was unearthed at Delphi. The colourful Olympic rings logo is one of the most widely known symbols in the world today.

Torch Relay and FlameThe Olympic Torch Relay starts in Olympia, Greece where it is lit by the sun’s rays using a parabolic mirror. The rays are reflected and focused on a certain point which lights it. The torch is then carried by many people from Olympia to the host city of that year. The last stage of the relay is when it is carried on one lap around the stadium and lights the Olympic cauldron. It is considered incredibly honorable to be chosen to light the Olympic cauldron. In the Ancient Olympics a sacred truce was held throughout Greece so that the Athletes could travel safely to Olympia. A messenger would travel all over the country to spread word of the truce. The Olympic Torch Relay symbolizes the ancient peace. The flame burns in the Olympic cauldron until close to the closing ceremony. The Olympic torch was reintroduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, and has been part of the Modern Olympics ever since. The torch travels through a route which symbolizes human achievement. In 1996 and 2000 the torch, but not the flame, was taken into space by astronauts.

Olympic Oath

During the opening ceremonies, one athlete - chosen from the hosting team - proclaims the oath whilst holding the corner of his or her national flag. The oath was written by Pierre De Coubertin and the athlete which recites it says the oath on behalf of all the athletes which are competing. The Olympic Oath was first taken by Belgian fencer Victor Boin in 1920. The Olympic Oath which was recited in 1920 was "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." In 2000, however, the oath was updated to included a promise which says athletes competing may not take drugs of any sort during the games. The currently used oath is now "In the name of all the competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." In 1972 the Olympic Oath was taken by a referee for the first time.

Ceremonies

The Olympic Games are a celebration of the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Values. The opening and closing ceremonies reflect the culture and art of the hosting country. All of the ceremonies follow the same set of rules, but each country adds their own feel to the ceremonies through their own artistic program. Before the Olympic Games, there is a lot of secrecy about what might happen at the Opening Ceremony and it is all kept confidential. In July 2008, one week prior to the beginning of the Beijing Olympics, a South Korean TV channel broadcast some footage of the rehearsal for China’s upcoming Opening Ceremony. This was not allowed and caused wide spread disappointment and annoyance throughout the world.

Creed and Motto

The Olympic MottoOne of Pierre De Coubertin’s good friends was principal of the Arcueil College, near Paris. As an energetic teacher, he used the discipline of sport as a powerful educational tool. One day, after an athletics meeting, he ended his speech three words "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (faster, higher, stronger). Struck by the short and sweet essence of this phrase, Baron Pierre de Coubertin made it the Olympic motto, pointing out that "Athletes need 'freedom of excess'. That is why we gave them this motto ... a motto for people who dare to try to break records."

The Olympic CreedThe Olympic Creed originated when Pierre de Coubertin a phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The Olympic Creed reads: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the stru"le. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought we#."

The creed and motto are meant to spur the athletes to embrace the Olympic spirit and perform to the best of their abilities.