T HE OLYMP IC GAMES

most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.”

O LYMPIC ISSUES

• War - In ancient Greece, a one-month truce T HE OLYMPIC GAMES was called and all fighting stopped during the Every four years, a unique international Games. The modern Olympics were sporting event called the Olympics is held. This cancelled three times (1916, 1940, 1944) brings together athletes from over 100 countries because of World War I and World War II. around the world for two weeks of athletic • Money - The Olympics are based on the events. The Olympic Games were established to ideals of amateurism, yet medal winners earn further world peace and international friendship big money, nations spend large amounts on by replacing military competition with athletic their teams, and the Games have become competition. highly commercialized.

There is both a Summer Olympics and a • Nationalism - Countries compete to see Winter Olympics. Previous summer Olympics which one will get the most medals. Many have been held in Barcelona, Seoul, Atlanta and people only cheer for their own nations. Sydney. This year, the Summer Olympics will • Drugs - Athletes under intense pressure to be held in the city of Athens, Greece from win Olympic medals for their countries use August 13 - 29, 2004. steroids and other illegal drugs.

T HE ANCIENT GREEK GAMES • Racism - Adolf Hitler expected the 1936 The Olympic Games began about 3500 years Berlin Olympics to promote Nazism and ago in ancient Greece. The first recorded prove the white race was superior. He was Olympic Games took place at the town of shocked when Jesse Owens and nine other Olympia in 776 BC. The first Olympics were Black athletes won 8 gold medals. South only running races, but gradually other events Africa was banned from the Olympics for were added. All participants had to compete years because of its racist apartheid system. naked, with no clothes. The ancient Olympics • Sexism - Women weren’t allowed to were finally stopped by a Roman Emperor who compete at all in the ancient Olympics. They was a Christian in the year 393 AD. couldn’t take part in track and field events until the year 1928. T HE MODERN OLYMPICS • Health - A Special Olympics is held for After 393 AD, no games were held for over people with mental handicaps and a Para- 1,500 years. The modern Olympics were lympics for those with physical disabilities. revived in the 19th century by an idealistic Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin. He had QUESTIONS read about the ancient Greek Olympics and 1. How often are the Olympic Games held? wanted to restart the games. He believed the 2. How long do they last? Olympic Games could contribute to world peace 3. How many countries usually participate? and international friendship. Thanks to him, the 4. Where were some of the previous Summer first modern Olympics were held in Athens in Olympic Games held? 1896, and the Games have been held regularly 5. When and where will the 2004 Olympic since then every four years. Games be held? 6. When were the first recorded Olympics? O LYMPIC DATA 7. Did athletes wear clothes in the ancient • Olympic Symbol The five interlocking Greek Olympic Games? rings represent the five continents (Europe, 8. Who stopped the first Olympics? When? Asia, Africa, Australia, and America) and 9. Who revived the Olympics? When? stand for international friendship. 10. What does the Olympic symbol stand for? • Olympic Motto The motto of the Olympic 11. What’s the Olympic motto? Games is Citius, Altius, Fortius meaning 12. Who are the Special Olympics for? swifter, higher, stronger in Latin. 13. Who are the Paralympics for? • Olympic Creed “The most important 14. Explain the issue of.... war / money / thing is not to win but to take part, just as the nationalism / drugs / racism / sexism.

Global Issues in Language Education 13 Newsletter Issue #53 April 2004