British Olympism in Retrospect

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF OLYMPIC HISTORIANS Bsmmhi O m m m ËMmMMKmr Is the future more of the same? Don Anthony 009 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Wenlock’s paper this year to honour Gutsmuths. On the same plat 2Dr. William Penny Brookes and Shrewsbury’s Charles form receiving the same degree was UK Prime Minister Darwin. A feature on “The origin of the Olympian William Ewart Gladstone (W.E.G.) Gladstone was bom species” might thus be my most relevant title -..but this in Liverpool—the son of Scots Sir John Gladstone and can await its moment in time. For the moment I want his wife Anne Robertson. Gladstone, who had married merely to skate over the fascinating history of how the a Welsh lady and lived at her family’s ancestral home at parts of British Olympism have created to the whole Hawarden, North Wales, was also a noted Hellenist. At and to challenge the reader to consider our future direc his library, now gifted to the nation as Britain’s only resi tions. Here follows a somewhat playful and irreverent dential -library, he had a table for relaxation named “The analysis. Homer Table”. In his valedictory speech at St. Andrews,a paper fifty printed pages long, there are nine pages men Scottish Olympians tioning Olympic matters. It was thus not surprising that It is also 250 years since the birth of Robbie Bums! both Dr. Brookes and the young Pierre de Coubertin What has the Scottish national poet. Robbie Bums, to both sought the views of this unique political Olympian do with the Olympic family you might ask? A tangen thinker! tial relationship I agree but it is quite significant. In One of “WEG’s” sons—Herbert—was also an M.P. 1893 the Scottish University of St. Andrews conferred He was elected President of the newly formed National the title Honorary Doctor of Letters on one Demetrius Physical Recreation Society (NPRS) in 1886. This Vikelas. This Hon. D. Litt was to appreciate the work of body brought together the many sports and gymnastics Vikelas in translating Bums into Greek (he also trans clubs throughout Britain. It inherited the work of the lated Shakespeare). One year later Vikelas was elected National Olympian Association (NOA)and even their President of the newly formed International Olympic motto. Moreover,one of the first actions of its secretary Committee. 250 years is also more significant. It was the Alexander Alexander, was to invite Dr. Brookes on to its birth of Gutsmuths the German sports educationist who Executive Committee. Alexander had taken over from strongly influenced people such as Dr. Penny Brookes the late John Hulley at the Liverpool Gymnasium. It was of Wenlock. Our President Karl Lennartz is preparing a there in 1865 that the NOA was established—“open to the J o u rn a l o f Olympic History 17(August 2009)Number 2 3 3 world—to all-comers”—with prizes not only for sports to buy presents for his family! ICSPE’s President Philip but also for intellectual attainments. Hulley chaired the Noel-Baker, the unique Nobel-Olympian, had a Scottish foundation meeting and Ernst George Ravenstein came mother. up from the German Gymnastics Society in London. Coubertin’s colleague and “second in command”, This triumvirate organized the 1st National Olympian Professor William Milligan Sloane had Scottish Games in London in 1866. Hulley was unashamedly a Presbyterian ancestry. Current Honorary IOC Member, professional teacher of gymnastics—he insisted on Mary Glen-Haig had a Scottish father. Current promi the Greek title “Gymnasiarch” (Physical Education nent IOC Member Craig Reedie also cannot escape his teacher). Brookes was a surgeon (FRCS) and polymath. Scottish heritage—and his interest in golf. Golf was an Ravenstein was an eminent geographer and mapmaker ; early Olympic sport with Scottish roots. a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS) his In 1908 the Olympic Games sailing was seen on the work as Director of the German Gymnasium was honor river Clyde. For many years up to fairly recently the ary. With Hulley, Ravenstein later wrote a book on gym British Olympic association was served by Scot K.S. nastics. Ravenstein’s father. August, had close connec Duncan (Sandy) as General Secretary—until being tions with F.L Jahn—and thus another nice relationship replaced by his assistant,Welshman Richard Palmer! to the work of Gutsmuths. The Treasurer of the NPRS 2009 is also the centenary year of Loughborough was one Arthur (Lord) Kinnaird. Scottish Kinnaird was University. Scots students were prominent from pre- also a leading light in the YMCA movement. We often World War II days. George McKenzie travelled up forget that the YMCA matured in the USA but began in weekly from London to teach wrestling—he competed London. Kinnaird is remembered for his development of at five Olympic Games. Swimmer Albert Kinnear com Polytechnics in the capital and the stadium in his name peted in the 1948 Games before developing the official still stands in Chiswick, London. His Club Polytechnic national swimming scheme . Harriers was represented at the foundation meeting of Robert Wight studied at the Loughborough College the IOC in 1894. Kinnaird himself was named, together School of Games and Athletics before being appointed as with Herbert Gladstone, as a member of the “Comité Director of Physical Education at Leicester University. Brittanique”, by Coubertin, as early as 1902. Two years He was instrumental in creating opportunities for many later he was a member of the “welcoming committee” college and university teachers ,including myself, to gain for the IOC’s session in London—a “first outing” as higher degrees on a part-time basis—at a time when Coubertin put it. Kinnaird was also a long-time President basic training did not gain graduate status. He would be of the Football Association and this seems to have domi delighted that Loughborough University this year will nated his last years. However the NPRS was named as offer Honorary Bachelor degrees to all those College a founding body of the British Olympic association in Diploma holders of the past—as part of their centenary 1905. Kinnaird’s Scottish friend, Lord Balfour, who celebrations. Loughborough is now well-known world also became UK Prime Minister, was down on the list wide for it sporting and Olympic bias. of Honorary Members at the IOC foundation meeting in Nevertheless Scotland can boast its own Dunfermline 1894. College of Physical Education. One of the first three year The YMCA in the USA introduced university degrees courses of study in that subject—in Britain For a short in physical education in the early 1900’s. Basketball and while it was coeducational! The subsequent Jordanhill volleyball, even before that, started as YMCA games College (men) and Dunfermline College (women), then before being exported globally. It is sometimes forgotten took up the cudgels for physical education training until that the Life General Secretary of FIBA (basketball), fairly recent times. In studies on financing these devel Dr. William Jones, a Springfield College (YMCA) grad opments the name Carnegie—a Scottish-born finan uate, made his mark with the successful management cier—always occurs. Millionaire Andrew Carnegie also of a gigantic assembly of the YMCA in Paris—in the aided another English College—at Leeds—to develop mid-19 fifties. He was subsequently appointed Director courses for intending physical education teachers. The of the UNESCO Youth Institute in Germany and estab name has recently been revived a propos a University lished the International Council of Sport and Physical and a Rugby Club in that city. Education (ICSPE) in 1960. At this time, and right up Allow me to digress a little in this essay when I turn to the appointment of Lord Killanin as IOC President, to Poland. On one of my journeys there with my Polish ICSPE—UNESCO, led Olympic education—not the wife I saw on a city map “Jordan Parks”. Public spaces IOC,which was conducted by a Swiss jeweller Otto for basic recreation as it happened—in Cracow and else Meyer in Lausanne,part-time, plus a small Olympic where. The idea was started by a Henryck Jordan. But Museum. Indeed the centenary of Coubertin’s birth “Jordan” is a common Scottish name I thought. Imagine (1963) was conducted at UNESCO House in Paris, and my surprise to discover that in Jacobean times some there was a leading paper by the USA—YMCA delegate. 45000 Scottish catholics had to emigrate to Poland to Jones had a Welsh name but also Scottish forbears and escape persecution! Henryck would have come out always, on his London visits, called on the Scottish shops of that exodus I imagine... and still today the largest 3 4 J o u r n a l of Olympic History 17(August 2009)Number 2 099 Caledonian Society outside Scotland is found in Cracow! Olympic Festival in Llandudno—missing out his home Traditional Scottish Highland Games also tallied with city of Liverpool that year. At these North Wales Games the Olympic idea by combining sport and arts. It is always there were medals awarded and since most competi illuminating and refreshing to join with the throwers and tors stayed at the same hotel—the idea of an Olympian heavers, after a Highland Games, and sing with them at Village was bom. There was also a sailing event from their “Caelidh” dinner—sometime Robbie Bums verses the host city to Liverpool. Earlier still a Mr. Douglas ,the as well! On my own first experience of such a Caelidh editor of the “North Wales Echo” provided the words of our English group was asked to sing a song, and the only the winning ode in the 1860 Wenlock Olympian Games.

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