Olympic Games - Then and Now There Was an Estimate That Four Billion 1912 Stockholm Sweden State Police

August 16-31, 2008

A Step Back in Time By Bobbie Sue Shelton-Lonas Olympic Games - Then and Now There was an estimate that four billion 1912 Stockholm Sweden State Police. It was estimated as many as began 16 days of athletic competition, fea- people watched the Opening Ceremony for 1920 Antwerp Belgium 2,000, possibly more, watched and cheered tured a tribute to the ancient Greek games the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Bei- 1924 Paris France as a caravan of Olympic vehicles and the and slain civil rights leader Martin Luther jing, China on August 8th. The opening cer- 1928 Amsterdam Netherlands torchbearer was ushered through town. King, Jr. Former world heavyweight box- emony for the Olympic Games is the biggest 1932 Los Angeles California USA The Olympic torch entered Tennessee from ing champion and Olympic gold medal- live production of it’s kind. There’s pres- 1936 Berlin Germany the Carolinas and spent the night in Knox- list, Muhammad Ali, lit the Olympic torch, sure to perform, pressure to be imaginative 1948 London England ville before moving to Nashville. It was which completed a 15,000-mile trek across and for the host country, it’s like inviting the 1952 Helsinki Finland guarded by Georgia State Patrol troopers the United States. that evening. The following morning, the world into your living room. So for the next 1956 Melbourne/Stokholm Australia The games featured 28 delegations that torch continued its cross-country trek en two weeks, the world will be guests of Bei- 1960 Rome Italy were participating for the fi rst time. Tight route to Atlanta. After passing through jing, watching extraordinary athletes exhibit 1964 Tokyo Japan security and Atlanta’s hot and humid Au- years of training and the best, awarded for Nashville and Franklin it made its way 1968 Mexico City Mexico gust weather were major concerns for their hard work and dedication. into Eagleville, which was the only city in Olympic organizers and those attending the 1972 Munich Germany Rutherford County that had this honor. The Just how far back in history, organized games. In spite of security precautions, a 1976 Montreal Canada Olympic fl ame began its 84-day journey in athletic contests were held, remains a matter homemade pipe bomb loaded with nails and 1980 Moscow Russia Los Angeles on April 27th. Since that time, of debate. Of all the games held throughout screws exploded at a late-night concert in 1984 Los Angeles California USA the fl ame traveled by several methods, the Greece, the Olympic Games were the most Centennial Olympic Park, killing one per- 1988 Seoul Korea most unusual being by train, steamboat, famous. Held every four years between Au- son and wounding more than 100 others. 1992 Barcelona Spain crop duster airplane and horseback. gust 6 and September 19, they occupied such 1996 Atlanta Georgia USA* Atlanta, Georgia was chosen for the lo- To show Eagleville’s appreciation of be- an important place in Greek history, that the 2000 Sydney Australia cation of the 1996 Olympic Games over late antiquity historians measured time by the ing on the torch route, the businesses as well 2004 Athens Greece Athens, Greece, Belgrade Yugoslavia, interval between them—an Olympiad. The as homeowners decorated windows, poles, 2008 Beijing China Manchester Great Britain, Melbourne Aus- Olympic Games, like almost all Greek games, mailboxes and almost any available space tralia and Toronto Canada. It took 47,466 were an intrinsic part of a religious festival. Winter Olympic Games for two miles along Main Street, from the volunteers to assist in all aspects of the 16 city limits on the north end to the city lim- The modern Olympic Games are named 1924 Chamonix France days of events. I don’t know if anyone its south of Eagleville. Red, white and blue for athletic contests held in ancient Greece 1928 St. Moritz Switzerland from this area attended the Olympic Games were the colors of the day. A small parade, for almost 12 centuries. They were banned 1932 Lake Placid NewYork USA in Atlanta but everyone who was in atten- complete with the Eagleville High School in AD 394 but were revived and made inter- 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen dance in Eagleville, Tennessee on June Color Guard and several law enforcement national in 1896. The Winter Games were (Twin Bavarian Cities) 26, 1996 when the torch passed through, vehicles and guests preceded the torch. added in 1924. World War I and II forced 1948 St. Moritz Switzerland participated in the pre-games by cheering cancellation of the Olympics in 1916, 1940, 1952 Oslo Norway The centennial Olympic Games opened the torchbearer and the Olympic caravan and 1944, but they resumed in 1948 and are 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Italy August 4th, in Atlanta, Georgia with 10,318 through our town, an experience that may held every four years. In 1986 the Interna- 1960 Squaw Valley California USA athletes from a record of 197 nations in at- not ever happen again. tional Olympic Committee voted to change 1964 Innsbruck Austria tendance. The opening ceremonies, which the schedule of the Olympic Games so that 1968 Grenoble Germany the Summer and Winter Games would be 1972 Sapporo Japan held in different years. After 1992 the Win- 1976 Innsbruck Austria ter and Summer Games were no longer held 1980 Lake Placid New York USA within the same calendar year. To adjust to 1984 Sarajevo Yugoslavia this new schedule, the Lillehammer, Nor- 1988 Calgary Canada way Winter Games were held in 1994, the 1992 Albertsville France only time that two Games have been staged 1994 Lillehammer Norway two years apart. The Winter Games were 1998 Nagano Japan played after only a two-year interval and every four years thereafter. The Summer 2002 Salt Lake City Utah USA Games were scheduled for 1996, and every 2006 Turin Italy four years thereafter. The following is a list 2010 To be held in Vancouver Canada of location and year of the Olympic Games; * In 1996 when the Summer Olympic Summer Games since 1896 and Winter Games were held in Atlanta, Georgia, our Games since 1924. small community played a part in the pre- Summer Olympic Games game events. On June 26, 1996 a record crowd of people gathered in our highly dec- 1896 Athens Greece orated little town, Eagleville, to watch the 1900 Paris France Olympic Torch be escorted through down- 1904 St. Louis Missouri USA town by the Eagleville Police, Rutherford 1908 London England County Sheriff’s Patrol and the Georgia Main Street in 1996 as the Olympic torch was being escorted through Eagleville.