The author, Margit Pudas-Timonen, has studied the history of the ancient Olympic Games. The partly reconstructed colonnades once were a covered periphery of Palaestra, where wrestlers, boxers and jumpers practiced their sports. In the birthplace of the Olympic Games The shot put competition in Olympia saluted the history of the athletics

Text: Margit Pudas-Timonen years ago, 393 AD. In this timeless mo- this Stadium. The house explodes from Pictures: Mauri Timonen ment I can imagine all the 40 000 specta- cheering. I and my husband raise our tors, arriving from the regions of modern Finnish flags to honour this great mo- Today is Tuesday evening, 17 August Spain to Turkey, cheering to their favour- ment. 2004. I have arrived in Olympia, a town ites. located in Peloponnesos, Greece, at a The Stadium is surrounded by slowly Meetings and comments driving distance of about 350 km from ascending lawn slopes. In order to guar- Athens. I am just now sitting in the town antee to everybody a good view to the oday’s shot put venue is rather the amphitheatre and looking on, how skilful grounds, the ancient Olympic tradition is Tappearance of a big and well- athletics introduce the secrets of pankra- strictly followed: all except the honoured arranged village event than being a tion, one of the most popular form of guests have to sit on the lawn in their part of the modern Olympic Games. sports in Ancient Greece. Modern forms designed zones. Tiers of seats in a spe- icadas in the Sanctuary and its sur- of wrestling, karate and judo have cific zone have been reserved for the croundings fill the air with chirping adopted many features from this struggle honoured people. Determined officials sound. I realize similar sounds were sports. The impressive act leads me this and the public make sure that everybody raising the spirit in the ancient Olympics, cooling evening to the spirit of the an- sits as expected. too. cient Olympics. I am sitting on the lawn close to the hile cheering the first feminine shot Tomorrow will one of my most touch- shot put the ring. There is a stone forma- put attempt, a cameraman dressed ing dreams come true: I shall bewittness tion on my left side. Once it used to be W in white-and-blue clothes directs his new history of athletics in the shot put the box seat of jury, aristocracy, phi- camera towards me, my husband and our event of the Athens Olympic games. This losophers and other educated people. Finnish flags and takes a long shot. He specific event takes place in the Sanctuary There is a stony stand on the opposite side raises his thumb saying in Finnish: of Olympia, in the home of Olympic of the field. It used to be the site of the “Greetings to home”. What a surprising spirit. It is also the place, where the first oracle of Olympia. She was the only and pleasant moment just now! Olympic Games in 776 BC were held, woman, who was allowed to be present in I have been all day watching his and thereafter frequently up to 393 AD. the Stadium during the Olympic Games. skilled and careful working. Carrying a The Games would now return here after a I wake up from my exciting daydream heavy camera on his shoulder, repeatedly pause of 1611 years, but only to stay here and see a shot put ring just in the middle kneeing down in front of every shot put this unique moment to honour the tradi- of these historical landmarks. But I still athletics for better shots, doing this both tion of the ancient Olympics. Regarding want to return back in my mind to 776 in the qualification and the final, surely the future events, archeologists claim that BC, the year, when the first Olympic A Finnish blue-and-white line in the unique shot put event of the Ancient Stadium of Olympia: a cheering group, Hannu Vaarala, a cameraman from YLE, the requires good physical condition and the site of the Sanctuary of Olympic is Games were held here. That time cook Finnish Broadcasting Company, and Tepa Reinikainen, a Finnish shot put athlete, in his attemp to qualify to the final. patience in today’s heat. too sensitive to any mass events. Koroibos from the nearby town of Elis I meet him, Hannu Vaarala, later on I am now excited and tuned up to wait won the only race of the Games, the 192- in the evening. He tells about the hectic for tomorrow to come. metre stadion run event. I feel to be twenty-four hours of the YLE (The privileged to sit just here and now! Finnish Broadcasting company) team. The Sanctuary of Olympia Meetings and Comments They had arrived the preceding night after I pass high-spirited the security control The modern olympics a five-hour bus ride from Athens. Then and enter the Sanctuary of Olympia. I they had organized their work early in the started from Paron De morning and started to broadcast the already have become familiar with this Coubertin’s suggested area, because I was here a couple of qualification of shot put at 9.30. The months ago. Poet Pindaros, who lived in principle that partici- finals started at 16.00 ans now, at 8 pm, the 400s BC, regarded this intersection of pation is more impor- they are packing and preparing to return the two rivers, Cladeus and Alfeus, as tant than victory. back by bus to Athens, where next day’s the most beautiful place in Greece. Comparing to the An- work is waiting. Friendly Athens2004 volunteers greet ecause a Finnish shot put athletic cient Olympics 2800 th their guests on the bridge of Cladeus. Tepa Reinikainen, the 13 of the The rivers flooded in the 700s so that all years ago, it was the Bqualifying, and the first one to be out the buildings of the Sancturary were opposite because of the of the final, is depressed. I go to him and completely filled (and preserved) by a six Zeus cult: only victory comfort cheerfully : "Let’s see in Beijing meters high silt layer. Over 1000 years was important. after four years". A sign of smile appears passed before the English archeologist in his face. Richard Chandler relocated the sanctu- kka Kanerva, a cabinet-member of ary in 1766. The excavations were started I always, even as a small child, have Ithe IAAF and the head of the Finnish in 1875 and are still going on. regarded both the United Nations and Federation of Athletics, is one the few The Sanctuary of Olympia can be di- the Olympic Movement to be as the only Finns attending the qualification event. vided into three parts: the Temple area, forums, where nations still can meet He naturally is disappointed with not the Stadium and the Hippodrome, which each other. But soon would also the seeing any blue-white colours in the final, was washed out by the river. modern and the ancient Olympic Games but he, however, having a realistic atti- The gate opening to the Temple area is meet. tude, says that qualifying from the 44 Hannu Vaarala − one of the heroes closed for security reasons. Considering The shot put event officials, wearing participants into the group of 12, is not at in the Finnish broadcasting work the historical significance of the shot put the 1896 styled dark suits and white all self-evident. John Godina, a world- event, it is a pity that the majority of the boaters, step ceremonially through the class shot putter from the United States, Olympic guests seem to be less or more Roman-built gate to the Stadium, from faced great difficulties qualifying no`t ignorant about the great history of this the direction of the Sanctuary. I feel like until with his third attempt. cient Silk Road connected the Europe ancient sanctuary − or expressed in sports himself Pierre de Coubertin would be Our discussion turns soon to the history and the Far East of those times. It is terms: the physical-training college. The leading them. The traditional dressing, the the Sanctuary. While introducing the evident that the Olympic Games culture ruins of many ancient buildings and open manually operated result boards, the historical aspects of the Stadium, Dr has left its signs as well to Chinese athlet- areas give clear proof on the athletics minimized modern techniques and Ernest Obeng, Director of Broadcasting Ilkka Kanerva, a cabinet-member of the IAAF and the head of the Finnish Federation of Athletics and Dr Ernest ics as to their everyday life. A good activities, for example the Stadium, sitting on the lawn bring us much closer in the IAAF, joins us for a while. Ilkka Obeng, Director of Broadcasting in the IAAF. both former top class athletes, highlight here the ancient Olympic Spirit example is pankration that may have Gymnasium, Palaestra, Bathhouse and to the ancient Olympics. and Ernest, both former top class athletes, by trying the ancient starting line carved from marble. The athletics of the first Olympic Games in 776 BC were on developed gradually even to its ancient Sports Club. The modern olympics started from listening my talk about the channels on the same line, but the starting position was not as modern as here. form as a result of the Asian-European I can feel the ancient Olympic Spirit in Baron De Coubertin’s suggested principle the ancient marbled starting line, sud- cultural cooperation. A closer study of my heart. I feel sorry the olympic guests, that participation is more important than denly get inspired to put away their knap- ing the world championships in Helsinki Chinese history may expose many more because they are not allowed to walk victory. Comparing to the Ancient Olym- sacks, to roll up sleeves and finally to 2005. He hopes to see the Finnish shot details about the general development of through the Temple area to the Stadium. pics 2800 years ago, it was the opposite take stand on the starting line to highlight put athletes there and then in Beijing The past and modern games the ancient Olympic Games. Then they would have realized, how because of the God Zeus cult: only vic- the ancient Olympic Spirit. 2008. We actually do not know much about seriously and thoroughly athletics were tory was important. An athlete, who won ƒ Only men participate in the ƒ Philosophers worked as sports wo impressive shot put athletes from the earlier history of the Olympic Games, respected thousands of years ago. Inter- in the Olympics, was believed to have Olympics, now women started reporters in the antiquity, now Tonga and Samoa bring their exotic Future games in Ancient Olympia? the time before 776 BC. There is no estingly, aiming at utmost results, all the divine characteristics. But the one, who T the shot put event. broadcasting companies and colour to this historical event. Ana reason, why the Olympic Games would possible means of medicine, food knowl- was the second or the third, was a looser, ƒ Flute playing rhythmed the the press. Pou’hila, a charming person from The utmost highlight in the Ath- not have adopted features from the over edge and physical exercises were used in who disgraced seriously his family. His athletes of antiquity, replaced ƒ Ancient Olympics took place in Tonga, gave her contribution to women’s ens2004 Olympics was no doubt the shot 4000 years old culture of China. Study- those days. I would like them to see the fortune sometimes was to be abandoned with favourite melodies of to- the heat of July, now in cooler shot put. This time her challenge ended in put event in the ancient Olympic Sta- ing this and many other related questions ruins of Palaestra, a rectangular area with by his family, and in worst case even to day August. the qualification. She wishes to attend the dium. It seems this event will be unique: will be in my focus during the next olym- covered periphery. There wrestlers, box- be killed. The youngster often considered ƒ Drinking water run in ground- ƒ Only victory was important Helsinki World Championships next year. archeologists claim arranging any mass piad. ers and jumpers practiced their sports in best to move to another location. side channels in the Ancient earlier, now also participation Her trainer Dragan Ivanov is, however, sports events in the future would danger order to prepare to the Olympic Games. Olympic Stadium, bottled wa- is appreciated. Recommended reading: satisfied with Ana’s results after just the Sanctuary’s fragile archeological Luckily, the road going to the stadium is ter is today’s solution. ƒ Ancient athletics served the Women’s equality at the Stadium− Finally three years of training. She analyses buildings and unearthed treasures. The Olympia. Archeological guides. Explorer located on higher elevation on the hillside ƒ Ancient athletics were naked, religious Zeus-cult, now na- thoroughly all the shot puts with her site is simply too sensitive to bear any 2004. Athens. 198 pp. of Cronos. Thus the guests can catch a The epoch-making and touching event now they wear multi-coloured tions get the honour. trainer. And as I interview her, I almost mass events. And as the site is also a part The Olympic Games in ancient Greece. glimpse of the ancient town. is about to take place: women would clothes . ƒ Ancient Olympics were held in soon for the first time in the history of the can touch her strong will … No doubt, of the irrecoverable heritage of antiquity, Travel guides 2003. Ekdotike Athenon ƒ The public of antiquity came Greece, modern Olympics in Ana belongs to the group of future Olym- its environmental stress has to be re- S.A. 304 pp. Olympic Games compete here. This from the Spain-Turkey axis, any country. The Ancient Olympic Games in 2004 pic winners. mained minimal, practically just on a makes me to speculate the present status nowadays from all over the Entering the stadium is touching: fly- strong looking Samoan shot put small-scaled tourist level. ƒ Ancient wars were paused of women in our modern world. I can world. ing flags, welcoming volunteers in their hear affection also in the announcer’s Aathlete, whom I meet in the main during the Olympic Games, colourful clothes and music from the voice. street of Olympia, wonders, where Challenge for Beijing 2008 today not. album of the Enyan Orinogo River giv- Soon the first shot put attempt of the have all the Finnish shot put athletes ing a timeless impression. This music is a qualification thudes on the ground. That’s disappeared. He particularly remembers Only one state, China, has survived The Finnish version of this article was originally published in Pohjolan Sanomat 22 August 2004. The English version includes united throughout the whole 2800-year perfect choice for this event, because the it: the seal for men’s and women’s equal- Sydney’s gold medalist Arsi Harju’s complementary notes that are not printed in the original text. Contact info: Margit Pudas-Timonen [email protected] history of the Olympic Games. The an- previous Olympic Games took place 1611 ity in the Olympic Games is now true on handsome nature. I welcome him attent- +358 40 5234 256, Mauri Timonen [email protected] +358 40 5875865 and Heikki Lääkkölä [email protected] +358 16 291 276 1