South Africa at the Olympic Games

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Acknowledgement

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Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Olympic games” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Olympic games” and its relation with “apartheid on the athletes”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Olympic games” and tries to gauge its effect on “apartheid on the athletes”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Olympic games” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Olympic games” on “apartheid on the athletes”.

First Olympic Games in 1896 to the Present Day

Origins: the ideal role of cultural events in the Olympic Games

The idea of holding a culture and art festival within the Olympic Games celebration is embedded in the very foundations of the Olympic Movement. This movement was founded in 1894 by French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who sought to revive the ancient Greek tradition of quadrennial celebrations of athletics and the arts held in Olympia from 776 B.C. to 395 A.C. Hanna describes that in the Ancient Games, "athletes, philosophers, scholars, poets, musicians, sculptors and high-profile leaders displayed their talents, in what de Coubertin called the spirit of Olympics" (1997:72). Good (1998) specifies that Olympics was often defined by de Coubertin as the simultaneous training of the human body and the cultivation of the intellect and spirit, together viewed as manifestations of the harmoniously educated man. Upon this basis, de Couperin's dream was to create an environment in modern society where artists and athletes could again be mutually inspired. From this, it can be concluded that de Coubertin brought the Olympic Games back to life hoping to develop an internationally recognized marriage between art and sport. In support of this ambition, the Olympic Charter establishes that the three main components of the Olympic Movement are "Sport, Culture and Education" (IOC, 1999:8)(Subirós, 1991, 84).

The ability of de Coubertin to co-ordinate and attract the attention of critical decision makers around the world led to the re-birth of the Games in 1896 -Athens- and to their continuation in 1900 -Paris- and 1904 - St Louis-. Nevertheless, none of these Games incorporated arts alongside the sporting events. In order to encourage a reflection on this situation and change the pattern, the Baron convened a 'Consultative conference on Art, Letters and Sport' at the Comedies Françoise in Paris, 1906. De Coubertin invited artists, writers and sports experts to discuss how the arts could be integrated into the modern Olympic Games. The invitation stated that the purpose of the meeting was to study "to what extent ...