The Olympics, Explained

Summary

This video explores the rich history of the Olympics, from its ancient Greek origins in 776 BC to its revival in the 19th century by Pierre de Coubertin. It highlights the evolution of the games, the introduction of the Olympic rings symbolizing global unity, and the inclusion of women, black athletes, Paralympics, and refugee teams. The video also discusses how the Olympics have been used for political propaganda and as a platform for social change, with examples such as Jesse Owens' triumph in Nazi Germany and the 1968 Black Power salute. It emphasizes the importance of the Olympic spirit in bringing people together and fostering a sense of global community.

Takeaways

• 🏅 The Olympics originated in 776 BC in Greece but was quite different from the modern games, featuring nude athletes and sometimes lethal contests.
• ⛔ In 393 AD, the Olympics were banned by a Christian ruler, leading to a long period of inactivity until the 19th century.
• 🇫🇷 Pierre de Coubertin, a Frenchman, played a pivotal role in reviving the Olympics, establishing the International Olympic Committee in 1894.
• 🏟️ The first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece, in the Panathinaiko Stadium, an ancient marble structure.
• 🌐 The Olympic rings symbolize the unity of the five inhabited continents, with the colors chosen to represent all national flags.
• 🤝 The International Olympic Committee initially allowed women and black athletes to participate, promoting inclusivity from the early 20th century.
• 👥 The Paralympics for athletes with disabilities and a refugee team were introduced in the 1960s and 2016, respectively, further expanding inclusivity.
• 🚫 Professional athletes were not allowed to compete until 1986, with early exceptions leading to controversy, such as Jim Thorpe's case in 1912.
• 🏛️ The Olympics have been used for political propaganda, both to promote and challenge ideologies, as seen in the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the 1968 Mexico City Games.
• 🌍 The games have been held in 43 different cities across five continents, reflecting their global reach and impact.

Q & A

When and where did the ancient Olympic Games originally begin?

The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC in Greece.

How were the ancient Olympic Games different from the modern ones?

In the ancient Olympics, participants performed in the nude, fought to the death, and the games were conducted in the name of pagan gods.

Why and when were the Olympic Games banned?

The Olympic Games were banned in 393 AD by a Christian ruler who prohibited all pagan practices, including the Olympics.

Who is credited with reviving the Olympic Games and what was his vision?

Pierre de Coubertin, a Frenchman, is credited with reviving the Olympic Games. His vision was to promote sportsmanship and the spirit of striving to become one's best.

What does the Olympic Creed, established by Pierre de Coubertin, emphasize?

The Olympic Creed emphasizes that the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, and it is more about having fought well than having conquered.

When was the International Olympic Committee founded and where were the first modern Olympic Games held?

The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894, and the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece.

What is the significance of the Olympic rings and what do they symbolize?

The Olympic rings symbolize the unity of the five inhabited continents, with each ring representing a continent, and the colors chosen to represent at least one color found in every national flag.

When were women and black athletes first allowed to participate in the Olympic Games?

Women and black athletes were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games as early as 1900.

What was the historical significance of the 1936 Berlin Olympics?

The 1936 Berlin Olympics were significant because Hitler intended to use them to promote his ideas of a superior race, but this was undermined when Jesse Owens, a black athlete from the US, won four gold medals.

How did the 1968 Mexico Olympics highlight racial issues in the United States?

During the 1968 Mexico Olympics, two US runners, Tommy Smith and John Carlos, protested against racial violence in America, leading to their suspension from the US team.

What was the impact of the 1980 Olympics on US-Soviet Union relations during the Cold War?

The 1980 Olympics featured a match between the US and Soviet Union hockey teams, which was dubbed by Sports Illustrated as the top sports moment of the 20th century, reflecting the tense relations between the two countries during the Cold War.

Outlines

00:00

🏅 The Origins and Evolution of the Olympic Games

The paragraph delves into the history of the Olympic Games, starting from their ancient roots in 776 BC in Greece, where they were initially held in honor of pagan gods and involved nude athletes and even deadly combat. It discusses how the Games were banned in 393 AD by a Christian ruler and remained dormant until the 19th century. Pierre de Coubertin, a Frenchman, is credited with reviving the Olympic spirit, emphasizing sportsmanship and the struggle for self-improvement over victory. He established the International Olympic Committee in 1894, leading to the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896. The paragraph also touches on the design of the Olympic rings by Coubertin in 1912, symbolizing unity among continents, and the evolution of the Games to include women, black athletes, and eventually professional athletes from 1986. It highlights the Games' use for political propaganda, with examples like the 1936 Berlin Olympics under Nazi Germany, where Jesse Owens' victories contradicted Hitler's ideologies, and the 1968 Mexico Olympics, where racial protests occurred.

05:01

🌐 The Olympic Games as a Global Platform for Unity and Resilience

This paragraph continues the narrative by discussing the Olympic Games' role as a global platform that transcends sports, often reflecting the socio-political climate of the times. It mentions the 1964 Tokyo Olympics as a symbol of Japan's peaceful emergence post-World War II, and the 1968 Mexico Olympics, where athletes protested racial violence. The paragraph also recounts the 'Miracle on Ice' during the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, where the US hockey team's victory over the Soviet Union was a significant moment during the Cold War. It concludes with the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, held shortly after the 9/11 attacks, symbolizing resilience and unity. The speaker encourages viewers to visit Olympic cities if possible, reflecting on the profound impact of the Games and their venues, such as the ancient stadium in Athens and the arena in Berlin. The paragraph ends with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content by liking and subscribing, and a mention of a travel resource website, Brighttrip.com.

Keywords

💡Olympics

The Olympics is an international multi-sport event that serves as a platform for global athletic competition. It symbolizes unity, sportsmanship, and international cooperation. In the video, the Olympics is traced back to its origins in 776 BC in Greece and its revival in the 19th century by Pierre de Coubertin. The script discusses the evolution of the games, from a pagan ritual to a modern global event, and how it has been used to promote unity and peace among nations.

💡Pierre de Coubertin

Pierre de Coubertin is recognized as the founder of the modern Olympic Games. He was a French educator and historian who advocated for the revival of the Olympic spirit based on the principles of sportsmanship and international camaraderie. The video highlights his role in establishing the International Olympic Committee in 1894 and organizing the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

💡Olympic Creed

The Olympic Creed, as mentioned in the script, encapsulates the philosophy behind the modern Olympic Games. It emphasizes the importance of effort and participation over winning, stating that 'the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle, the essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.' This creed reflects the video's theme of promoting sportsmanship and personal growth through competition.

💡Olympic Rings

The Olympic Rings are a symbol of the Olympic Movement, representing the five inhabited continents and the unity of athletes from around the world. Designed by Coubertin in 1912, each ring symbolizes a continent, and the colors were chosen to be inclusive, reflecting the diversity of participating nations. The rings are used in the video to illustrate the message of global unity and cooperation that the Olympics aim to foster.

💡Paralympics

The Paralympics are an international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, established in the 1960s. The video mentions the creation of the Paralympics as an extension of the Olympic spirit to include athletes with disabilities, showcasing the commitment to inclusivity and the belief that sportsmanship and competition are for everyone, regardless of physical ability.

💡Refugee Team

The Refugee Team, introduced in 2016, is a group of athletes who compete in the Olympics as refugees. The video highlights this initiative as a testament to the Olympic spirit's commitment to inclusivity and support for those displaced by conflict or persecution, demonstrating that the Olympics can serve as a platform for solidarity and representation for marginalized groups.

💡Professional Athletes

The video discusses the historical ban on professional athletes participating in the Olympics, which was in place to maintain the purity of amateur sportsmanship. It wasn't until 1986 that professional athletes were allowed to compete. The script uses the example of Jim Thorpe, who was stripped of his medals in 1912 for playing professional baseball, to illustrate the evolution of the rules and the changing attitudes towards professionalism in sports.

💡Political Propaganda

The Olympics have sometimes been used as a tool for political propaganda, as the video suggests. It provides examples such as the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where Hitler attempted to promote his ideas of Aryan superiority, and the 1968 Mexico Olympics, where athletes protested racial violence. These instances show how the Olympics can reflect and be influenced by the political and social climate of the time.

💡Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens is a significant figure in Olympic history, mentioned in the video for his triumph at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Owens, an African American athlete, won four gold medals in track and field, defying Hitler's notions of racial superiority. His achievements are highlighted in the video as a symbol of the potential for the Olympics to challenge and change societal norms and prejudices.

💡Unity

Unity is a central theme in the video, emphasizing the Olympics' role in bringing people together from diverse backgrounds for a common purpose. The script discusses how the Olympics transcends political, social, and cultural differences to foster a sense of global community and cooperation. The examples of the Paralympics and the Refugee Team further illustrate the commitment to inclusivity and unity that the Olympics represents.

Highlights

The Olympics symbol is universally recognized as the largest and most global event for athleticism.

The ancient Olympics began in 776 BC in Greece, featuring nude athletes and contests to the death in honor of pagan gods.

The Olympics were a tradition that superseded political situations, setting aside war for these games.

The Olympics were banned in 393 AD by a Christian ruler, leading to their dormancy until the 19th century.

Pierre de Coubertin, a Frenchman, revived the Olympics with a focus on sportsmanship and the Olympic creed.

The Olympic creed emphasizes the struggle and the fight, not merely the triumph and conquest.

The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894, leading to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

The 1896 Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in the Panathinaiko Stadium, built in the 6th century BC.

The Olympic rings designed in 1912 symbolize the inhabited continents and the unity of the world.

The colors of the Olympic rings were chosen to be represented in every national flag at the time.

The IOC had to make numerous decisions regarding the games, including the events, frequency, and participants.

Women and black athletes were allowed to participate in the Olympics as early as 1900.

The Paralympics were created in the 1960s for athletes with disabilities, and a refugee team was added in 2016.

Professional athletes were not allowed in the Olympics until 1986, with Jim Thorpe's case being a notable early example.

The Olympics have been used to push political propaganda, as seen in the 1936 Berlin Games under Nazi Germany.

Jesse Owens' four gold medals in 1936 contradicted Hitler's ideas of Aryan superiority.

The 1964 Tokyo Olympics marked Japan's re-emergence as a peaceful nation post-World War II.

Tommy Smith and John Carlos' protest at the 1968 Mexico Olympics highlighted racial violence in America.

The 1980 'Miracle on Ice' between the US and Soviet Union hockey teams became a symbol of the Cold War.

The 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics showed resilience and unity following the 9/11 attacks.

The modern Olympics have been held in 43 different cities across five continents, a testament to Coubertin's vision.

Traveling to Olympic cities can provide a deep understanding of the Olympics' history and impact.

Transcripts

[Music]

regardless what language you speak what

country you're from or how old you are

you probably know what this symbol is

the olympics is the largest most global

highest standard for athleticism

but since when

the olympics started all the way back in

776 bc in greece but this was not the

olympics that we know today people would

perform in the nude they would fight to

the death and it was all done in the

name of pagan gods it was a tradition

that would supersede the political

situations so they would set aside war

and political strife to come together to

do these games in honor of these pagan

gods but in 393 a.d when a christian

ruler came in he banned all pagan

practices including the olympics from

then all the way until the 19th century

the olympics was essentially dead this

was until a man by the name pierre de

coubertin came along he was a french man

who really loved sportsmanship and he

believed in the spirit of the olympics

in the sense of pure sportsmanship and

working to become our best he laid this

out in what later became the olympic

creed which reads the important thing in

life is not the triumph but the struggle

the essential thing is not to have

conquered but to have fought well so

with this idealized image of what the

olympics could be kubertine set out to

create the international olympic

committee and this was founded in 1894

and then only two years later the first

ever modern olympic games was held the

1896 olympics were held in the pan

athletic stadium in athens greece it's a

stadium that's built entirely of marble

and it was built actually sixth century

bc so there really wasn't a better place

to revive the olympics than right there

in athens then it was in 1912 that

cooper teen designed the olympic rings

that we know and love today each ring is

supposed to symbolize an inhabited

continent the americas counting as one

for some reason and the colors are

chosen because at the time every flag in

the world had at least one color

represented in the rings so it really

was supposed to be this message of world

unity and everyone coming together to

better themselves through sportsmanship

when the international olympic committee

was created they had a million decisions

to make they decide are we only going to

allow the same games that were played in

ancient olympics where are we going to

hold these olympics how often are we

going to hold them who's allowed to

participate it was just a whole list of

things to be decided thankfully their

ideals and the spirit of unity shone

through a bit and as early as 1900 women

athletes and black athletes were allowed

to participate in the games

in the 1960s the paralympics were

created for athletes with disabilities

and as recent as 2016 a refugee team was

created for those athletes who are also

refugees another way to push this agenda

of unity and sportsmanship was to not

allow professional athletes to play so

it wasn't even until

1986 that professional athletes were

allowed to perform in the games at the

olympics in fact there was a early

medalist in the 1912 olympics who won

tons of gold medals his name was jim

thorpe he was actually stripped of all

of his medals after the olympics because

it turned out that he played

professional baseball so did everyone

else at the games but he just didn't lie

about it he went on to create a little

club of his own where professional

athletes could play the nfl while the

games themselves are really inclusive

the events and the organization has been

used to push political propaganda for

better or for worse and this is what's

so fascinating to me is that learning

the history of the olympics can often

tell a much larger story of what was

happening in the world at the time so

here are a couple examples of that

in 1936 the olympics were held in berlin

which was nazi germany at the time

hitler wanted to use the games to

perpetuate his ideas of a superior race

this backfired a bit when jesse owens a

black us athlete won four gold medals

for his running and all hitler could do

in response was refused to shake his

hand

only 20 years after world war ii in 1964

the olympics were held in japan this

marked japan's emergence from the war as

not an enemy but a peaceful country

then in 1968 during the mexico olympics

two runners tommy smith and john carlos

protested against racial violence in

america leading to their suspension from

the u.s team they say the games are

sports not politics something separate

and apart from the realities of life but

the black athlete says that he wants

equality everywhere not just within the

arena he says that he will not be used

once every four years on behalf of a

group that ignores what happens to him

every day of all the years

in 1980 during the cold war the u.s

hockey team and the soviet union hockey

team went head to head in an event that

sports illustrated called the top sports

moment of the 20th century

[Music]

and the last example i'll give is that

only six months after the horrible 9 11

attacks in new york the salt lake city

olympics signified a resilient nation

that could overcome fear and safely

gather together again

because of the platform that the

olympics has and because of its dense

complex history it's really worth

looking into the history of the olympics

if you are in an olympic city the modern

olympics has been held in 43 different

cities across five different continents

and this is all due to pierre de

coubertin and his ability to gather

people together to create the olympic

committee and his vision of what the

olympics could be

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

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and if you subscribe to the channel

we'll be posting a lot more stuff like

this if you get the chance to travel to

an olympic city i highly recommend you

take it i've been able to go to a couple

like the arena in athens that they first

hosted the olympics at and the arena in

berlin where jesse owens won his gold

medals and it's always been an awesome

experience when i get to take that

chance and if you want to find full

online travel courses how you can travel

smarter we will see you over at

brighttrip.com

say bye izzy bye