The Summer Games are always held in all seasons except winter. There are a lot of sports in the Games.
The sports
In Athens in 1896, nine sports were on the programme: athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics,
weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, tennis and shooting.
The Olympic programme has come a long way since then: some sports have been discontinued
(e.g. golf and polo); others were dropped and then reintroduced (e.g. archery and
tennis), while several new sports have been added (e.g. triathlon and taekwondo).
The first ever summer Games (the Games of the Olympiad) were held in Athens in 1896, the first ever Paralympic Summer Games were held in Rome in 1960, while the first summer Youth Olympic Games were held in Singapore in 2010.
weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, tennis and shooting.
The Olympic programme has come a long way since then: some sports have been discontinued
(e.g. golf and polo); others were dropped and then reintroduced (e.g. archery and
tennis), while several new sports have been added (e.g. triathlon and taekwondo).
The first ever summer Games (the Games of the Olympiad) were held in Athens in 1896, the first ever Paralympic Summer Games were held in Rome in 1960, while the first summer Youth Olympic Games were held in Singapore in 2010.
Association of Summer Olympic International Federations
The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) created in 1983, coordinates and defends the common interests of its members to ensure close cooperation between them, the members of the Olympic Movement and those of other organisations.
It does so with the aim of preserving the Olympic Movement while maintaining the authority, independence and autonomy of the member International Federations.
It does so with the aim of preserving the Olympic Movement while maintaining the authority, independence and autonomy of the member International Federations.
|
|
Controversies
- In 1936 in Berlin (Germany), the Nazi regime appropriated the Games. In the years leading up to 1936, several governments and sports organisations expressed their concerns about the regime and its policies. The threat of a boycott hung over the Games. In the end, it was more individual convictions that prevented certain athletes from attending.
- In 1956 in Melbourne (Australia), the Suez crisis and Soviet oppression in Hungary provoked a strong reaction from some countries, which refused to send their athletes to the Games.
- In 1968 in Mexico City (Mexico), American athletes Tommy Smith and John Carlos demonstrated against racial segregation in their country. As they stood on the podium to receive their medals for the 200m, they raised black-gloved fists and bowed their heads when the American flag was raised. This gesture was their way of showing their support for the “Black Power” movement which was fighting the discrimination against black people in the USA. As a result, they were sent home.
- In 1972 in Munich (Germany), Palestinian terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage. The event ended in tragedy, with nine hostages executed and the death of a policeman and two other members of the Israeli delegation. The terrorists were killed by the police. That act of terrorism forced some of the nations including Egypt and China to boycott the following Games.
- In 1976 in Montreal (Canada), 22 countries (mostly African) boycotted the Games to protest against a recent tour of South Africa, which imposed apartheid, by the New Zealand rugby team.
- In 1980 in Moscow (Soviet Union), the United States called for a global boycott in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. American athletes were forbidden to take part in the Games under threat of having their passports confiscated. Other countries followed the US example and stayed away from Moscow.
- In 1984, as a retaliation to the American boycott of 1980, the Soviet Union refused to attend the Games in Los Angeles (USA). The official reasons given were the commercialisation of the Games and insufficient guarantees of athletes’ safety.
The diplomatic Role
- Since the 1950s, the Olympic Games have provided an opportunity for newly created countries to show the world they exist. Their appearance at the Games has often led to more widespread international recognition (e.g. certain African countries, republics of the former Soviet Union). It has even been the case that the participation of certain athletes in the Games has preceded the political creation of their country (e.g. East Timor, a small country located next to Indonesia, which has been independent since 2002).
- At the Opening Ceremony of the 2000 Games in Sydney (Australia), South Korea and North Korea paraded together under a single flag. This act was unprecedented since the breakdown in diplomatic relations between the two countries after the Korean War (1950-1953).
- Also in Sydney, the status of the Aborigines was front page news, and several events were organised to make their claims known. The final stage of the torch relay was entrusted to Aboriginal athlete Cathy Freeman, and the culture of the Aboriginal people was a highlight of the Opening Ceremony.
- At the 2004 Games in Athens, despite the war in their country, the Iraqi football team qualified for the Olympic tournament and even reached the semi-finals.
Map of countries hosting the Games of the Olympiad
The torch relay
The Olympic flame is the flame which is kindled in Olympia under the authority of the IOC (Olympic Charter, Rule 13). Although a symbolic fire had already been used as early as the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, the Olympic flame’s modern history begins with a proposal by Carl Diem, Secretary General of the Organising Committee of the Games of the XI Olympiad. Inspired by torch races that were held in ancient Greek times, Diem suggested that for the 1936 Summer Games a Flame be lit in Olympia and transported to Berlin for what would be the first Olympic torch relay. It marked the start of what is now an Olympic tradition.
Over the years, torches used to carry the Flame have been created for each celebration of the Games and the Torch relays that have brought it from Olympia to an Olympic host city have become one of the most symbolic events associated with the Games.
Further information can be seen in the section "The Olympic Flame".
Over the years, torches used to carry the Flame have been created for each celebration of the Games and the Torch relays that have brought it from Olympia to an Olympic host city have become one of the most symbolic events associated with the Games.
Further information can be seen in the section "The Olympic Flame".