Ch. 14 The Olympic Games

By Darlene Kluka in Women in SportBy Darlene Kluka in Women in Sport

Notes by N. BaileyNotes by N. Bailey

The Olympic Movement: Toward Global Understanding And AcceptanceAnd Acceptance Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded modern Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded modern

Olympics in 1894 in ParisOlympics in 1894 in Paris No womenNo women To encourage better understanding among To encourage better understanding among

nations through sport, art, education, culturenations through sport, art, education, culture The ancient Greek ideals: harmonious The ancient Greek ideals: harmonious

excellence: physical, moral, cultural, artisticexcellence: physical, moral, cultural, artistic

Overview of the Chapter

Topics Covered:Topics Covered: History of participationHistory of participation Performance enhancement drugsPerformance enhancement drugs GovernanceGovernance Global understanding and acceptanceGlobal understanding and acceptance

Early Summer Games 1900-1928

IOC controlled the program in 1896IOC controlled the program in 1896 Program for white male amateursProgram for white male amateurs Members represented the IOCMembers represented the IOC Apolitical – all menApolitical – all men Melpomene, One who also ran in the 1896 Melpomene, One who also ran in the 1896

games: 4 hours, 30 minutesgames: 4 hours, 30 minutes

Organizing Committees

Ran the events & established rulesRan the events & established rules IOC no longer controlled eventsIOC no longer controlled events Next four organizing committees permitted Next four organizing committees permitted

women to participate: 1900 golf, tennis; women to participate: 1900 golf, tennis; 1904 archery; 1908 added skating, tennis, 1904 archery; 1908 added skating, tennis, archery & demonstrations in aquatics & archery & demonstrations in aquatics & gymnasticsgymnastics

After Stockholm in 1912

IOC took over control of eventsIOC took over control of events Dropped women’s sports that weren’t Dropped women’s sports that weren’t

universally popularuniversally popular In Europe women were refused membership In Europe women were refused membership

in the Sports Federationsin the Sports Federations Women’s sports clubs organized in FranceWomen’s sports clubs organized in France Track & field.Track & field.

1920 games

IOC refusal to permit women in all venuesIOC refusal to permit women in all venues Women organized their own track and field Women organized their own track and field

Olympic Games in 1922Olympic Games in 1922 65 women from 5 countries in 11 events65 women from 5 countries in 11 events 20,000 spectators20,000 spectators 18 world records18 world records READ p. 259, Alice Milliat founder FSFIREAD p. 259, Alice Milliat founder FSFI

IOC Outraged!

How dare those women do thatHow dare those women do that In order to control somewhat, IOC directs In order to control somewhat, IOC directs

International Amateur Athletic Federation International Amateur Athletic Federation to govern international competition for to govern international competition for womenwomen

IOC waffled on women participating IOC waffled on women participating By 1924 industrialized countries had track By 1924 industrialized countries had track

and field for women. Women controlledand field for women. Women controlled

Physicians Worried

High level training bad for women: ruin High level training bad for women: ruin health; masculinizes women; leads to health; masculinizes women; leads to sterilitysterility

Competition detracted from femininityCompetition detracted from femininity Spectators might have questionable motivesSpectators might have questionable motives Women might be viewed as sex objectsWomen might be viewed as sex objects

International Sport Federations

Supported women’s participation in sportSupported women’s participation in sport 1924 Paris: Women’s fencing, tennis, 1924 Paris: Women’s fencing, tennis,

swimmingswimming The press: “muscle molls, muscle-bound, The press: “muscle molls, muscle-bound,

manly dames” re: fencing & tennismanly dames” re: fencing & tennis ““graceful, feminine, feathered” re: graceful, feminine, feathered” re:

swimmeresswimmeres

Summer Games (1928 –48)

1928 – first official track & field for women 1928 – first official track & field for women in Amsterdamin Amsterdam

100 meters, 800 meters, high jump, discus, 100 meters, 800 meters, high jump, discus, 4 x 100 meter relay4 x 100 meter relay

Ill fated 800 meters: 6 of 9 women Ill fated 800 meters: 6 of 9 women collapsed; three carried offcollapsed; three carried off

40 years for 800 meters to be reinstated40 years for 800 meters to be reinstated Never mind that Finnish man collapsedNever mind that Finnish man collapsed

1932 LA Games

Notable women & 4 new world recordsNotable women & 4 new world records Attendance 60,000; 1.25 million overallAttendance 60,000; 1.25 million overall Radio and press coverage best everRadio and press coverage best ever Babe Didrickson & three other women set Babe Didrickson & three other women set

recordsrecords

1936 Berlin Games

Germany had withdrawn from the League Germany had withdrawn from the League of Nationsof Nations

Used Olympics to show case white male Used Olympics to show case white male supremacysupremacy

Jews were barred from German teamJews were barred from German team

Summer Games (1948 – present)

Post war games held in LondonPost war games held in London First woman to win a gold won 4 gold First woman to win a gold won 4 gold

medalsmedals Was a mother of two childrenWas a mother of two children

1952 Helsinki

Avery Brundage tried to make Olympics Avery Brundage tried to make Olympics apoliticalapolitical

Cold war: Communist Bloc countries saw Cold war: Communist Bloc countries saw advantage to support women for winning advantage to support women for winning medalsmedals

Supremacy through victory in sport grewSupremacy through victory in sport grew Newspaper counted the medals: Soviets Newspaper counted the medals: Soviets

winning made big newswinning made big news

1956 Melbourne

Women’s swimming sold out before the Women’s swimming sold out before the games begangames began

READ Wilma Rudolph, p. 263READ Wilma Rudolph, p. 263

1960 Rome

Rivalries between women surfacedRivalries between women surfaced 800 meters returned800 meters returned Soviet woman won: 2:04.5Soviet woman won: 2:04.5

1964 Tokyo

Women became newsworthy for the first Women became newsworthy for the first timetime

Dawn Fraser, Australian, a controversial Dawn Fraser, Australian, a controversial womanwoman

The symbol for women in the games: talent The symbol for women in the games: talent + mischief!+ mischief!

1968 Mexico City

Political turmoilPolitical turmoil Prior to opening ceremonies protesters Prior to opening ceremonies protesters

killed in the streetskilled in the streets Protesting poor country spending a fortune Protesting poor country spending a fortune

on the gameson the games American male track athletes protested American male track athletes protested

differential treatment of African Americans differential treatment of African Americans in the U.S. as well as in Africain the U.S. as well as in Africa

Women Made News

In 1968 Woman Mexican hurdler carried In 1968 Woman Mexican hurdler carried the Olympic torch into the stadium.the Olympic torch into the stadium.

A first!A first! Woman Czech gymnast hid in the Woman Czech gymnast hid in the

mountains preparing for the games: feared mountains preparing for the games: feared reprisal for political act of protest. Won 4 reprisal for political act of protest. Won 4 gold medals (signed manifesto against gold medals (signed manifesto against Russian aggression on Czechs)Russian aggression on Czechs)

1972 Germany

Germans tried for the biggest, most Germans tried for the biggest, most expensive, most excitingexpensive, most exciting

What they got: tragedyWhat they got: tragedy Games remembered for 8 Arab terrorists Games remembered for 8 Arab terrorists

killing 2 Israel team members & took 9 killing 2 Israel team members & took 9 hostages; 5 terrorists, + hostages + 1 police hostages; 5 terrorists, + hostages + 1 police officer were killedofficer were killed

1976 Montreal

Africa boycottedAfrica boycotted East German women did greatEast German women did great

1980 Moscow

Soviets had invaded Afghanistan prior to Soviets had invaded Afghanistan prior to the games – only 81 countries attendedthe games – only 81 countries attended

Boycotting: U.S., Canada, West Germany, Boycotting: U.S., Canada, West Germany, Japan, Kenya, Norway, Israel, TurkeyJapan, Kenya, Norway, Israel, Turkey

Political climate woven into the Olympic Political climate woven into the Olympic fabricfabric

1984-1988-1992: LA, Seoul, Barcelona More nations competing, so more womenMore nations competing, so more women Joan Benoit & official marathon: 2:24;52Joan Benoit & official marathon: 2:24;52 Jackie Joyner competedJackie Joyner competed Zola Budd & Mary Decker controversyZola Budd & Mary Decker controversy Cheryl Miller, Mary Lou Retton, Valarie Cheryl Miller, Mary Lou Retton, Valarie

Brisco-Hooks & Evelyn AshfordBrisco-Hooks & Evelyn Ashford READ p.266 1READ p.266 1stst Islamic Games woman Islamic Games woman

1996 Atlanta

35 countries had no women (Islamic 35 countries had no women (Islamic countries)countries)

Germans asked IOC to ban those countries Germans asked IOC to ban those countries that discriminated against womenthat discriminated against women

““gender apartheid” after South Africa’s gender apartheid” after South Africa’s racial apartheidracial apartheid

South Africa had been barredSouth Africa had been barred

2000 Salt Lake

Goal: equal participation between men and Goal: equal participation between men and women.women.

We will seeWe will see

Performance Enhancing Substances Faster, higher, stronger = Olympic creedFaster, higher, stronger = Olympic creed Men in the 3Men in the 3rdrd century used herbs century used herbs 1960 Danish cyclist died of drug1960 Danish cyclist died of drug 1963 IOC – Medical Commission 1963 IOC – Medical Commission

established & listed prohibited drugsestablished & listed prohibited drugs 1966 Gender verification1966 Gender verification 1968 First drug testing; 2000 reversed sex 1968 First drug testing; 2000 reversed sex

test policytest policy

East German Officials Sued

Trial continues into 2001Trial continues into 2001 Between 1974 & 1989 German sport Between 1974 & 1989 German sport

officials administered a state sponsored officials administered a state sponsored doping program on the womendoping program on the women

Sentence potentially: 10 yearsSentence potentially: 10 years

Governance

1997- 1995 Women executive directors of 1997- 1995 Women executive directors of organizing committees comprised 8.5% - organizing committees comprised 8.5% - 15.8%15.8%

Women Presidents: 3.6 to 7.9%Women Presidents: 3.6 to 7.9% Presently 14 of 113 IOC members are Presently 14 of 113 IOC members are

womenwomen IOC adopted goals in 1996: equality in 2001IOC adopted goals in 1996: equality in 2001

IOC Sponsored Women’s Conference World Conference on Women and Sport in World Conference on Women and Sport in

19961996 March 2000 in ParisMarch 2000 in Paris That is progress!That is progress! READ p. 274READ p. 274

Olympic Solidarity Programs

Technical assistance and training grantsTechnical assistance and training grants Some women were includedSome women were included Rumor: Muslim countries applied for and Rumor: Muslim countries applied for and

received $ for training women; didn’t spend received $ for training women; didn’t spend it for thatit for that

One world trophy & 5 continental trophies One world trophy & 5 continental trophies for contributions to women’s participation for contributions to women’s participation in sportin sport

Global Understanding & Acceptance Vast differences of the place of women in Vast differences of the place of women in

various societies around the worldvarious societies around the world Systematic hared and devaluing of women Systematic hared and devaluing of women

and a patriarchal system well entrenched in and a patriarchal system well entrenched in many countriesmany countries

What Will It Tae To Get There?

The next generation of athletes and The next generation of athletes and administrators:administrators:

Know our historyKnow our history Create a fair environmentCreate a fair environment

That’s All Folks

The End.The End.