Olympics

Question 1

When was the first Olympics held, who was responsible for this?

Answer 1

In 1896 in Athens, by Baron Pierre de Coubertin.

Question 2

What are the aims of the games?

Answer 2

1. Promote development of physical and moral qualities of sport
2. Spread Olympic principles, creating international goodwill
3. Bring together athletes of the world every 4 years
4. Educate young people through sport in a spirit of better understanding between each other and friendship, thereby helping to build a peaceful world.

Question 3

What are the Olympic values?

Answer 3

1. Determination: encouraging effort and striving for excellence
2. Courage and inspiration: preserving human dignity, demonstrating respect
3. Equality: developing harmony, celebrating friendship.

Question 4

What is the British Olympic Association (BOA)?

Answer 4

1. BOA was formed in 1905
2. Responsible for planning and execution of GB’s Olympic Team participation in the winter and summer games
3. Responsible for developing the Olympic movement in the UK
4. Not funded by government, no political interest, dependent on commercial sponsorship and fundraising income.

Question 5

What is the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Answer 5

1. IOC was created by Paris Congress in 1894
2. Owns all rights to the Olympic symbol and the Olympic Games themselves.
3. Administers the Olympic movement and has headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland
4. Members are appointed in the IOC and are responsible for selecting host cities.

Question 6

What are 5 examples of political exploitation in the Olympics?

Answer 6

1. Berlin 1936
2. Mexico City 1968
3. Munich 1972
4. Moscow 1980
5. Los Angeles 1984.

Question 7

How did political exploitation affect the 1936 Olympics?

Answer 7

1. The Games were used by Hitler and the Nazi Party as a stage for political propaganda (an ideology that viewed Germany as a superior ‘empire’)
2. German athletes trained full time, undermining the amateur ideals of the game
3. Hitler refused to place gold medals around Jesse Owens after he beat athlete Luz Long in the long jump.

Question 8

How did political exploitation affect the 1968 Olympics?

Answer 8

1. South Africa’s invitation to the Games was withdrawn because of other countries threatening to boycott the games due to its apartheid regime
2. African-Americans were able to protest to the world when 2 black athletes used a medal ceremony to protest against the lack of civil rights in the USA
3. They raised black-gloved fists, a gesture called the black power salute.

Question 9

How did political exploitation affect the 1972 Olympics?

Answer 9

1. A day before the Games, Palestine terrorists entered the Olympic village and seized 11 Israeli athletes
2. The terrorists made a political request to release 234 Palestinians imprisoned in Israel
3. The German authorities attempted a rescue, but all hostages and 5 terrorists were killed.

Question 10

How did political exploitation affect the 1980 Olympics?

Answer 10

1. In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, which created conflict that would last 10 years and extended the Cold War
2. The USA boycotted the Games, alongside some British athletes
3. 4,000 total athletes boycotted the Games.

Question 11

How did political exploitation affect the 1984 Olympics?

Answer 11

1. In response to the events of the 1980 games, the Soviet Union along with 14 nations boycotted the Games
2. The Soviet Union blamed the commercialisation of the Games and the lack of security measures.