The Modern Olympic Games

Question 1

How were the modern Olympic Games described?

Answer 1

Revival of the Ancient Olympic Games

Question 2

What was the function of the Modern Games

Answer 2

Purely secular, in spite of imagery

Question 3

What was Coubertin know for?

Answer 3

Founder of the modern Olympic Games

Question 4

What was Coubertin’s background and education like?

Answer 4

• Lower rank French aristocrat
• No expectations to work, could provide services to society for free
• Schooled with a classical curriculum
• Expected to go into law, interested in education

Question 5

What did Coubertin think of the body?

Answer 5

• Appreciated the body as a product of nature
• Movement was a way to experience and perform beauty visualized by others
• Sensualist/aesthete

Question 6

Why was Coubertin caught between two worlds?

Answer 6

• Aristocratic values meant something as was tradition

* Progressive middle class acknowledgement

Question 7

Which two books were published by Coubertin?

Answer 7

• History of the World and History of the World and Art

* Not formally trained as a historian

Question 8

What were some of his qualities?

Answer 8

• Historian
• Peace activist
• Educator
• Moral and social reformer

Question 9

How did he publish his views?

Answer 9

• Writing and publishing
• Organizing
• Networking
• Brought people together

Question 10

What was his modern vision of sports?

Answer 10

1. Traditional French sport needed to be reevaluated - include physical education
2. English sports were inspirational to him
3. Nationalist/Republican sport
4. Ethnocentric movements (gymnastics)
5. Muscular Christianity
6. Neo Hellenism

Question 11

Eurythmie:

Answer 11

• Foundation for all good and moral
• Harmony
• Retaining festival quality

Question 12

Philosophical and aesthetic ideals:

Answer 12

• Eurythmy
• Sport pedagoge
• Sport utilitaire
• Rowing

Question 13

Why was rowing important to Coubertin

Answer 13

• Embodiment of eurythmy
• Connecting with nature and machine
• Modern man

Question 14

Paschal Grousset

Answer 14

• Opposed to Anglo and Germanic sport
• Rival of Coubertin
• Promoted traditional French sport

Question 15

Foundations for the Olympic idea

Answer 15

1. Social and political inspiration
2. Pedagogical inspirations
3. Neo Hellenic movement

Question 16

Social and political inspiration for the Olympic revival:

Answer 16

• France was trying to restore pride

* Peace movement inspired Coubertin

Question 17

Precedents for the Olympic Idea:

Answer 17

1. Cotswold Olympic Games
2. Much Wenlock Games
3. Zappion Olympic Games
4. World Fairs and “The Congress”
5. Montreal Olympic Games

Question 18

Coubertin first used the word Olympic:

Answer 18

1889

Question 19

Sorbonne Lecture was the first reference to:

Answer 19

Revival of the Olympics

Question 20

When and where were the first Olympics held:

Answer 20

1896, Athens