The Olympics And Its Cultural Significance

The Olympics, to be hosted in Paris, are almost upon us, but did you know that this city has special significance in the event’s history? It was Paris where the idea of the modern-day Olympic games were discussed and a decision made to bring them back for the first time since their withdrawal in 393 AD. The Summer Olympics (simply known as The Olympics) and the smaller Winter games, are also known as an Olympiad, as the Summer games were in ancient times. They are a global celebration of human sporting ability, competition and cultural exchange.

The Origins Of The Olympics

The history of the Olympics can be traced back to ancient Greece, over 3,000 years ago. Although difficult to prove, historical written sources suggest that four Greek sporting festivals began in Olympia, southwest Greece, in 776 BC. The origins of the games are surrounded in ancient mythology and religious festival and were said to be held in honour of Zeus, ruler of the Greek gods. Every four years, 50,000 people across Greece came together to take part in the games. Later, the games were attended in nearly 150 cities across the country. Winners did not receive medals as they do in our modern games but were instead given a wreath of leaves. However, in 393 AD, the Roman Emperor Theodosius I decided the games encouraged paganistic behaviour and abruptly put an end to the Olympics.

Modern Revival

When attempts were made in the late 19th century to bring the games back, it was Baron Pierre de Coubertin who organised the start of the modern games during the first Olympic congress in 1894 at Sorbonne University, Paris. Coubertin was known for his French educational reform, campaigning to introduce sports into the French educational curriculum. He decided to set the first games in Athens in 1896. With little financial support from the Greek government, donations and the selling of souvenir stamps and medals helped raise the funds for the reconstruction of the Athens Panathenaic Stadium.

Symbolism And Cultural Significance

The Olympics is a culturally significant event that marries the competitive, physical nature of the ancient Greeks with modern day diplomacy and the sharing of cultural identities. The symbol of the five rings represents the five historically recognised inhabited continents (the Americas are represented as one continent) linked together in harmony. The Olympics stand as a philosophy of life, promoting culture and education through sport in a mutually understanding and diplomatic manner. Host cities are invited to share their customs, traditions and heritage on a global platform to foster respect and understanding.

Challenges

While the Olympic Games stand for many positive virtues, they have also been marred by criticism throughout the years. During Japan’s postponed COVID-19 games, many locals feared it would lead to increased cases of outbreaks and feared for their health. It is also understood that the financial burden for hosting the games is too substantial for many, leading to large economic debts, while the sustainability implications of developing vast infrastructure leads to an increase in waste materials and greenhouse gases. While actions are being taken to address these issues, more must be done to ensure that the virtues of the games are not overshadowed by these negative implications.