Many factors were vital influences upon the modern Olympic Games movement from 1892 to 2002. Political interests in the late 20th century were one such factor that shaped this movement. While the Olympics were originally intended to bring together the international community (which was the reason that Pierre de Coubertin wished to reinstate the games from ancient times), but they were also responsible for sparking intense competition between Olympians and their supporting countries as they strived to come out on top and flaunt their country’s power and fertility. Secondly, the Olympics also opened up an opportunity for economic gain and opulence. Host countries and companies that advertised in the games were given a chance to obtain financial
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Documents 1, 3 ,4 ,6 and 10 are all examples of the influence of political interests on the modern Olympics. These documents illustrate how political tensions and pride for one’s country shaped the Olympics of the modern era. Document 1 describes Pierre de Coubertin’s attempt to convince the Athletic Society of France to help him revive the Ancient Olympic Games. He states that by sending athletes of each country into other countries for the games, the “true trade of the future” may be constructed as peace is created between nations. Coubertin believes this will lead to less wars between countries, and he hopes that the Olympics will promote peace and harmony between nations. This political aspiration was not only the goal of the modern Olympics movement, but also of the original Olympic games in Ancient Greece which was created to nurture peace between the differing city states of the time. Documents 3 and 4 show how political rivalries can influence the games. In document 3, Arnold Lunn, a British Olympic team official at the 1936 German games prior to World War II, makes the case that Nazi German Olympians believed that the Olympics were not just a competition to determine who is the best at a certain sport (skiing in this example) but also to decide which country’s method of …show more content…
Lunn also states that Nazis will use any means to achieve this goal and claims that Nazis will protest any challengeable decision in order to gain a small advantage to support his argument. The modern Olympics were shaped by the determination with which countries such as Nazi Germany strove to showcase and demonstrate their power in the games. Document 3 shows how the rivalry between two countries (Britain and Nazi Germany) can affect the Olympics. Likewise,
Documents 1, 3 ,4 ,6 and 10 are all examples of the influence of political interests on the modern Olympics. These documents illustrate how political tensions and pride for one’s country shaped the Olympics of the modern era. Document 1 describes Pierre de Coubertin’s attempt to convince the Athletic Society of France to help him revive the Ancient Olympic Games. He states that by sending athletes of each country into other countries for the games, the “true trade of the future” may be constructed as peace is created between nations. Coubertin believes this will lead to less wars between countries, and he hopes that the Olympics will promote peace and harmony between nations. This political aspiration was not only the goal of the modern Olympics movement, but also of the original Olympic games in Ancient Greece which was created to nurture peace between the differing city states of the time. Documents 3 and 4 show how political rivalries can influence the games. In document 3, Arnold Lunn, a British Olympic team official at the 1936 German games prior to World War II, makes the case that Nazi German Olympians believed that the Olympics were not just a competition to determine who is the best at a certain sport (skiing in this example) but also to decide which country’s method of …show more content…
Lunn also states that Nazis will use any means to achieve this goal and claims that Nazis will protest any challengeable decision in order to gain a small advantage to support his argument. The modern Olympics were shaped by the determination with which countries such as Nazi Germany strove to showcase and demonstrate their power in the games. Document 3 shows how the rivalry between two countries (Britain and Nazi Germany) can affect the Olympics. Likewise,