The Olympic GamesThe Olympic Games

Origins of the Modern Origins of the Modern Olympic MovementOlympic Movement

Olympic-like FestivalsOlympic-like Festivals

Baron Pierre de CoubertinBaron Pierre de Coubertin

Olympic-like Festivals Olympic-like Festivals and Referencesand References

1. Olympic festivals in England, Scandinavia, 1. Olympic festivals in England, Scandinavia, Yugoslavia – W.P. BrooksYugoslavia – W.P. Brooks2. World’s Fairs2. World’s Fairs3. Montreal Olympic Festival – 18443. Montreal Olympic Festival – 18444. Scottish Highland Games4. Scottish Highland Games5. German and German American 5. German and German American TurnfestsTurnfests6. 196. 19thth Century Greek Olympics (Zappas) Century Greek Olympics (Zappas)7. World Fairs and Expositions7. World Fairs and Expositions8. Helmuth College Olympics – London, 8. Helmuth College Olympics – London, OntarioOntario

CoubertinCoubertinOtto von BismarkOtto von Bismark

EducationEducation

Travel – Britain, US, CanadaTravel – Britain, US, Canada

Thomas Hughes, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown’s SchooldaysTom Brown’s Schooldays

Muscular ChristianityMuscular Christianity

““Whoever learns not to shrink from a football Whoever learns not to shrink from a football scrimmage will not retreat from the mouth of a scrimmage will not retreat from the mouth of a Prussian cannon.”Prussian cannon.”

Coubertin cont’dCoubertin cont’d

1894 Paris International Athletic 1894 Paris International Athletic CongressCongress

The Sorbonne, University of The Sorbonne, University of ParisParis

The Premise: Amateur SportThe Premise: Amateur Sport

Demetrius Demetrius VikelasVikelas

Athens, 1896Athens, 1896

Georges AveroffGeorges Averoff

Paris, 1900Paris, 1900Paris International ExpositionParis International Exposition

The Sabbath questionThe Sabbath question

George Orton: 2500m steeplechaseGeorge Orton: 2500m steeplechase

Alex and Dick Grant: St. Mary’s (Penn and Alex and Dick Grant: St. Mary’s (Penn and Harvard)Harvard)

Charlotte B. CooperCharlotte B. Cooper

St. Louis, 1904St. Louis, 1904Louisiana Purchase ExpositionLouisiana Purchase Exposition

Etienne DesmarteauEtienne Desmarteau

George S. LyonGeorge S. Lyon

Felix CarvajalFelix Carvajal

Fred Lorz - Thomas HicksFred Lorz - Thomas Hicks

The Interim Games - Athens The Interim Games - Athens 19061906

London 1908London 1908

Stockholm 1912Stockholm 1912

Antwerp 1920Antwerp 1920

Paris 1924Paris 1924

Winter and SummerWinter and Summer

Amsterdam 1928Amsterdam 1928

Women’s Participation at the Women’s Participation at the Olympic GamesOlympic Games

BackgroundBackground

Athletics – Track &FieldAthletics – Track &Field

Sigfrid EdstromSigfrid Edstrom

1914 IAAF1914 IAAF

Olympics as World Olympics as World championshipschampionships

On Women’s ParticipationOn Women’s Participation

Hosts and organizing committeesHosts and organizing committees

19121912

Women and the Olympic Women and the Olympic GamesGames

1. Men’s attitudes about women 1. Men’s attitudes about women and exercise: and exercise:

Medical; social; religious; Medical; social; religious; sexuality and fashionsexuality and fashion

2. IOC attitudes about women’s 2. IOC attitudes about women’s participationparticipation

Pierre de Coubertin 1912 ““We feel that the Olympic Games must We feel that the Olympic Games must

be reserved for men…We must continue be reserved for men…We must continue to try to achieve the following to try to achieve the following definition: the solemn and periodic definition: the solemn and periodic exaltation of male athleticism with exaltation of male athleticism with internationalism as its base, loyalty as a internationalism as its base, loyalty as a means art for its setting, and female means art for its setting, and female applause as reward.”applause as reward.”

Women as ritual ornaments –displays and ceremonies

Coubertin

Woman’s glory:

“through the number and quality of children she produced”

“encourage her sons to excel rather than to seek records for herself”

Sigfrid Edstrom – IAAFSigfrid Edstrom – IAAF

Alice Milliat

Federation Sportive Feminine Federation Sportive Feminine Internationale 1921Internationale 1921

Women’s Olympics – 1922Women’s Olympics – 1922

Control over women’s sport – Control over women’s sport – athleticsathletics

““Olympic”Olympic”

fashionfashion

Female Athletes:1. Looks2. Behaviour3. performance

Maxwell Stiles - Los Angeles Examiner(1932)“The Canadian girls are undoubtedly the prettiest and most wholesome looking group of girls who have arrived for the competition. They constitute a denial of the general idea that a woman athlete must be built like a baby grand piano and have a face like a hatchet. Their ages range from 16 to 21, and they are here to show the world that Canada has some splendid young women who are good-looking and who know how to conduct themselves.”

19281928

5 Track and Field Events5 Track and Field Events

Boycott – Britain – womenBoycott – Britain – women

The 800mThe 800m

Attempts in 1930 and 1931 to Attempts in 1930 and 1931 to expel women from the Olympicsexpel women from the Olympics

L-R: Bell, Cook, Smith,Rosenfeld

The Feminizing ProcessThe Feminizing Process

Control over women’s sport – Control over women’s sport – incorporationincorporation

Channeling Channeling

Appropriately feminine – grace, Appropriately feminine – grace, rhythm rhythm

Gender polaritiesGender polarities

Avery Brundage:

“I think women’s events should be confined to those appropriate for women - swimming, tennis, figure skating, and fencing, but certainly not shot-putting.”

Against the GrainAgainst the Grain

Edmonton Commercial Graduates Edmonton Commercial Graduates Basketball TeamBasketball Team

1915-19401915-1940

Coach, manager, promoter Coach, manager, promoter Percy PagePercy Page

Feeder system – juniors, boysFeeder system – juniors, boys

Regional, national, internationalRegional, national, international

A traveling women’s team?A traveling women’s team?

SingleSingle

No smokingNo smoking

No drinkingNo drinking

Fair playFair play

ChaperonesChaperones

dressdress

With the GrainWith the Grain

Feminized sportFeminized sport

Darlings, pixies, mermaidsDarlings, pixies, mermaids

Barbara Ann ScottWorld ChampionOlympic Champion