Prompt: Based on the following documents, analyze factors that shaped the modern Olympic movement from 1892 to 2002. Identify and explain what additional type of document(s) or sources would help you assess these factors.</p>
Founded in 1882, the Olympics is an event that brings the world together in a peaceful way. However, many factors, both positive and negative, shape the Olympic atmosphere depending on the time and the country hosting it. Current political tensions, economies, and human rights largely determine the flavor of an Olympic event.
The establishment and growth of the modern Olympic games corresponded with that of the feminist movement. In 1908, for example, near the beginning of both, two percent of women participated as athletes (Doc 2). This shows that although this number is relatively low, the feminist movement was beginning to take effect as women were indeed allowed to participate. In 1995, twenty nine percent of athletes were female, marking an increase in womens rights (Doc. 8). However, it is clear that discrimination again female athletes largely shaped the event, as woman competitor Boulmerka felt much criticism for her participation. However, the fact that she is from Algeria, a conservative country, likely made her feel this criticism more extensively than female athletes from more liberal nations. A source from a woman athlete from a Western nation during this time could clear this up to see whether female discrimination was a more universal problem in the late 20th century.
The Olympics was also shaped by political tensions of the time period. A 1936 British team captain commented on the cutthroat mentality of Nazi skiing competitors, who used any method possible to win and therefore show their superiority to other nations (Doc 3). However, as this Englishmans autobiography was published in the 1950s, his memory couldve been tainted by WWII, which soon followed the event. Similarly, an American athlete in 1952 felt that competition was especially intense with athletes from the Soviet Union as the rival socialist nation with which the capitalist United States fought the Cold War (Doc 4). United States and Soviet Union tensions also shaped the 1980 Moscow Olympics, as the Russian press boasts that their location was chosen because it is a beacon of peace, democracy, and social progress. It is likely that the Soviet Union government, in an attempt to show their superiority to other nations, censored this press release (Doc 6). A Japanese (Doc 7) newspaper remarks on the fact that Korea is not one of the 1988 Olympic sponsors, while Japan is. In this way, Japan implies that Korea is inferior to Japan economically, further rubbing it in by saying Japan stands to make a lot of gold at the Olympics. Lastly, Olympic competition outcome is partly determined by a current populations national pride, at least this is what Ali Kabir, a Pakistani newspaper writer thinks (Doc. 10). While the country did well at the Olympics when national pride was high after the countrys independence, it has done worse as of 2002. As a citizen of Pakistan, Kabirs opinion may be influenced by a bitterness he feels due to his countrys current state of affairs.
Despite the show of political tensions that contribute to the Olympic atmosphere, it has also contributed to a sense of global community and has acted as an economic aid for countries. Indeed, Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, thought of it as a show of true free trade. In 1892, at a time when Europe was showing rising political tensions, he may have thought this would be a good idea to help calm these tensions (Doc 1). Furthermore, countries chosen to host the event benefit from the exposure. Japan, for example, appreciated their being chosen for the Olympics, and felt it helped them recover after their defeat in the World War. This sense of appreciation for being chosen shows that the Olympic intentions were definitely good willed and not only exacerbated or exposed political tensions but helped nations as well (Doc 5). Lastly, Document 9 shows that the number of viewers of the Olympics has risen. While this could be a result of more technology/access to viewing or partiality to Western nations (the last two, more viewed Olympics were in the United States and Australia), it could also mean it is being seen as more of a peaceful and friendly event open to all and there are less tensions in the world. Another chart displaying additional host countries, especially non-Western ones, more towards the present day would help evaluate this situation more effectively.
While the Olympics are a time when country rivalries, political situations, and status of womens rights are more apparent, they are also shaped by a global need and desire for international peace and camaraderie.</p>