1. chapter 9
Olympic Movement

2. Chapter Outline History of the Olympics Effect of the Olympic Games
Nationalism and the Olympic Movement
United States Olympic Committee
Athlete Development
Summary

3. History of the Olympic Games
Started in Greece in 776 BC as a festival to honor Zeus
First festival only one foot race
Held every 4 years until 394 AD
Common men versus soldiers
By 18th Olympics, pentathlon was an event
Christian emperor of Rome then banned pagan worship
Reborn in Athens in 1896 with 14 countries

4. Effect of the Olympic Games
Cost and lasting effects on the host city
Huge financial and commercial influence on media
NBC paid $3.5 million U.S. for 4 years
24.6 million viewers in 2004
Rise of elite athletes and importance on winning
Shift from amateur to professional athletes

5. Influence on Promoting Nationalism
National committees pick athletes to represent their country.
Ceremonies include flags and anthems.
All athletes march together behind their flag in one uniform.
Governments use games to promote political structure (1938 Berlin Games and Nazi Germany).
Olympics are moving toward being a big business event.

6. United States Olympic Committee (USOC)
Receives no funding from U.S. government
Funding primarily through private donations and sponsors
Membership categories
National governing bodies (NGBs)
Paralympic sports organizations (PSO)
Affiliated and community-based organizations
(continued)

7. United States Olympic Committee (continued)
Until 2004, 100 board members
Scandals from last 25 years caused government intervention
Now reduced to smaller committees and annual reporting
Current goals
Develop athletes at grassroots level
Provide access to elite training programs
Support Olympic athletes training and competition

8. USOC Mission Statement
To assist in finding opportunities for every American to participate in sport, regardless of gender, race, age, geography, or physical ability. (United States Olympic Committee)

9. Pursuit of Medals
United States dominance of medal tally since breakup of Soviet Union
Closely followed by Russia
U.S. baseball did not qualify for 2004 Olympic Games
U.S. basketball no longer automatic gold
China and other Asian countries vying for top medal slot
Medal counts in table 9.1 (page 161) and table 9.2 (page 161)

10. USOC’s Athlete Development
USOC in charge of identifying athlete talent, but no one system in place
Training facilities spreading from Olympic Training Centers to smaller metropolitan sites
Colorado Springs
Lake Placid
Chula Vista
USOC provides support and materials to develop coaching

11. Proposals for Change to Olympic Games
Decrease commercialism
Eliminate nationalism
Ensure drug-free competition
Decrease size and cost of hosting event
Increase security

12. Summary
The modern Olympic Games have developed into a huge international event with national and commercial effects.
Games are moving toward a professional and commercial product.
Recent restructuring has occurred in the USOC due to conflict and scandal.
Changes have been proposed to eliminate potential problems with the Olympic Games.

13. On Deck… Questions and comments Assignments and readings
Moving onto part IV: Sport and Culture
Next chapter: Sporting Behavior
Behavior at different levels of sport
Moral values in sport