The Olympic Games

1. The Olympic Games All: Describe the purpose and importance of the Olympic Games Most: Explain some controversy associated with the event Some: Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of hosting this event (link with last week’s work)

2. Fact or Fiction The first ever Olympic Games was held in 776bc Fact The first ever Olympic Games was held in Athens – Greece Fiction – it was held in Olympia – Greece. The ancient games were festivals celebrating sport, music and religion The IOC stands for the International Olympic Corporation Fiction – it stands for the International Olympic Committee The IOC was founded in 1894 Fact The first IOC Summer Olympic Games was held in 1896 Fact – this was held in Athens The games are held every 4 years Fact The host nation is picked out of hat Fiction – there is a long and complicated procedure involving countries bidding against each other to select the hosts

3. IOC Olympic Charter: “To contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play” Olympic & Paralympic Values: Excellence Respect Inspiration Equality Friendship Determination Courage

4. Controversy at the Olympic Games • Berlin - 1936 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWBtYjhib6g Adolf Hitler uses the games for propaganda purposes to promote his racist views about Jewish and black people. • Munich – 1972 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSucbgukbsI Palestinian terrorists attached the Israeli team. 11 hostages, 5 terrorists and a police officer were killed – the siege was televised around the world. • Montreal – 1976 South Africa was banned from taking part as a result of its apartheid policy. There was a boycott by many African countries and New Zealand. 30 nations in total refused to send teams. • Moscow – 1980 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FKubZ1Vs_Q The Soviet Union (Russia) invaded Afghanistan in late 1979 so the US refused to send its teams in protest. 52 nations in total boycotted the Games • Los Angeles – 1984 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgC6I3jMuAw In retaliation for 1980 the Soviet Union and 14 other nations boycotted the Games!

5. Task Select one of the Olympic Games listed and find out the following: (Be ready to feed back to the rest of the class in 10 mins) • What was the main issue of controversy? • What was the outcome? • Did Great Britain attend? If so – how did we get on? • Did the Olympics make a profit or loss?

6. London 2012 The 2012 Olympic Games will be hosted by Great Britain in London. There are a number of political, financial and environmental issues to consider during the organisation.

7. Political • The Department for Culture, Media and Sport set out five high-level legacy promises for after the Olympic Games: • To make the UK a world-leading sporting nation • To transform the heart of East London • To inspire a generation of young people • To make the Olympic Park a blueprint for sustainable living • To demonstrate that the UK is a creative, inclusive and welcoming place to live in, visit and for businesses

8. Financial There is an enormous cost to stage the Olympics. These costs are met by public and private funding, including lottery funding. Private funding often comes in the form of construction firms providing buildings, e.g. for the Olympic Village Some costs are gained by after the Olympics by assets such as buildings being sold off for housing. Many companies will contribute to the costs of hosting the games by paying to have their product shown or used throughout the competition. Sponsorship deals include Coca-Cola and Visa. Massive incomes are also gained from television rights

9. Environmental The 2012 Games aims to be the ‘greenest Games in history.’ Contaminated land in East London will be reclaimed and the Olympics will implement environmentally friendly policies to do with minimising… • Waste • Pollution • Impact on wildlife habitats The Games aims to be a car-free event, only allowing disable drivers to events. BUT: an increase in people will mean an increase in noise pollution, more rubbish and more pollution.