advocacy
Beginning with the first ever modern era Olympics in Athens, Greece back in the summer of 1896 we see how these games laid down the foundation for the Olympic Games we all know today. The 1896 Games were the first since 393 CE and were symbolically held on Greece’s Independence Day from the Ottoman Empire on April 6th. Sponsored by the International Olympic Committee led by French educational reformer Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the games were rooted in the belief that sport could be used to fuel nationalist and internationalist sentiments. Coubertin envisioned to revive the ancient Greek tradition of a four-yearly cycle (known as Olympiads) but also implement the World’s Fair tradition of hosting the Games in different countries every four years rather than having one permanent location.
Athens had been unanimously chosen to host the modern Games as Greece was the birthplace of the Ancient Olympic Games. Thus, King George I of Greece officially opened the Games and used the moment to say “Long live the Nation. Long live the Greek people.” reinforcing Greek nationalism and unity. Both the Greeks and those in power were enthusiastic about hosting the Games, viewing it as a way to affirm their nationhood and honor their ancient heritage. The country was able to showcase the ability of unifying this prestigious international sports event along with themselves. This was represented in an event that ran for the first time in Athens’ very own streets: the marathon. This event further fueled nationalist sentiment as it was won by Greek athlete Spyridon Louis making it a national triumph and Louis a national hero.
The Olympics have from the beginning reflected the political dynamics of the time. The 1896 Games were restricted to only male athletes, mainly from European and North American countries, excluding certain nations due to political reasons such as the Ottoman Empire. The Games were meant to be a unifying force, yet they have simultaneously served as platforms of national prestige, foreshadowing future political instances that would shape Olympic history ultimately leading to athletes advocating for social and political causes. The Games were born from nationalism and political ambition and have served their stage to urge the push for social progress. From Jesse Owens defying Nazi ideology in the 1936 Berlin Games to Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists in a Black Power Salute in the 1968 Mexican Games, the Olympics have stood as a platform for resistance and change.
More recently, the U.S. women’s soccer team has used the Olympic stage to protest for equal pay, highlighting gender disparities in sports Additionally, the 2024 Paris Olympics has drawn attention to issues of gender identity and eligibility across all sports, but specifically women’s boxing highlighting the controversies surrounding athletes like Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting.
The 1896 Games may not have seen the political statements that later Games would witness, but they established the precedent that the Olympic arena is more than just a sports venue and eventually became a truly global event. While the 1896 Games saw 241 athletes from 14 different nations compete, the most recent 2024 Paris Olympics featured 10,500 competitors from 206 nations and the IOC Refugee Team, representing the increase in international participation. In many ways, the legacy of the 1896 Games lives on, not just for athletic excellence, but in enduring relationships between sports, politics, and activism.