The Olympic Games, a Reflection of the Rise of America in the Twentieth Century

The Olympic Games, a Reflection of the Rise of America in the Twentieth Century

By Daniel Recio

A World Power Loses Prominence

         

The Olympic flag flies at half staff at Olympic Village in
Innsbruck, Austria on Jan. 23, 1964 following the death of
Kazimerz Kay-Skrzypeski on January 22, (AP Photo)

   This years’ Winter Olympics in Sochi marked the 90^th anniversary of their creation. The U.S. has often led the world in many ways. This includes the Olympic standings; we’ve often stood high atop the winner’s podium with our many talented athletes showcasing the opportunity our country has offered to its citizens. Concluding the first War World- or as it was known at the time the Great War- came a critical point in American history we moved from an isolationist state to helping police the world along with much of the western world. The most notable thing you see when examining the first Winter Olympic Games is that America did not rank high among the games and we remained relatively low on the totem pole for much of the games.

“The Norwegians now have a total of 91 and half points to 76 and a half held by Finland, their nearest competitor. Austria is third with 25, the United States fourth with 21.” –Associated Press, Dallas Morning News (1924)

The event we dominated but did not earn first in was hockey. Many articles mention the U.S.’s dominance in the sport including that we defeated Norway; who medaled the most in the first Olympic Games. We could not defeat our neighbors to the north Canada though, but we show promise mentioned by the Associated Press in the Dallas Morning News.

“Despite Canada’s impressive scoring record, the Americans are hopeful that they can rise to the occasion and defeat their Canadian rivals in the final round.” –Associated Press, Dallas Morning News (1924)

Support Must Come Fiscally

            I think it’s important to note that Olympic athletes, both American and non-American, did not get full financial support from their own governments right away. The cost of sending a handful of athletes to the 1924 Summer Olympics is mentioned in an article partially contributed by the Associated Press in the Washington Post and the cost then was well into the hundreds of thousands.

“This country cannot hope to get the games but at infrequent intervals.” -Baxter, Washington Post (1924)

Winter Olympics (AP Photo)

The quote shows the pessimism surrounding how they were going to afford to send the athletes to compete for the nation. This is a competition amongst nations and requires a certain amount of nationalism to participate. The Olympics act as a global analogy for each nations prominence based on how well they perform; i.e. the better a country does the more exceptional they appear to be. So why would the government of each nation not support, if not, fully back the athletes representing the respective nations? A quote pulled from the same Washington Post Article highlights how the American Government took a different stance to public affairs early in the twentieth century.

“The Olympics are of primary interest to those who take part in and encourage athletics.” -Baxter, Washington Post (1924)

There is only mention of this being the interest of those who are directly involved in athletics or the Olympics. There was no mention of it being of the interest to the Government or any governing body, and no mention can be even more powerful than any mention at all. The history of America’s rise to prominence in the twentieth century can be mirrored in our participation in the Olympic Games. The games act as a large metaphor for the global politics that came to be in the twentieth century. With each new event and country added, each nation fights to be seen. As America began its humble journey at Chamonix in 1924 and now has continually dominated many events since we are now also a world power helping dictate global economics and politics.

“As long as the present method is followed our Olympic representation will be considerably handicapped. It is impossible to forecast accurately how large a team can be sent without the money already in hand to send them. The Olympic committee naturally is not desirous of incurring a deficit without any way of knowing how it is to be met.” -Baxter, Washington Post (1924)

Sources
Washington Post (1924), pg. S3
Associated Press, Dallas Morning News, (1924)