Contemplations of the rise and fall of olympics. Olympics and politics and education

Introduction

Olympics in the past one thousand years and one hundred years had different time and space zones, but their origins and the challenges posed by them were very similar. So in-depth studies of the evolutionary regularities of Olympics are quite necessary for the promotion of their development.

Methods

This study subject won the prize for China national-level excellent educational research results. The methodologies adopted were literature data, survey and systematic analysis.

Results

First, Olympics in the past and at present all have similar basis. In ancient times, the reason for holding Olympics was to maintain city-states’ political stability by educating the youth through sports, religions, etc. by the various Greek city-states, so the requirements of politics, culture and education constituted important reasons for the emergence of ancient Olympics. Similarly, Coubertin, the founder of modern Olympics, advocated the revitalization of Olympic Games on the grounds of educating the youth and maintaining world peace. Second, the challenges of ancient and modern Olympics are similar. In a latter part of ancient Olympics, due to too much commercialization and professionalism, coupled with dark politics, Olympics declined into contabescence. In the same way, modern Olympics are also faced with the problems of too much commercialization, professionalism, drug abuse, international political disputes, etc. For this reason, Rogge proposed "cleaner, more humane and more united" Olympics. Third, Olympic Games are not politics, but their survival and death depend upon politics. So we must draw lessons from the declining ancient Olympics, strive to give play to the active role of politics and education, and attain the sustainable development of Olympics.

Discussion / Conclusions

According to the inductions based on the origins and challenges of ancient and modern Olympics, we conclude that Olympics will become prosperous with active involvement of politics in close combination with education, or they decline. Though modern Olympics have traveled only 1/10 of ancient Olympics in terms of time a space, they are encountered with more severe challenges of alienation. So we must conscientiously study the positive and negative impacts of politics and education upon the future Olympics.

References

1. "Olympic Revolution", [Britain] David Mijjer, Pavilion Publish Co., Ltd.
2. "Olympics Study", [China] Xie Yalong, Beijing Sports University Publish House, 1994