Modern Olympic Games

we all amateurs in this thang

Amateurism

Competing in sports, preferably in spare time to complement daily life, without receiving payment, and possesses gentlemanly traits

Pierre de Coubertin

Founder of the Olympic games who believed in the superiority of Greek culture, preached his idea of amateurism, and believed sports would motivate bigger military strength.

Much Wenlock and W. Olympic Games

A town in England that had an Olympics class (Founded 1850) that promoted intellectual and physical education through annual athletic competitions.

Anthropology Days

Event at the 1904 Worlds fair where nonwhite participants from other cultural exhibits were pulled to compete in western sports; designed to prove athletic inferiority of nonwhites.

Jim Thorpe

Nat. Am. Decathlete dubbed the greatest athlete of the 20th century; Infamously had his 1912 gold medal stripped for violating principles of amateurism by receiving payments for participation in Rocky Mountain Baseball League. Played football, baseball, and track.

Carlisle Indian Industrial School

School Jim Thorpe attended that was designed to assimilate native americans. Had a football team that gained attention for being very skilled

Duke Kahanamoku

A Native Hawaiian surfer and swimmer who highly shaped Hawaii’s tourist industry. The Hawaiian government used loopholes to reward Duke without violating bounds of amateurism. Also paid under the table for swim lessons

1904 Marathon

Disaster of a race where, intentionally, only one water well was placed on the course. Thomas Hicks was experimented on with dehydration, eggs, brandy, and Strychnine. A cheater took gold but was later stripped.

James Edward Sullivan

Responsible for organizing Anthropology Days, and the 1904 Marathon “experiment.” Barred American Women participation in 1912 (swimming).

1904 Olympic Lacrosse

Only Canada and USA competed but were allowed to have multiple teams enter. One such team was made of Native American, who earned bronze.