The Olympic Games were large athletic competitions originally held in Greece about every four years from 776 B.C.E. to 393 C.E. Demetrius Vikelas, the first president of the International Olympic Committee organized successful early competitions including few sports; from cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting and wrestling. After many years of planning, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896. Based on the documents, many competitors established love for their own sport and loved competing against others from around the world, as well as all of the benefits or what happened because of the new profound Olympics, and the economic situations that some countries faced due to the Olympics. These factors shaped and constructed the modern Olympics from 1892 through 2002.
Competitors were vicious and knew how to act when it came to the Olympic games. For example, a 1972 magazine interview with Bob Matthias, (United States competitor in 1952 games) stated that there were many pressures on athletes with the presence of he Soviet Union team, displaying them as the real enemy. The athletes from the US loved to beat them, no matter what sport the Russians were or weren’t strong in. (Doc 4) However during completion, competitors, such as the Germans, brought in their political view of things, thinking that Nazism was better than democracy. The Germans only believed in victory, for all means were justified. Therefore because the Germans believed in victory, they cheated on the Olympic Games in 1936 and practiced on the ski mountain before it was opened, always giving themselves the advantage. (Doc 3) To competitors who maintained victory during the modern Olympic games, they gave themselves and their country confidence. Nothing would separate their love and devotion to their country, even if people openly criticize them about their apparel or spirit for their sport or country. Hassiba