The Games Podcast

1900: The Effects of The Games

Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:03 GMT

In the final episode of Season 2, as we say goodbye to the 1900 Paris Games, we reflect on its impact. On the one hand, the second Olympiad led to an important change in IOC rules and sparked a battle over the 1904 Games (or is that the 1901 Games?); on the other, it inspired the next generation of athletes to participate in and pursue sports. Although the Paris Games left much to be desired, the 1900 Olympics also gave us opportunities for growth. The next question is: did we make the most of them?

To visit the official IOC website, click here.

To view the transcript of this episode and past episodes of The Games, click here.

Follow @thegamespodcast on Instagram or The Games Podcast Facebook page for bonus material and more fun facts that didn't quite make the cut for the episode. If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and/or review and feel free to share it with your friends! Don't forget to subscribe so you can stay up-to-date with each new episode.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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1900: The Politics of The Games

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:06 GMT

As much as the Baron and others would like to say the Olympic Games were and are apolitical, they are anything but. The Games have always been influenced by political leanings, culture mores, and national customs. And the 1900 Paris Games were no exception. From “the Sunday Question” to the place of women in sports, Episode 4 is dedicated to the controversies and debates surrounding the Second Olympiad.

To visit the official IOC website, click here.

To view the transcript of this episode and past episodes of The Games, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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1900: The Competitors in The Games

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:24 GMT

The Olympic Games feature athletes from around the world who are the best of the best. But that doesn’t mean the athletes had an easy path to the Games, or to sports in general. Oftentimes, the most inspiring and talked about stories center on athletes who overcame all odds just for the chance to compete. The second Olympiad has a few of these stories to tell. And then some! Why was a medal retroactively moved from the United States’ tally and given to Canada? Which Olympic champion never knew the sporting events were connected to the Olympic Games? Will one Olympic champion ever be identified, or will he remain anonymous forever? Find out this and more in Episode 3 of Season 2!

To visit the official IOC website, click here.

To view the transcript of this episode and past episodes of The Games, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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1900: The Sports of The Games

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:00:58 GMT

Uncovering the true sports of the second Olympiad is a bit like separating a mixed pile of hay and straw: there is a right answer, but it will take ample time and possibly a few experts! Is firefighting an Olympic event? What about live pigeon shooting? Or tug-of-war? And how unorganized were the 1900 Paris Games really? Is it fair to say this Olympiad was a “huge joke”? Answers to these questions and more await in the second episode of Season 2!

To visit the official IOC website, click here.

To view the transcript of this episode and past episodes of The Games, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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1900: The Road to The Games

Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:00:13 GMT

Four years after the success of the first modern Olympiad in Athens, Greece, the Olympic Games come to Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s beloved Paris, France. The 1900 Paris Games coincide with the 1900 World’s Fair, also held in Paris. Are the Olympics and World’s Fair a match made in heaven? Will the World’s Fair boost the Games’ popularity, or overshadow it? Will the 1900 Paris Games be a dream come true for the Baron, or a nightmare? Find out the answers to these questions and more in the first episode of Season 2!

To visit the official IOC website, click here.

To view the transcript of this episode and past episodes of The Games, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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Dr. Matt Andrews Interview - Part 3

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 10:00:48 GMT

Welcome to the final part of my conversation with American historian, Dr. Matt Andrews. The Games podcast, of course, focuses on the history of the modern Games, but one of the beauties of podcasting is that it lends itself to become a platform for perspectives, a place where different views and ideas can be shared and discussed. In the offseason of The Games Podcast, as we wait for episodes covering the next Olympiad, we’ll be able to get that diversity of thought through a few interviews.

Dr. Andrews is a professor at UNC-Chapel Hill and he teaches many courses on the ways history, culture, and sports all intersect, including “Baseball and American History,” “Race, Basketball, and the American Dream,” and, of course, “The Olympic Games—A Global History.” He also has a wonderful and fascinating podcast on sports and American history called “American Sport with Matt Andrews.”

In this final installment, we discuss amateurism, the sports of the Olympics, and the seemingly invincible nature and longevity of the Games. Enjoy!

N.B. This conversation took place a few weeks before the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, so while we talked about some concepts related to the Tokyo Games, we didn’t know how those things would pan out once the Games started. This is also why you won’t hear us comment on any of the events or results from the Tokyo Games.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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Dr. Matt Andrews Interview - Part 2

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 10:00:28 GMT

Welcome to part two of my conversation with American historian, Dr. Matt Andrews. The Games podcast, of course, focuses on the history of the modern Games, but one of the beauties of podcasting is that it lends itself to become a platform for perspectives, a place where different views and ideas can be shared and discussed. In the offseason of The Games Podcast, as we wait for episodes covering the next Olympiad, we’ll be able to get that diversity of thought through a few interviews.

This is just part two of three with Dr. Andrews. In this episode, we talk about women in sports and transgender athletes. This discussion reflects the increasingly complicated understanding of fairness in sports, where we’ve brought sports as a culture and where we are taking them in the future. It’s a tangled web, but one that should be addressed.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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Dr. Matt Andrews Interview - Part 1

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 10:00:17 GMT

Welcome to another bonus episode of The Games Podcast. This podcast, of course, focuses on the history of the modern Games, but one of the beauties of podcasting is that it lends itself to become a platform for perspectives, a place where different views and ideas can be shared and discussed. In the offseason of The Games Podcast, as we wait for episodes covering the next Olympiad, we’ll be able to get that diversity of thought through a few interviews.

Today, we’ll hear from Dr. Matt Andrews, American historian and professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Dr. Andrews teaches many courses on the ways history, culture, and sports all intersect, including “Baseball and American History,” “Race, Basketball, and the American Dream,” and, of course, “The Olympic Games—A Global History.” He also has a wonderful and fascinating podcast on sports and American history called “American Sport with Matt Andrews.”

This is just part one of three with Dr. Andrews. In this episode, we talk about national representation, the politicization of the Games and Olympic boycotts, and whether or not the Games should have a permanent host. Enjoy the show!

N.B. this conversation took place a few weeks before the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games, so while we talked about some concepts related to the Tokyo Games, we didn’t know how those things would pan out once the Games started. This is also why you won’t hear us comment on any of the events or results from the Tokyo Games.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: The DeHart Hubbard Story: Part 2

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 09:00:15 GMT

Welcome to the second and final part of my conversation with Mr. Ken Blackwell. The Games Podcast, of course, focuses on the history of the modern Games, but one of the beauties of podcasting is that it lends itself to become a platform for perspectives, a place where different views and ideas can be shared and discussed. In the offseason of The Games Podcast, as we wait for episodes covering the next Olympiad, we’ll be able to get that diversity of thought through a few interviews.

We continue this offseason with part two of a very special conversation with Mr. Ken Blackwell. Mr. Blackwell is a former mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio and currently serves as the Senior Fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance at the Family Research Council. He is a bestselling author and commentator, and he is also the great-nephew of the one and only DeHart Hubbard.

If you missed part one of this interview, go back and give it a listen because this episode starts right where we left off. As a reminder, Mr. Blackwell has provided some pictures of his great-uncle, DeHart Hubbard, as he sailed to the 1924 Paris Games, and you can see those pictures on The Games Podcast Instagram and Facebook pages. I really think you’re going to enjoy this conclusion to our conversation.

For more from Ken Blackwell, check out the Family Research Council.

Follow @thegamespodcast on Instagram or The Games Podcast Facebook page for bonus material and more fun facts. If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and/or review and feel free to share it with your friends! Don't forget to subscribe so you can stay up-to-date with each new episode.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BONUS: The DeHart Hubbard Story: Part 1

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:00:35 GMT

Welcome to the first bonus episode of The Games Podcast. The Games Podcast, of course, focuses on the history of the modern Games, but one of the beauties of podcasting is that it lends itself to become a platform for perspectives, a place where different views and ideas can be shared and discussed. In the offseason of The Games Podcast, as we wait for episodes covering the next Olympiad, we’ll be able to get that diversity of thought through a few interviews.

We kickstart this offseason with part one of a very special conversation with Mr. Ken Blackwell. Mr. Blackwell is a former mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio and currently serves as the Senior Fellow for Human Rights and Constitutional Governance at the Family Research Council. He is a bestselling author and commentator, and he is also the great-nephew of the one and only DeHart Hubbard.

At the 1924 Paris Games, DeHart Hubbard became the first African American to win a gold medal in an individual event when he was crowned champion in the long jump. His time at the Games was marked by victory, disappointment, injury and inspiration. Now, almost 100 years later, I had the honor of sitting down with Mr. Blackwell and learning more about the life and legacy of DeHart Hubbard. I am so grateful for Mr. Blackwell’s time and for the resources he has provided, including some pictures of his great-uncle, DeHart Hubbard, as he sailed to the 1924 Paris Games, and you can see those pictures on The Games Podcast Instagram and Facebook pages. I really think you’re going to enjoy this conversation.

For more from Ken Blackwell, check out the Family Research Council.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1896: The Effects of The Games

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 09:00:39 GMT

From the "absurd shouts" of the Americans, to the Boston Marathon, to a Mediterranean war, to a quest for a permanent host--the world impacted the revived Olympics and the 1896 Athens Games certainly changed the world. Discover some of the effects of the Games in the season finale of season one!

To visit the official Olympic Games website, click here.

For the Official Report of the 1896 Olympic Games, click here.

To read about the quest for a permanent host, click here.

To read some of Thomas Curtis' High Hurdles and White Gloves, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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1896: The Politics of The Games

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:00:35 GMT

The politicization of the Olympic Games began on Day One, making these "apolitical" Games anything but. Are sports a method for peace, or for war? Should athletes represent nations or themselves? What's an amateur and why does it matter? We discuss these evergreen concepts in episode four of the Games.

To read Robert Paddick's article on amateurism, click here.

Follow @thegamespodcast on Instagram or The Games Podcast Facebook page for bonus material and more fun facts that didn't quite make the cut for the episode. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact The Games team via the Instagram and Facebook accounts, or through the Wordpress site. If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and/or review and feel free to share it with your friends! Don't forget to subscribe so you can stay up-to-date with each new episode.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1896: The Competitors in The Games

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 09:00:18 GMT

In this episode, we learn about some prominent athletes of the ancient Games and the intimidation factors that led one competitor to win every event he entered. Then we get a glimpse into the lives of some of the athletes of 1896: An Olympic medal becomes a get-out-of-jail-free card, tragedy strikes for one competitor, a protestor seeks to break a glass ceiling, and an athlete receives a prize without ever making the podium. All this and more in episode three of The Games!

Note: from the 13:15 mark to the 14:15 mark of this episode, we cover an Olympian's story which includes an alleged suicide. Specific details are not given, but the general story is addressed. Listener discretion is advised.

To visit the IOC official Olympic website, click here.

To read the Official Report of the 1896 Games, click here.

To read Mark Bechtel's article, "Accidental Olympians," click here.

To read Athanasios Tarasouleas's article on Stamata Revithi, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

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1896: The Sports of The Games

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 09:00:33 GMT

A super-sized episode covering the events and results of the 1896 Athens Games. We'll look at some of the sports of the ancient Games and we'll learn about the changes the IOC made to modernized the Games. We'll spend some time in the stadium for the 100m race, in the Zappeion for fencing bouts, in the Velodrome for cycling, and on the streets of Greece for the marathon. One athlete's will to live overcomes his desire to win, another athlete gets disqualified, and a spectator becomes an Olympic champion. All this and more in the second episode of The Games!

For the Official Report of the 1896 Olympic Games, click here.

To visit the official IOC website, click here.

To view the transcript of this episode and past episodes of The Games, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1896: The Road to The Games

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 09:00:16 GMT

When and why did the ancient Olympic Games end? Who brought the Games back? What simple suggestion by a French professor changed the modern Olympic Games and the world of sports forever? Find out the answers to these questions and more in the first episode of The Games!

For the Official Report of the 1896 Olympic Games, click here.

To visit the official IOC website, click here.

To view the transcript of this episode and past episodes of The Games, click here.

Thanks for listening, and enjoy The Games!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Intro to The Games

Fri, 14 May 2021 03:10:33 GMT

A brief introduction to the layout of The Games podcast and why I decided to start the podcast in the first place.

Thanks for listening!

Transcripts of each episode of The Games are available at https://thegamespodcast.wordpress.com on the same day the episode releases.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.