The Zeitgeist of the modern Olympic Games

After having watched the video 1.9 entitled “The Zeitgeist of the modern Olympic Games”, list and comment very briefly which were the important events, advances, changes and technological innovations which helped to the success of the modern Olympics.

Since the second half of XIX century, there was an improvement in transportations and telecommunication systems, which allowed a better integration between distant populations and also made easier to disseminate information. That was vital to the success of the Olympic Games because it made possible to many countries of all around the globe, to participate. Also, it was easier to publicize the event.

The International Expositions organized in the last decades of that century were a product of that time. The interest for the trade of knowledge allowed the creation of many developments in technology and other many fields. The telegraph and, later, the telephone connected the world and offered the possibility of a better circulation of information. Many events were doomed due to a lack of proper advertising… It was not the case of the Modern Olympic Games.

The cinema was also a very important invention to show the Games and attract public and solidifying the event in the common imaginary. The audiovisual language was slowly constructed and it enabled the future creation – and diffusion – of the television. That invention brought to a major population the images of the athletes at the moment of their glory. At first, it was only available videos after the event had already happened, but now, it is possible to see live.