. Feed unearths the secret history of the Olympic Games. There are a couple of gaps in the otherwise excellent essay though. First, “Olympiad” refers to the time period between games – the four years between each time the Summer Games are held. At the end of an Olympiad is the Olympic Games event itself. Second, he misses a huge aspect of it – the whole idea of amateurism.
Keeping the Olympic games for amateurs rather than professionals wasn’t some noble line in the sand between “pure” and “impure” sports. It was to make sure that the Olympics were only for the upper classes to compete in. It was pure classism – a way to make sure that sweaty labourers and factory workers weren’t competing with the gentry and the like. Good riddance, I say.
