Art in the Olympics...

Photo courtesy of Discovery Communications, LLC

What would you say if I told you that a 73 year-old won an Olympic medal?  Would you believe me?  Hopefully, you do believe because it is true.  John Copley, a British graphic artist, won a silver medal in 1948 for one of his drawings. (Discovery Communications, LLC, 2012)  See, what many of us do not know is that there was an art competition as a part of the Olympics.  

When the Olympic Games were revived in 1896, many organizers strongly expressed a need to also include the thought entertained by the ancients, and unite intellectual feats to the physical displays at Olympic Competitions. (The Swedish Olympic Committee, 1912)  The most notable proponent of the arts in the Olympics was Baron Pierre de Coubertin.  In addition, according to the Smithsonian:

"At the turn of the century, as the baron struggled to build the modern Olympics from scratch, he was unable to convince overextended local organizers of the first few Games in Athens, St. Louis and Paris that arts competitions were necessary. But he remained adamant. “There is only one difference between our Olympiads and plain sporting championships, and it is precisely the contests of art as they existed in the Olympiads of Ancient Greece, where sport exhibitions walked in equality with artistic exhibitions,” he declared." (paragraph 5)

The baron did not give up on the idea of including the arts in the competition and strongly believed that art added value to his vision of the Olympics.  "In connection with this idea, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, President of the International Olympic Committee has been a very ardent champion for the establishment of art competitions in connection with the modem Olympic Games..." (The Swedish Olympic Committee, 1912, p. 806) Originally, the Concours d'Art was to take place with the 1908 Olympic games, but due to timing the inaugural event did not occur until the following Olympiad.

Thus, the International Olympic Committee announced the establishment of an art competition as a part of the 1912 Olympics.  The competition was meant for amateurs.  In this regard, in order to be considered, the works could not be previously published, exhibited, or performed, or having any direct connection with support.  In addition, the following categories were included in the competition: architecture, sculpture, painting, music and literature.  (The Swedish Olympic Committee, 1912, p. 806) "From 1912 to 1952, juries awarded a total of 151 medals to original works in the fine arts inspired by athletic endeavors."  (Stromberg, 2012)

Unfortunately, support for the art competitions was limited.  The art world viewed the competition with distrust.  Especially since those that had initiated the competition did not have a background in the arts and that the entries had to be sport-themed led many prominent entrants to believe the competition was not worthy of their time or submissions. (Stromberg, 2012).  Nonetheless, the competition continued to draw local crowds.  However, when World War II came about and much of the world engulfed in this deadly battle, the Olympics were put on hold.  Moreover, when the war was over, there was another hurdle to face: International Olympic Committee was adamant on its policy for amateurism.  "After heated debate, it was eventually decided that the art competition would be scrapped."  Thus, in 1948, the art competition had ended and the medals that had been awarded between 1912 and 1948 were stricken from the record.

If you are interested in more information on the Art Olympians, click on this great resource provided by Discovery Channel.  Here you will get more information on the history, some of the notable competitors - including the only woman to win a medal for her artwork.

The Olympics of Art, 1912-1948

Works Cited

Discovery Communications, LLC. (2012, December 12). The Olympics of Art, 1912-1948. Retrieved from DiscoveryNews.com: http://news.discovery.com/history/art-history/olympics-art-london-games-120807.htm

Stromberg, J. (2012, July 25). When the Olyjmpics Gave Out Medals for Art. Retrieved from Smithsonian.com: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-the-Olympics-Gave-Out-Medals-for-Art-163705106.html

The Swedish Olympic Committee. (1912). The Official Report of the Olympic Games of Stockholm 1912. Stockholm: Wahlstrom & Widstrand.