Acta Univ. Palacki. Olomuc., Gymn. 2007 37(3): 7-13

The Olympic Games as a cultural event

Zvezdan Savić

Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Nis, Niš

The Olympic Games have become a multi sport event, which entertains not only athletes from different countries, but a world wide audience numbering millions. They therefore exceed any other sports or cultural event when it comes to matters of public interest. Deriving from the initiative of a few countries and a small number of athletes, a historically significant phenomenon of the civilization of today has developed, each time with a designated location, its own competitors, propositions and rules. The Olympic Games represent the ideology of different peoples in one place, the ideology of religions, customs, traditions, languages, or cultures in general. They make mass communication between the contestants and the rest of the world possible. Social, scientific, sports-technical and political evolution has opened up great horizons for sport as a socio-cultural phenomenon, and it has become a common good. Over one hundred and ninety countries take part in the Olympic Games today. Athletes and judges come from various social settings, something which was unimaginable in the day and age from which the Games originate. Yet, what constitutes a landmark of today's Olympic Games is the social communication among the youth of the world within a grandiose event. There we can see athletic mastery and a coming together of young people without regard to ideology, race and religion. This is what makes the Games the most beautiful and most significant event. The authors of this research paper have tried to give a more detailed explanation of the most important cultural aspects of the Olympic Games and to describe their social context.

Keywords: Game, culture, tradition, religion, customs, the Olympic Games

Prepublished online: February 1, 2009; Published: June 1, 2007  Show citation