Olympics and the Arts: Art Competitions to Cultural Olympiads
Today, the celebrations around the Olympics are filled with enriching cultural programs and partnerships, but historically, the arts played a much more direct role. From 1912 to 1948, over 100 medals were awarded to competitors in the Fine Arts: an Olympic category that harkened back to ancient Greek ideals.
The Knockdown, Mahonri Young, 1931, (Gold Medal 1932 Los Angeles Olympics). Courtesy of Smithsonian American Art Museum
The History of Olympic Art Competitions
Drawing from the ancient Greek ideal of having a well-rounded individual skilled in mind, body, and spirit, Baron Pierre de Coubertin had a vision to reestablish the modern Olympic games to include both “muscle and mind.” After the International Congress of Paris agreed to his proposal plans in 1894, Coubertin co-founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and became the second president of the foundation. Although the first modern games occurred in Athens in 1896, he was unable to persuade other organizers of the games to integrate the arts until later.
De Coubertin believed that incorporating the arts would distinguish the Olympics from other athletic contests. He argued that including Fine Arts would honor ancient Greek values and the historic tradition of combining sports and arts in the Olympics. The addition of the competition in Fine Arts was implemented in the 1912 Stockholm Games, with de Coubertin as head organizer.
Initially, there were five categories: sculpture, literature, music, architecture, and painting; and all artwork had to be directly inspired by sports. Around 33 artists participated in this first competition in Stockholm, including some players already participating in sports.
An American Trotter, Walter Winans, 1912 (Olympic Gold). Photo by and Courtesy of Emma Holmbro and Ake Dahllof.
Catalogue of the exhibition at the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science, and Art, 1931. Digitally Published by LA84 Foundation.
Under a pseudonym, de Coubertin won the first gold medal for literature. Sir Walter Winans, who had previously won gold in shooting for the previous London Games, secured a gold medal for sculpture and an additional silver in shooting.
The Fine Arts program continued and evolved, with subcategories emerging and new categories, such as town planning, being added. Viewer experiences were also prioritized, with the artworks being exhibited at local museums beginning in the Amsterdam and 1931 Los Angeles Games.
The Decline and Discontinuation of Art Competitions
Despite de Coubertin’s insistence on the Fine Arts being equally as important as the Athletics, the art competitions began to fall to the side, with many of the artworks and themes becoming repetitive due to the sport inspiration rule. The changing dynamics of the categories, the domination of European and American winners and judges, and the inconsistent format of the competitions and judging that left some competitions without medals were signs of the program’s declining success.
More problems arose in the 1948 London Games, resulting in the last Olympics to hold art competitions. Similar to previous seasons, the display of the artworks at the expensively ticketed Victoria and Albert Museum also prohibited audiences from viewing them. The increasing number of subcategories rendered it difficult for judges to identify the most high-quality works. Most importantly, according to the current president of the IOC Avery Brundage, the allowance of professional artists jeopardized the amateur policy of the athletics portion and Olympic foundational value. In spite of entering the literature competition himself in 1932, Brundage also campaigned against the concept of the influence of money and how winning a medal could sway the notion of a quality of work or artist. With a lack of public interest and less high quality submissions, the integration of the arts into the Olympics came to a close.
The Move to Cultural Programs
Following the lead of the Berlin Games, noncompetitive exhibitions and cultural/art programs replaced the art competitions in the Helsinki 1952 Games, establishing a new tradition. In 1956, the Melbourne Games followed suit by hosting a major art festival with events ranging from drama and music to literature and visual art. This new custom continued to evolve throughout the following Olympic seasons as well as for the Paralympic Games.
These multidisciplinary and cultural endeavors transformed into what is now known as the Cultural Olympiad, a series of programs that occur within the host city leading up to and during the Games. The first Cultural Olympiad occurred during the four years leading up to the 1992 Barcelona Games and has continued ever since, becoming a large part of developing tourism and global recognition. Programs feature anything between partnering with local museums and organizations, exhibits, performing arts, festivals, and art installations. The Atlanta 1996 Games introduced the Cultural Paralympiad, showcasing events that highlighted disabilities and celebrated disabled individuals and artists.
Elizabeth Streb’s dancers perform in front of Tower Bridge in London as part of the Cultural Olympiad, 2012. Photo by and Courtesy of Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images.
Apaches, an Original Dance Show for the Paris 2024 Cultural Olympiad. Photo by David Le Borgne. Courtesy of Opéra National de Paris.
Olympics and Arts Today
Athletes from 39 countries made this collective work in PyeongChang. Project overseen by Olympic athletes and artists Roald Bradstock, Lanny Barnes, and Jean Blaise Evequoz. Courtesy of the Olympics.
Cultural programs are now a widely celebrated and essential part of the Olympics and Paralympics. They create an atmosphere of cross-cultural communication and education, fostering the values of the Games in honoring diversity and unity. The programs offer an avenue for people to come together beyond sports, emphasizing the ancient Greek ideals of the importance of both sports and arts.
Although artists were in residence for the 2016 Rio Games and created works throughout the duration, the PyeongChang 2018 Games began the tradition of the Olympian Artists-in-Residence program where previous Olympians can individually and collaboratively present and create new works, participate in art projects, and lead workshops for current athletes. Artists range in medium, including photography, music, sculpture, painting, collage, fiber, and graphic design. Launched in Tokyo 2020 and partnering with the Olympic Museum, the Olympic Agora also serves as a cultural and art hub to showcase the intersection of sport and art through public exhibitions and installations.
The opening ceremony is also an immense opportunity for the intersection of culture and art with the Games. Inviting a look into the hosting country’s rich culture and history, the elaborative ceremonies incorporate a beautiful and moving story through dances, music, and costumes.
Paris Olympics 2024
Sports and art continue to enrich one another and the Olympic community during this year's Summer Games in Paris. The Cultural Olympiad will run until September 8, 2024, featuring thousands of largely free events ranging from museums, performances, food, and theater.
Some events include the Louvre opening their doors for a unique workout course inside the galleries as well as hosting the Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy exhibition.
There will also be a hip-hop dance battle, street performances, a Paris Globe Festival theater competition, educational programs and tours, culinary workshops and tastings, Paris Poetic Games competition, Vivaldi’s Olympiade Opera, a photo project on sport and food, a reading marathon, and an Olympic Ball at Musée d'Orsay.
Further marking the heavy presence of the arts in this year's Olympics, Louis Vuitton-Moët-Hennessy is a premium partner of the Paris Games, crafting special medal and torch trunks and medal trays. In partnership with LVMH, two of their brands also designed the medals (Chaumet) and the opening ceremony outfits (Berluti). Along with the other Cultural Olympiad events, LVMH is also exhibiting a show at Fondation Louis Vuitton, titled The Collection, Rendez-Vous with Sport.
Louis Vuitton Medal Trunks for Paris 2024 Olympics. Photo courtesy of LVMH.
While there is not any official proposal for the revival of the art competitions in the near future, a new Olympic competition category harkens back to the art competition routes. Considered both a fine art and sport, Breakdancing debuts at this year's Games, following the new trend for urban sports on the Olympic stage.
The Olympic art competitions undoubtedly had a profound impact on the way art and sport interact in the Games today, paving the way for the art and cultural traditions now a part of every season. Although art might not be in the Games, it is an incredibly vital part of the celebration of athletes, cultures, and community, demonstrating the relevance of and inherent need for both art and sports.
Sources:
Agarwal, Ishta. “The Forgotten Olympic Art Competitions.” Historically Speaking, Historicallyspeakingssc, 19 Nov. 2020, historicallyspeakingssc.wordpress.com/2020/11/19/the-forgotten-olympic-art-competitions/.
Anderson , Jess. “From New York to Paris: Breaking the New Olympic Sport for 2024 Explained.” Edited by Sonia Oxley , BBC News, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/sport/extra/68hxs9lsfb/breaking-the-new-olympic-sport-for-2024-explained. Accessed 23 July 2024.
“Art and Sport: Pierre de Coubertin’s Vision Is Just as Relevant Today! .” Olympics, International Olympic Committee, 15 Sept. 2020, olympics.com/ioc/news/art-and-sport-pierre-de-coubertin-s-vision-is-just-as-relevant-today.
“Cultural Olympiad - Paris 2024.” Olympics, International Olympic Committee, olympics.com/en/paris-2024/the-games/celebrating/cultural-olympiad. Accessed 23 July 2024.
de Quatrebarbes, Pauline. “In Paris, the Cultural Olympiad in Ten Activities Not to Be Missed.” Télérama, 23 Apr. 2024, www.telerama.fr/arts-expositions/a-paris-l-olympiade-culturelle-en-dix-activites-a-ne-pas-rater-7020145.php.
Dylla, Sarah. “Not Just Sports: Arts and Culture of the ’96 Games.” Atlanta History Center, 23 Sept. 2020, www.atlantahistorycenter.com/blog/not-just-sports-arts-and-culture-of-the-96-games/.
Gereben , Janos. “‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’: Music and Arts at the Olympics.” San Francisco Classical Voice, 9 July 2024, www.sfcv.org/articles/music-news/faster-higher-stronger-music-and-arts-olympics#.
Kulikowski, Mick. “From Competition to Exhibition: Arts in the Olympic Games.” NC State News, NC State University , 15 Aug. 2016, news.ncsu.edu/2016/08/arts-in-olympic-games/.
“LVMH Is Premium Partner of the Olympic & Paralympic Games Paris 2024.” LVMH, www.lvmh.com/lvmh-is-premium-partner-of-the-olympic--paralympic-games-paris-2024. Accessed 23 July 2024.
“Olympian Artists .” Olympics Museum, Olympics, olympics.com/museum/explore/programmes/olympian-artists. Accessed 23 July 2024.
Perrottet, Tony. “When Painting and Sculpture Were Olympic Events.” BBC News, BBC, 12 June 2024, www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240611-frances-other-olympic-games.
Stromberg, Joseph. “When the Olympics Gave Out Medals for Art.” Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Institution, 24 July 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/when-the-olympics-gave-out-medals-for-art-6878965/.
