Most Depressing Olympic Fact Ever

[bambam1729]

South Africa actually had more competitors than the two Kaffir marathoners. They had a team in the tug-of-war as well.

Cuba's "team" was only Felix Carbajal, the marathoner, who hitchhiked his way on a boat to the US and then hitchhiked his way cross-country to St. Louis, working odd jobs along the way to earn his travel money.

The nationalities of those who competed in Paris in 1900 is highly disputed. In fact, the actual list of events that should be considered olympic in 1900 is disputed. So its difficult to say which nations actually competed definitively, although most of those European nations you mention had much shorter travel to Paris than to St. Louis.

[Cottonshirt]

South Africa actually had more competitors than the two Kaffir marathoners. They had a team in the tug-of-war as well.

(my figures refer only to events on the current Olympic programme)

In fact, the actual list of events that should be considered olympic in 1900 is disputed.

(my figures refer only to events on the current Olympic programme)

I take it you are not disputing the events on the current Olympic programme?


Martin

[bambam1729]

South Africa actually had more competitors than the two Kaffir marathoners. They had a team in the tug-of-war as well.

(my figures refer only to events on the current Olympic programme)

In fact, the actual list of events that should be considered olympic in 1900 is disputed.

(my figures refer only to events on the current Olympic programme)

I take it you are not disputing the events on the current Olympic programme?


Martin

There's a book on the 1904 Olympic Games that may answer a lot of your questions concerning them:

The 1904 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson (NC): McFarland, 1998

[ppalmer]

Yes, but why are the entries that way?

(trimmed for brevity)

As I understand it the Paris Olympics (1900) almost killed the whole thing. It extended over 3 months or so, was not well organized, and events were scattered all over in space as well as time. There were reports of elite athletes showing up and finding that they were at a race for school kids, etc. Apparently many Eurpoean countries decided it was not worth sending teams to St. Louis. However, after St. Louis went off pretty well, there were second thoughts, and a (now unofficial) Olympics was held in Athens in 1906. After that, things got back on track. (Well, at least until 1916.)

Pat Palmer

(I probably learned most of what I know about this from that thick book on the Olympics by the guy whose name starts with W. You guys who read the History section will know who I mean.)

[tandfman]

David Wallechinsky

[Cottonshirt]

Thank you.

That the French were responsible does not surprise me in the least. They're great people, don't get me wrong I love their country and I go shopping there once a month. But there is no word for "organisation" in their vocabulary. They have no concept of what "punctual" means; something will be ready when it's ready, not when the clock says any particular time.

It's what makes them good at the things they are good at; hospitality, wine and cheese... and something beginning with s that we shouldn't talk about in public, family oriented forums.



Martin

[Pego]

But there is no word for "organisation" in their vocabulary. They have no concept of what "punctual" means; something will be ready when it's ready, not when the clock says any particular time.

Do you really mean this "ad absurdum" generalization, or is it "tongue-in-cheek"?

[Cottonshirt]

Do you really mean this "ad absurdum" generalization, or is it "tongue-in-cheek"?

I do not mean it in the literal sense. They obviously have a word for organisation, it's just that when they say it they do not, in my experience, mean quite the same thing I mean when I say organisation. They are quite laid back about things, the shops don't open when they are supposed to and if someone says they will meet you at lunchtime they turn up at half past three and it never occurs to them that they might be (at least) two hours late.

I find it quite infuriating, especially when I have given up a whole day to get the ferry over to France and expect to use my time effectively. There are also things I really like about them and I try to put up with the infuriating things in order to enjoy the nice things, but I do not always succeed.

But I have only ever been to one small part of France, repeatedly. Maybe elsewhere they are quite different.

Martin

[Halfmiler2]

or who doubled by singing the themes to both High Noon and Blazing Saddles!

His theme to Rawhide (also played by the Blues Brothers) is the best of all. :wink: