By gregor on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:06:44 GMT

The Independent comments on the latest events around the Olympic flame and goes back to the roots of this tradition.

By Andy McSmith Tuesday, 8 April 2008

There is a two-word answer to those who think the Olympic torch is a symbol of harmony between nations that should be kept apart from politics – Adolf Hitler.

The ceremony played out on the streets of Paris yesterday did not originate in ancient Greece, nor even in the 19th century, when the Olympic movement was revived. The entire ritual, with its pagan overtones, was devised by a German named Dr Carl Diem, who ran the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Although he was not a Nazi, and was appointed to run the Olympics before the Nazis came to power, Diem adapted very quickly to the new regime, and ended the war as a fanatical military commander exhorting teenage Germans to die like Spartans rather than accept defeat. Thousands did, but not Diem, who lived to be 80.

He sold to Josef Goebbels – in charge of media coverage of the Games – the idea that 3,422 young Aryan runners should carry burning torches along the 3,422km route from the Temple of Hera on Mount Olympus to the stadium in Berlin.

It was his idea that the flame should be lit under the supervision of a High Priestess, using mirrors to concentrate the sun's rays, and passed from torch to torch along the way, so that when it arrived in the Berlin stadium it would have a quasi-sacred purity.

The concept could hardly fail to appeal to the Nazis, who loved pagan mythology, and saw ancient Greece as an Aryan forerunner of the Third Reich. The ancient Greeks believed that fire was of divine origin, and kept perpetual flames burning in their temples.

In Olympia, where the ancient games were held, the flame burnt permanently on the altar of the goddess Hestia. In Athens, athletes used to run relay races carrying burning torches, in honour of certain gods.

But the ancient Games were proclaimed by messengers wearing olive crowns, a symbol of the sacred truce which guaranteed that athletes could travel to and from Olympus safely. There were no torch relays associated with the ancient Olympics until Hitler.

 

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By gregor on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:10:44 GMT

I've stumbled upon Reid's personal site and I thought I would share it with you. Reid is a member of the US Olympic team and currently plays in the Russian league for Novosibirsk. Reid's site is great for an insight on what it's like to be a professional Volleyball player. Check some of the videos where he talks about Italy to see what I mean.

At only 30, Reid already has an impressive record as a Globetrotter. Quite logical since there is no men's professional championship in the US (yet !?), American players have to go abroad to make a living. But it looks like this is a trend amongst professional players lately. Even when living in a country that has a strong (and wealthy) championship, lots of players decide to hit the road and sign contracts in a foreign country. Some might say that greed is the reason, but I don't think it is the only one. Although one wants to consider a 50 % rise in salary, not everyone can make it to the Russian league. And still, year after year you see more players taking a shot at playing abroad. My guess is that it is not always driven by the perspective of higher wages.

What do you think ?

 Reid Priddy - Professional Volleyball Player & Olympian

By gregor on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:38:14 GMT

A few months ago I got a call from a former team mate. I hadn't spoken to the guy in more than 12 years. Out of the blue, without even introducing himself first, he started to sing "the bare necessities" (see embedded video below).

Nobody had called me Baloo since I last saw him so it was pretty easy to figure out who this was. And although I'm glad this nickname didn't follow me ever after, at that very moment, while holding the phone, I must admit it felt pretty good.

By gregor on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:34:27 GMT

A year has passed since my last official volleyball game. In a couple of weeks I'll turn 36. Now I know for sure that this time there won't be any comeback.

Sure I miss the game. But I miss being part of a team even more. Belonging to a group with a common goal, with 8 months ahead to make the best out of it has always been an exciting experience for me. It has been right from day one, when I was only 10 and learning the ropes, up till last year.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you don't, but in the end you realize that it's the journey that really matters, not the trophies that stand on the shelves of your living room.