logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
53m 11s

The Early History of the Olympics

NEWSTALK
About this episode

Patrick and his panel reflect on the early history of the Olympic Games, from ancient Greece to the revival in more modern times, discussing their historical significance, cultural impact and enduring legacy. Featuring Nigel Crowther, Emeritus Professor in Department of Classical Studies at University of Western Ontario; Supervising Professor at International Olympic Academy, Olympia, Greece (2004-05); Former Director of the International Centre for Olympic Studies; Dr Siobhán Doyle, Curatorial Researcher at the National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks; Dr Jim Parry, Visiting Professor, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague; and Dr Nigel Spivey, Senior Lecturer in Classical Art and Archaeology in the Faculty of Classics, University of Cambridge.

Up next
Jan 28
The Plough And The Stars: 100 Years On
In this episode, we find out about the first staging of Seán O'Casey's play The Plough and The Stars 100 years ago and why it provoked such furious debate and even riots. Our panel features: Dr Ciara Murphy, Lecturer in Drama at TU Dublin and Vice President of the Irish Society o ... Show More
52m 56s
Jan 28
Ancient Egypt's Innovation
In this episode, we're finding out about the making of Ancient Egypt - the makers, materials, and remarkable innovations of one of the most iconic civilisations in human history. Featuring Helen Strudwick, Lead Curator of the Made In Ancient Egypt exhibition at the Fitzwilliam Mu ... Show More
53m 5s
Jan 28
David Bowie
10 years on from David Bowie's death, we reflect on the life and music of one of the most influential cultural figures of our age, and assess his remarkable legacy. Our panel is Prof Eoin Devereux, Co-Director for the Centre for The Study of Popular Music and Popular Culture at t ... Show More
52m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
The Modern Olympics
Every four years, the Modern Olympic Games is a celebration of athletic excellence. From modest roots in 19th Century Athens, to a worldwide phenomenon which will feature almost 15,000 athletes in Paris 2024, the Modern Olympics has developed into the largest sporting festival in ... Show More
57m 27s
Aug 2024
The Ancient Olympics: Games Of The Gods
<p>A tradition that endured millennia. The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC and took place every four years until at least 396 AD. It was a major religious and sporting festival, attended by over 40,000 spectators who flocked to watch athletes compete in sports like wrestlin ... Show More
50m 49s
Jan 2025
Vase-mania
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss eighteenth century 'vase-mania'. In the second half of the century, inspired by archaeological discoveries, the Grand Tour and the founding of the British Museum, parts of the British public developed a huge enthusiasm for vases modelled on the anc ... Show More
56m 27s
Jul 2024
The 2024 Olympics Spectacular
<p>From TV commercials and branded soda cans to Emily in Paris spon-con, the Olympics are once again everywhere. In the Olympic spirit, we’re bringing you four stories about the games in all their international, theatrical glory.</p><p>In the first story, Christopher Johnson intr ... Show More
40m 33s
Aug 2024
The ancient origins of the Olympics | Armand D'Angour
Thousands of years in the making, the Olympics began as part of a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia. But how did it become the greatest show of sporting excellence on earth? Educator Armand D'Angour explains the evolution of the Oly ... Show More
4m 25s
Jul 2024
The Ancient Olympics
For nearly 12 centuries, the Ancient Greeks honoured their gods with one of the most famous sporting contests in the world: The Olympic Games. Athletes represented their city states to compete for the glory of the gods, knowing that winning or losing could change the course of th ... Show More
54m 58s
Apr 2022
The Pitfalls of Official History
Dr Thomas Mills, Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University and Director of the Centre for War and Diplomacy is joined by Patrick Salmon, Chief Historian at the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development office. In his seventeen years in office, Patrick has published a number of volumes ... Show More
36m 39s
Jul 2024
Pierre de Coubertin & Other Artists Winning Medals at the Olympics
From 1912 to 1948, medals were awarded for artistic creations inspired by sport, alongside those for athletic prowess. This unique fusion of disciplines was the brainchild of Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, who envisioned the Games as a celebration of bot ... Show More
12m 1s