Category Archives: History of Sport

A 25th Anniversary But What Lessons Learned?

This year marked a significant anniversary in sport history, but one likely few celebrated. Twenty-five years ago—September 26, 1988—news broke of the first major doping scandal in the Olympic Games. Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson, who just two days previously had … Continue reading →

by John Gleaves Posted on November 12, 2013
Posted in Doping, History of Sport, Philosophy of sport | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Amateurism Alive and Well At the Olympic Games

Avery Brundage would be proud knowing that amateurism remains alive and well in the Olympic Games. Oh sure, athletes are paid to compete. Brundage lost that fight. But the moral code of amateurism still allows the IOC to police athletes’ … Continue reading →

by John Gleaves Posted on August 1, 2012
Posted in History of Sport, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Rewriting History Through Sport

The anthropologist Clifford Geertz explained that sport is a story we tell ourselves about ourselves. In that idea, he captured the way that sport serves a social function. From the skills we test to the physical challenges we endure, we … Continue reading →

by John Gleaves Posted on July 31, 2012
Posted in History of Sport | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment