Dark history of the Olympics

The true history of the games is a far cry from the platitude-laden, sepia-toned nostalgia pumped out by the International Olympic Committee and sponsors

Mary Pilon  July 24, 2016 Last Updated at 21:15 IST

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THE GAMES A Global History of the Olympics David Goldblatt W.W. Norton & Company 516 pages; $29.95 In the late 19th century, Pierre de Coubertin, a French aristocrat, found his life's goal: to create a sporting culture that existed separate from political concerns. And in 1896, with the staging of the first modern Olympic Games, Coubertin got his wish. Sort of. In ancient Greece, athletic endeavours were seen as an important preparation for war, but Coubertin's gathering in Athens was a more clumsy affair, with 241 athletes, all white and male, competing in nine sports over ...

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Dark history of the Olympics