Aired on PBS to coincide with the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, The Real Olympics offers a historically sound, informative account of the ancient Greek Olympic games, emphasizing their political and religious significance (as well as how much they benefited the individual winners, personally and economically), pointing out their brutal, winner-take-all character, and detailing evidence of chicanery among the participants--all while still conveying the glory of the enterprise. The program also covers the modern Olympic movement--from the revival of the late 19th century to the present--clearly showing how the games have evolved from a supposed gentlemen's competition of amateurs (a thoroughly non-Greek conception, as it happens) to one often dominated by nationalism, spectacle, and thinly-disguised professionalism (the revelation of how much this transformation owed to the Nazi sponsorship of the 1936 Berlin games is especially telling). Finally, the documentary also serves as a celebration of the modern Olympic spirit, culminating in a brief account of the Greek government preparing to host the 2004 event. Combining dramatic recreations, news and television footage, scholarly interviews, narration, and photographs to excellent effect, this is recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (F. Swietek)
The Real Olympics
(2004) 110 min. VHS or DVD: $24.99 ($54.95 w/PPR). PBS Video (<span class=SpellE>tel</span>: 800-344-3337, web: <a href="http://www.pbs.org/">www.pbs.org</a>). <span class=GramE>Color cover.</span> ISBN: 0-7936-9584-8 (<span class=SpellE>vhs</span>), December 13, 2004
The Real Olympics
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