When Refrigerator Art Could Have Been Olympic Training

Provided the world dodges a deadly variant of the Covid Virus in the coming months, the Summer Olympics plan to kick off in July. After postponing the games in 2020 because of the global pandemic, the Olympics committee has given the go ahead for Japan to host the games this Summer. Once again, the finest athletes in the world will converge to showcase their feats of strength and endurance. But did you know, according to the Smithsonian magazine that between 1912 and 1948, the Olympic Games awarded medals in literature, sculpture, music, painting, and architecture. Yes, works of art classified as an Olympic Sport. The one stipulation being each piece submitted had to utilize a sport as its theme.

A couple of my children dabble in art, creating drawings, clay sculptures and crafts on a regular basis. About one hundred years ago, I could've boasted that my kids were in training. Olympic training. This idea of art being showcased and judged at the Olympics originated in the mind of Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin. He founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. A forward thinker of his day, Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin advocated for men being educated in both mind, body and competing in the sports arena instead of on the battlefield. He also envisioned a time of combining both art and sport and therefore considered including artistic competition in the Olympic Games. Finally, his dream came to fruition in the 1912 Olympic Games in Sweden. Although the Swedes initially objected, opposing the idea of art pieces being judged in competition, they eventually relented and fulfilled Pierre's dream. Only 35 artists participated but gold medals were issued in all five categories. Disappointed in the participation, Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin did not lose hope. In 1924, artists packed up their canvass, pallets, paints, and sculptures and flocked to Paris.

At the 1924 Summer Olympics, art was taken seriously as a sport for the first time. One hundred ninety-three artists entered works. And even though the Soviet Union did not participate in the traditional sporting events, three Soviet artists submitted pieces for the competition. In 1928, over 1100 art exhibits were featured at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam, this number not including literature, music, and architecture. And though the entrants for the traditional games dropped in the Los Angeles Games of 1932, the number of art works submitted remained stable. Their exhibition drew 384,000 visitors to the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art. In 1949 the IOC determined that art would no longer be considered Olympic games because most all of the artists were professional and Olympic athletes were required to hold an amateur status. The move toward removing art as a sport quite likely stemmed from the happenings after the close of the Amsterdam games. After the games concluded, many artists sold their works after the exhibition's conclusion. The artists appreciated some spending cash for the trip home, but the IOC frowned on the practice as it moved them from the status of amateur to paid professional.

At the 1948 Olympics, John Copley won a silver medal for Painting and Engraving. At the age of 73, Copley holds the record for being the oldest recipient of an Olympic medal. If you Google the oldest Olympic medalist, a shooter from Sweden pops up. Oscar Swahn won medals at the age of 72. However, this information focuses on the traditional games of the Olympics. But if one includes the time frame of 1912 - 1948, then John Copley holds the title.

So, when your children are gathered around the table, doodling and sketching, keep in mind if art ever makes a comeback in the games, you may be observing the works of a future Olympian. Those colorful pictures hanging on the refrigerator may one day lead to a place on the Olympic podium.