The Olympics were founded over 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece and it is with pride and honor that the modern games return to their homeland this summer. To coincide with this momentous occasion, a national institution, the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center (HMCC) brings a multifaceted exhibition on the heroic sporting event to Chicago. Olympic Games: Then & Now runs May 23 to Nov. 14 at the Museum's new space on the fourth floor of the Greek Islands Restaurant, 801 W. Adams St. But what ancient Greek story is without scandal and intrigue? Among other things, this exhibit sheds new light on the 1904 Chicago Olympics Games that were stolen away by Chicago's rival city St. Louis.
HMCC joined forces with a number of national and local institutions, particularly Columbia College Chicago, in developing the varied exhibit elements. The Museum's investigative work with Columbia journalism students culminated in the significant discovery of previously unknown documentation describing the events that led to Chicago's loss of the 1904 Olympic Games to St. Louis.
The fact that Chicago was originally selected as the host city is little known by the general public; however, the mystery of the circumstances that led to the games being transferred has haunted Chicago historians and Olympic scholars for a century. As the ancient gods, hard work, and a bit of coincidence would have it, HMCC brings a new dimension to the odyssey on the 100 year anniversary of the event.
Until now, the prevailing thought on the transfer of the games has been that somehow the Chicago committee failed to follow through with their bid to host the games. University of Chicago Professor John MacAloon, one of three U.S. experts on the 1904 Olympics, explains the historic event as a setback to the Olympic Movement. "Had Chicago not given up its hard-won rights to the 1904 Olympic Games," MacAloon said, "the history of the modern Olympic Movement would surely have been different." MacAloon admits that the Chicago Olympics bid committee did everything right. They included one of the first proposals for a domed stadium and recruited prominent educators, civic leaders, and diplomats to help organize the Games.
"As it was, the Greek authorities had to step in with the 'interim Olympics of 1906' in order to save the nascent Olympic Movement from the disaster of St. Louis, caused by Chicago's still-somewhat-unexplained decision to forsake the 1904 Games."
The transfer of the Chicago Olympic Games to St. Louis resulted in minimal international presence at the 1904 Olympics. The Europeans decided not to participate as their teams had prepared for Chicago and were unwilling to compete in St. Louis. In the U.S., the Ivy League athletic programs that were prominent in the 1900 Paris Olympics boycotted the 1904 Games.
This story was so intriguing that the Hellenic Museum wanted to include it in its exhibition. But what seemed to be a fog took on new dimension when those investigating uncovered a box of documents donated to a small Wisconsin archive decades ago. It turns out that the papers belonged to one of the key 1904 Chicago Olympic organizers.
While there are still a few missing pieces, it has become apparent that the games were stolen away from Chicago by its archrival St. Louis. Much of this new documentation will be presented in the Excavating the History/ Mystery of the 1904 Chicago Olympic Games component of the exhibition.
Another group of talented students of Columbia College Chicago's Interactive Multimedia Program brings 776 B.C. Olympia to life for 21st century visitors to the exhibition. The Ancient Games: A Walk Through Olympia combines their extensive research, graphics, and technology to create a first-rate, three-dimensional world to explore.
From investigating this century-old mystery, to providing an interactive walk through Ancient Olympia, to a look at the Olympics through the eyes and art of children and professional artists commissioned by the United States Olympic Committee and Athens, and finally through examples of Olympic stamps - there is something for everyone at this exhibit.
HMCC's regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 11a.m to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.. Regular exhibit admission is free to HMCC members; $5 for non-members. For more information call the Museum at (312) 655-1234 or visit hellenicmuseum.org. |
