When Picasso Could've Won Gold

From 1912 to 1948, the Olympic Games awarded medals not just for sports, but for art too. Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, introduced competitive arts events. He believed that art and sport should go hand in hand, just like in some of the Games in Ancient Greece. Categories included architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. Entries were original works inspired by sport. Some competitors even managed to win medals in both art and sports! In 1949, the International Olympic Committee discontinued arts awards, opting instead for cultural events alongside the Games. Though these artistic Olympics are long gone, they left us with some wild records. Like John Copley, who became the oldest Olympic medalist at 73 for this etching in the 1948 Games. Today, the Olympics continue blending sport and art through the Cultural Olympiad, a series of exhibitions and events celebrating creativity alongside athletic achievement. #culturalhistory #olympics #didyouknow

[HugoStuff]

I can understand why they removed art from the olympics, seeing as how subjective art can be.

[BarnabyBaltimoron]

The Olympics still has art. This year, they’re introducing _BREAKING_ aka (Breakdancing) to the games. Sure, it requires an insane set of physical skills, but it is an art, just like any type of dancing. Pretty cool

[treesintheseas]

Imagine grinding for years and getting an Olympic Medal for your skill at 73.
The next year your skill is downgraded to a highly appreciated, but now free cultural event.😅😂
Oh well we still have Ao3 and Deviant Art.
Let's go pencil triathlons!
Its nice its still included.
The gaint heads in the Seine and the dancers were a nice touch in the opening show.

[verity]

They should have kept the art competitions. It's a great way to get people interested in the events and remind them everyone has a place in sharing perspective or culture.

We would have so much more than just commercial trash today if they had kept it. Sorry, but Nike ads are not the same as sculpture.

[pierce]

Bro imaagine grinding for years to be an olympian. Getting silver and realizing some old guy got a gold for drawing.

[bidujador]

Today, the Olympics couldn't have been done in poorer taste.