Frances : Welcome to T2A chat for July 16th. I’m Frances Alonzo, sitting in for Erin. As competitors around the world prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, we get historical perspective on the Olympic Movement and Olympic Games. We’re talking with David Wallechinsky, a historian with the non-profit group called the International Society of Olympic Historians. The organization gathers and maintains extensive research going back to the first Games. We’re looking how competition has changed and stayed the same over the years, as well as what the future could hold. We’re also learning about the team representing the U.S. in Beijing from Bob Condron of the U.S. Olympic Committee. Let’s get started with some questions from Singapore…
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Robert, Singapore (email): When did the first International Olympic Games start? Who/ which countries initiated it? What was/is its philosophy? What are the criteria for a country/nation to be considered qualified to host the games? What have been the Games’ valuable contributions to human civilization?
David: The first modern olympics were staged in Athens, Greece in 1896. Created by Frenchman, Pierre de Coubertin, and he wanted to bring together young MEN, from different nations to compete in sports. He didn't believe women could take part in sports. It's a complicated process, in which candidate cities submit their case, and the IOC evaluates the bids of each city and cut it down to four or 5 candidates that are voted on to host the games. At their best, the Olympics has brought together the nations of the world. At the beginning of the opening ceremony, when they march in and are standing on the field, you see athletes from every nation standing together.
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Marcien FOSSUO (Cameroon): Mr David, even before the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing begin there seem to be controversies on issues such as Free Tibet, Respect of human rights, Respect of the environment. Has something like this happened in the past. Thank you.
David: China is run by a one party dictatorship. The Olympics has always run into problems when run by a dictorship. This includes the 1936 Berlin Games organized by the Nazi's, the 1968 Mexico City games where 250 people were shot to death on the streets 10 days before the opening ceremony, and in 1980 in Moscow which led to a large boycott.
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Ryan Kim: How does the training that today's athletes go through compare to the training done by athletes of the first Olympics? Who would you bet on to win?
Bob: Probably alot different. Much more scientific, they have more technology at hand to be able to judge their progress and there are more coaches who are experts in the field. And would bet on the current day athlete. Probably in every sport and every discipline.

David: The ancient Olympians were better trained than the athletes of 1896. Because in 1896 there were no organized teams. Everyone entered on their own as an individual.

Bob: In 1896, you could not enter the Olympics if you were a laborer. They said laborers were professionals, and professionals were not allowed.
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Ryan Kim: There have been major controversies involving performance enhancing drugs in baseball and some attention now in cycling. Are Olympic athletes just as likely to take these drugs? Also, how do you feel about the athletes that do take these drugs?
David: The Olympic athletes are hopefully tested for performance enhancing drugs. Some of the sports and events are more prone to drug use. For example, weightlifting, sprinting, and cycling. Bob: As an organization the USOC, those who do take the performance enhancing drugs, we veiw them as cheaters and we are doing everything to clean up the Olympic sport. Our goal is to have a clean team in Beijing.
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Subhash: Arranging Olympics is very expensive. China's record spending on the Olympics is estimated to total $42 billion. This is a huge sum for a developing country to put into a two-week sports show. Does International Olympic Committee or other rich nations provide some financial help or the host country has to bear all expenses?
David: It is the reponsibility of the host country to bear all of the expenses. The IOC does have a program that helps athletes from poorer nations go to the Olympics.
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Marcien FOSSUO(Cameroon): Mr Bob, I am a great supporter of the U.S Basketball team, the Dream Team.Why is it that having the best players in the world they do not succeed as often in the summer olympic games? A problem of leadership amongst players? Also does the team of this time led by the KING(Lebron James), Kobe Bryant, etc... possess a great chance of winning? Thanks.
Bob: Yes, we think we have a great chance of winning. This is probably the best team since the Dream Team of 1992, because it was picked as a team and not as a group of individual stars. In the last couple of Olympics, sometimes individual stars can't beat teams that have played together for a long time. If you go back through Olympic History, the U.S. has been dominant in basketball, and we have helped other countries start programs that are now very successful. And we are proud of our role in enhancing the sport worldwide.
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Subhash: The United States boycotted Moscow Olympics because of Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan? Was that the only time US did that? And is there are any other instance when Olympics were boycotted by any country?
David: The first boycotts were in 1956. And then you had an African boycott in 1976. And the 1980 Moscow boycott, was followed by a Soviet boycott in 1984. The two '56 boycotts was to protest the Israeli invasion of the Suez Canal and to protest the Soviet invasion of Hungary. And the 1976 boycott, was to protest the fact that the New Zealand Rugby team had toured South Africa. Looking back, it's bizzare. Rugby is not an Olympic sport and South Africa had already been banned from the Olympics. The '80 Boycott was to boycott the invasion of Aghanistan and the '84 boycott was just revenge.
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Subhash: If a particular country does not have diplomatic relations with the host country, is the host country bound by international rules to allow players from that country come and participate in Olympics?
David: Yes, the host country is bound to allow all players to participate. The IOC is stern about any country banning players.
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Erin: Bob talk about some of the highlights you’ve witnessed or experienced in the 13 previous Olympic games you’ve attended.
Bob: Marylou Retton in 1984 in landing the 10 to win the women's all around in gymnastics. Also Kerry Strug with an injured ankle completing the vault, to lead the U.S. women to the greatest victory ever in gymnastics. Watching Carl Lewis win 4 gold medals in 1984 in track and field. and Watching Dan Jensen, finally after 2 Olympics, injury and mishaps in Lillenhammer 1994, as watching the Northern Lights over Lillenhammer in 1994. Probably the most emotional moment in Barcelona in 1992, the sprinter from Great Britain Derek Redmond, pulled a hamstring and his father came out of the stands to help him finish. Also in Barcelona in the opening ceremony, we were sitting on the second row of the stands, when someone walked right in front of us on the field, the stadium was dark, an arrow was lit 5 feet in front of us, and an archer shot it into the Olympic Torch to light the flame and start the Olympic games.
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Marcien FOSSUO(Cameroon): Mr David and Mr Bob, the organization of the Summer Olympic Games has always been in Western/Eastern world. Could we expect an organization in Africa in the future as it is the case for the Soccer World Cup? Is that possible?
David: The IOC will be watching the 2010 World Cup carefully to see how it goes, if it is successful, well-run and well-organized. Bob: I think the whole world would like to see the Olympics in Africa. Capetown, South Africa has submitted a bid maybe twice. The Olympic bid is a competition and other cities had a more complete and better bid to win the Olympic games.
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Frances: That wraps T2A chat on the Olympics with historian David Wallechinsky and with the USOC’s Bob Condron. Our thanks to them and to you for joining us. We hope you can come back on Wednesday, July 23rd at 1800 utc when we meet James Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank. He founded a private investment firm that provides strategic consulting advice to governments and large corporations doing business in emerging market economies. He has served as U.S. special envoy for Gaza disengagement for the Quartet on the Middle East. That’s Wednesday, July 23rd at 1800 utc right here on voanews.com See you then!