Articles
„Rhythmus der Masse“: Die Wiener Arbeiter-Olympiade von 1931
Matthias Marschik
pp. 5–31
The three “Workers’ Olympiads” of the interwar period were not primarily about “sport”. Rather, the ideas and ideals of socialism were to be transferred to the world of sport and, at the same time, the culture of movement was to be integrated into a world on the road to socialism. In view of the enthusiasm, at least among male workers, for supposedly apolitical bourgeois sport and supposedly global Olympism, which competed with the nationalist “Turner”-movement and with constant internal conflicts between workers’ culture and workers’ movement culture, between theoretical claims and the practical adoption of a bourgeois sporting canon, this was an almost impossible undertaking, which was implemented very differently during these three events. The euphoria and hope for the future in Frankfurt (1925) was followed by a defensive mood of “¡No pasarán!” at the third edition planned for 1937 in Barcelona and finally held in Antwerp. The following article focuses on the 2nd Workers’ Olympiad, which was held in Vienna in 1931: It was not only the largest event, but also the one in which the core message of organized workers’ sport, that is, the presentation of the metaphorical ideal of an individual and collective workers’ body, was most clearly realized.

With the exception of Brazil’s football star Pelé, probably no nation has been more identified with an athlete than little Finland, which produced the “Flying Finn” Paavo Nurmi. 100 years ago, he won five gold medals at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. Subsequently, monuments were erected in his honour, and the German sculptress Renée Sintenis dedicated a statuette to him. His picture adorns Finnish banknotes, coins, and stamps. A Berlin primary school and an asteroid bear his name, and streets were named after him. A gelding called “Nurmi” was the Olympic champion in the Three-Day Event (Military). What was the secret of this taciturn athlete, who gave virtually no interviews, but who was able to enthral the North American continent with his performances? What characterised Finnish sport, which, with its extraordinary Olympic successes, was also utilised by politicians for foreign policy and economic interests?
Schicksalstage in Madrid: Zur olympischen Renaissance des Handballs
pp. 76–98
After its premiere at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Handball was no longer part of the Olympic Program after the Second World War. This was due to the handball’s image as a “Nazisport” and its lack of popularity outside of Europe. The members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were convinced to bring it back by the establishment of the United States Team Handball Association (USTHF) – and even more so by two exhibitions at the 63rd IOC Session in Madrid 1965, in which the two teams involved, host Spain and the Federal Republic Germany, at the request of International Handball Federation, simulated equal strength.
Zur Genese der Friedensidee im Sport
pp. 99–124
The idea of peace in sport dates back to Pierre de Coubertin and the founding of the Olympic Games in modern times. It has been reaffirmed ever since and can be found in the current version of the Olympic Charter. According to the charter, Olympic sport should contribute to the creation of a “peaceful society”. The article systematically discusses the specific concept of peace in (Olympic) sport and also analyses the changes it has undergone historically. The specificity of the concept of peace in Olympic sport is that it is based on strength and competition. The agonistic nature of sport is the basis for peace and fairness. Peace in and through sport is only possible in freedom.