Poetry in the Olympics
Few people have heard of the Olympics involving poetry, yet as long ago as 1912 an event known as ‘olympic song’ was included into the Stockholm Summer Games. The ‘olympic song’ event was contested in Greek and allowed competitors to compose lyrics based on one of three musical pieces. This was part of an effort to ‘blend the martial and artistic disciplines’ into the modern Olympic Games, but after just one iteration the event was dropped, never to be seen again within the competition.
Since then, poetry has been less a part of the Olympic proceedings than any other artistic discipline. Although other artistic events, such as painting, swimming and gymnastics were included as individual events in the then-upcoming 1916 Berlin Games, those were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I. Whilst art-focused activities in the modern Olympics are still very rare, the notion of a competition involving literature remains largely absent.
It is a shame, since poetry has an influential history. Over the centuries it has been used as a tool for education and expression, empowering individuals to reflect on their surroundings and make sense of the world around them. Such characteristics could have been useful for athletes competing in the Olympic Games, allowing competitors to open up and express their views or feelings on the Games.
Participatory poetry
In recent years, there has been a new type of poetry emerging in the Olympics which does not necessarily involve the writing of composition; rather, it seeks to involve participation from both the author and readers. This type of poetry is called participatory poetry, or also known as ecstatic poetry. This concept was first introduced at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, where two local poets were invited to perform during the opening and closing ceremonies. Since then, poets have been included in the opening and closing ceremonies in several subsequent Olympics, although the concept has not yet been developed into a formal contest.
The primary purpose of participatory poetry is to encourage viewers to engage with the Olympic Games, both through the author’s words and the audience’s reactions. This type of performance often incorporates language that reflects the culture of the host country, enabling viewers to become more aware of the cultural nuances that exist within the locality. An example of this can be seen at the shortly to be held Tokyo Summer Olympics, where the opening ceremony will feature 2400 people taking part in a performance led by internationally-acclaimed singer and poet, Hanae Uchiyama.
Participatory poetry has been a great success at recent Olympic Games, but could it be used effectively to drive poetry writing as an olympic event? To accomplish this, the participatory poetry format would need to be adapted to suit the aesthetic constraints of a formal writing competition. For instance, the structure and format of words used could perhaps be sharpened so that it conforms to a recognisable criteria of elevated versification.
Challenges for poetry in the Olympics
In addition to the logistic considerations of introducing a formal poetry event, there is also the issue of language. The majority of Olympic events have universal rules that apply globally. But poetry is often deeply rooted in culture, and translating its true essence from English to a foreign language can be a challenging task.
Furthermore, tracing the origin of uncredited works is difficult. In order to prevent plagiarism, judges would need to possess a deep understanding of the history of poetry. Being at the times of COVID-19, it may be difficult to find volunteers or organizers who are willing to commit the required amount of time to judging, due to safety restrictions.
Novel approach to poetry
In order to make poetry more suited to the Olympic format, a more novel approach may be needed. The participatory style should first be taken and then refined to fit the Olympic criteria, in order to make it a standalone event as opposed to an intriguing addition to the opening or closing ceremony. The naturalistic beauty of poetry could be brought to life by allowing competitors to give performances or readings with their own interpretation, rather than simply creating an examination.
A further option could be the introduction of a poetic storytelling challenge, where participants are asked to create and perform within a certain allotted time frame. This could simulate the dynamic of a real-life drama and encourage poets to be more creative with language, compelling competitors to go beyond the conventions of normal writing. By allowing them to draw upon both spoken and written elements, the challenge would be unique and engaging for viewers undertaking the event.
Positive effect on Olympic audience
Inclusion of some form of poetic devises within the Olympics could benefit both the competitors and the viewers. Rather than the written composition, a more active and embracing approach would give a new dimension to poetry which can be accessible to more people. The inclusion of poetry would add a valuable asset to the Olympic repertoire and create a more immersive experience for the audience, who can then engage on a greater level with the whole event.
A well-designed poetic event as part of the Olympics could also be used to encourage teams to reflect on the event’s rise and cultural diversity and unite on a higher level. For example, a poetic competition on the themes of respect and unity could be used to inspire the athletes and bring the audience together in celebration of cultural diversity. This in turn could have a positive effect on attendees’ perception of the Olympic Games.
Creative license of poetry
The Olympics have never seen a competition as dynamic and full of life as a poetry one. The ability to explore the competition in poetic form allows for creativity to be used in more formats than the more traditional forms of writing. The regulations of the event could facilitate a variety of different approaches to the subject at hand, giving the poets a bigger breathing space to create. This creative license could result in more powerful and affecting creations, which can offer much more in terms of communicating complex messages.
Furthermore, poetic stages need not to be contained to one geographical location, as a poetic event could carry a message to its audience instantly, regardless of the location of the Olympic Games. Clarity of delivery and thought is key, and poets would have the opportunity to bring a message of unity and acceptance to a global audience. This could have an enormous, and hopefully long-lasting, impact.
Unconventional Format
Introducing a poetry event to the Olympics would be an unconventional change, to say the least. This would break the traditionalised view of what is considered to be a relevant Olympic event and likely bring a few skeptics to the cause. However, in a modern era of sports where more and more emphasis is placed on a more diverse Olympics, poetry could perhaps be seen as a constructive way of bringing the event into the modern era.
By introducing a poetry event, the Olympics could achieve something more than just a competition; it could promote a message of creativity and acceptance louder than before and hopefully aid global understanding and empowerment. There is no doubt that the introduction of a poetic element to the Olympics would change the dynamics of the event for the better.
Platform for Poets
It is clear that incorporating a poetic event within the Olympic Games would provide a great platform for poets from around the world to make their voice heard. By entering an Olympic-style event, poets would be able to spread their voice far and wide and make an impact on a global scale. The successful poet would certainly be remembered in the pages of history, which could be a great source of pride and honour for anyone participating.
Once the much needed momentum has been created, poets could receive more recognition, and more funding and resources would be made available to the poetic sphere. This in turn could mean more diverse and progressive content created, which could focus more on positive and inspirational topics. A more platform could then be used to unite the world over a common cause.
Conclusion for poetry and the Olympic Games
If established, a poetic competition could prove to be one of the most important Olympic events and could not only enrich the Olympic experience but also break social boundaries and foster global understanding. It certainly requires a lot of work to make this form of competition work but by doing so the true power of poetry could be embraced on a global scale.
