Sports and Athletics in the United States
As the United States became more urbanized and factory work increased there was less opportunity for work-play occasions. This lack of exercise was seen as becoming detrimental to the nation's well-being. To address this need for physical education in the schools, military drills were introduced into the New York Public Schools in 1861 and into the Boston Public Schools in 1863 to develop respiration and quicken respiration.
However, Dudley Sargent determined that military drills did not develop increased respiration nor was circulation quickened. Furthermore, he concluded that the nation and its citizens needed more than drill to be successful. Sargent felt that the love of competition provided through sports made the United States a commercial enterprising nation. It is through the competition of sport, according to Sargent, that one can measure his own weakness against others and fortify ourselves. Then find where others are weak and outstrip them, these are important factors in building a national character. (Welch )
In 1894, Baron de Coubertin established the International Congress to revive the Olympic Games. The first games were held in 1896 in Greece in the home of the Ancient Olympics in. A total of 245 athletes, all male, representing 14 nations took part, no women took part in the first Olympics. The second Olympic Games were held in Paris in 1900. Although, Baron de Coubertin was opposed to the idea of women participating he was overruled. In the 1900 Games 997 athletes, including 22 women, represented 24 nations and took part in 95 events. The first two women to compete were Mme. Brosky and Mlle. Ohnier of France in croquette. The first female champion was Charlotte Cooper for Great Britain. She won a gold medal in tennis. Although the games were scheduled around the French World's Fair and the primary attention was on the Eiffel Tower the Olympic Games were was a success. To recognize the efforts de Coubertin made to establish the Modern Olympic Games, the Congress then agreed that Olympic Games would be held every four years after that.
Athletics and games continued during World War I. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker saw to the continuation of athletic programs in college as preliminary training for potential military officers. Once again the philosophy behind sports was the creation of team unity, physical development plus the learning of athletic games provided a necessary diversion to men during their time in military camps. Along with this the YMCA promoted and developed athletics and games for the army and the navy for rest and recreation to help ease the stress of war. Physical education and athletics continued to be stressed up to World War II with the belief that "hard soldiers cannot be developed by soft methods". Athletics and sport although seen as promoting good health and fitness in youth is still seen today as essential to pre-military training.
In the twentieth century the Modern Olympics have been held every four years with three exceptions. The 1916 Olympics, to be held in Germany were cancelled due to World War I and the Olympics scheduled for Tokyo in 1940 and London in 1944 were both cancelled due to World War II.
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