Editorial
Stadion, Bd. 48, 1/2024, S. 3–4, DOI: 10.5771/0172-4029-2024-1-3

Abstracts

Matthias Marschik, „Rhythmus der Masse“: Die Wiener Arbeiter-Olympiade von 1931
Stadion, Bd. 48, 1/2024, S. 5–31, DOI: 10.5771/0172-4029-2024-1-5
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, in competition with a nationalist “Turner”-movement and in constant internal conflicts between workers’ culture and workers’ movement culture, between theoretical claims and the practical adoption of a bourgeois sporting canon, this meant an almost impossible undertaking, which was implemented very differently in 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 therefore 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 message of organized workers’ sport, the presentation of the metaphorical ideal of an individual and collective workers’ body, was most clearly realized. – Keywords: Worker’s movement; worker’s culture; sport; Olympism; interwar years; internationalism; sport and politics; Vienna.

Volker Kluge, Olympische Spiele Paris 1924: „Wunderläufer“ machen das kleine Finnland zu einer sportlichen Großmacht
Stadion, Bd. 48, 1/2024, S. 32–75, DOI: 10.5771/0172-4029-2024-1-32
With the exception of Brazil’s football star Pele, 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 to him, 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 a street was 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? – Keywords: Paavo Nurmi; Ville Ritola; Paris 1924; Lauri Pihkala.

Erik Eggers, Schicksalstage in Madrid: Zur olympischen Renaissance des Handballs
Stadion, Bd. 48, 1/2024, S. 76–98, DOI: 10.5771/0172-4029-2024-1-76
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 “Nazi-sport” and its lack of popularity outside of Europe. The members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were only convinced 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 sporting equality. – Keywords: Handball; International Handball Federation (IHF); United States Team Handball Federation (USTHF); Handball World Championships 1963 and 1964; International Olympic Committee (IOC); Olympic program; Olympic Games 1972; sport development aid; Pentagon.

Michael Krüger, Zur Genese der Friedensidee im Sport
Stadion, Bd. 48, 1/2024, S. 99–124, DOI: 10.5771/0172-4029-2024-1-99
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. 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. – Keywords: Peace; Olympism; Pierre de Coubertin; agonality; fairness.

Reviews
E. John B. Allen, Traveling the Old Ski Tracks of New England. Amherst, MA: Bright Leaf, University of Massachusetts Press, 2022 (Annette R. Hofmann)
Dieter Vaupel, Radsport im Nationalsozialismus: Ein fast vergessenes Kapitel der deutschen Sportgeschichte. Bielefeld: Die Werkstatt, 2023 (Stephan Klemm)
Erik Eggers, Das Goldene Buch des deutschen Handballs. Kellinghusen: Eriks Buchregal, 2023 (Detlef Kuhlmann)
Friederike Trotier, Nation, City, Arena: Sports Events, Nation Building and City Politics in Indonesia. Copenhagen: NIAS Press, 2021 (Jürgen Mittag)
Stefan Hübner, Pan-Asian Sports and the Emergence of Modern Asia 1913–1974. Singapur: NUS Press, 2018 (Jürgen Mittag)
Philipp Ellrich, Die sportliche Handlung: Zur Erzählung und Inszenierung einer sozio-kulturellen Praxis. Bielefeld: transcript, 2023 (Sven Güldenpfennig)
Stadion, Bd. 48, 1/2024, S. 125–149, DOI: 10.5771/0172-4029-2024-1-125