On Olympic Odyssey: An Insider’s Perspective of Olympic History

The 100th anniversary of the Olympic Games is a perfect time to have Dr. Mallon share the history of the Olympics and his unique stories gathered over 40 plus years of attending and chronicling the games and inspiring athletes you may have never heard of. This will be a great primer for the upcoming Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. 

Our fears have become reality as the spread of COVID-19 has forced the IOC and Japanese organizers to postpone the Tokyo Olympics by a year. This was a decision unique in Olympic history. The Games are now scheduled to take place from 23rd July to 8th August 2021.

Dr. Mallon, a founding member of the International Society of Olympic Historians, will look back to the example of Berlin 1916 when the Games were canceled because of World War 1. There were few who imagined that the next Olympics would take place in 1920, only two years after the armistice. It was virtually a miracle that Belgium, the nation which had suffered most, agreed to be the host. The 1920 Games in Antwerp add resonance because they were also overshadowed by a pandemic that claimed more lives than the First World War. And still, the Games went ahead. This should encourage us as we take on and cope with an epochal challenge such as the coronavirus crisis.

The Evening Speaker Series is open to the public. To ensure the health of our supporters, we will be holding this event via Zoom webinar. Tickets are $10 for this event or $25 for a subscription to all 3 events.  Each presentation will be approximately 45 minutes long followed by a Q & A session. Registration is limited so sign up early.