Olympics medals were once awarded for excellence in art

Before we come to when they used to award Olympic medals for art, let’s first get this joke out of the way. A Kenyan commentator in the social media has “threatened” to sue Uganda for the gold medal won by Stephen Kiprotich in the marathon. The Ugandan winner not only had a stint growing up in Kenya, but his name sounds suspiciously Kenyan. The champion trained in Eldoret, the crucible of Kenyan athletics. The threat is all in good humour. But note that this is Uganda’s second-ever gold medal 40 years after John Akii-Bua won the 400m hurdles in the 1972 Games. The only other Olympic medal is a bronze from 400m runner Davis Kamonga in 1996. Even if the commentator was to make good his threat, it is unlikely Uganda would give up the gold medal that easily. Kenya won two spectacular gold medals by Ezekiel Kemboi in 3,000m steeplechase and David Rudisha in 800m. By winning in two consecutive Olympics and breaking his own record, Rudisha gladdened many hearts, shining a spotlight on Kenya and the region. On the whole, however, many feel that Kenya performed dismally, especially compared to the 2008 Olympics where the country won six gold medals.The 2012 medal drought, as it has been described, continues to bite and is being vehemently lamented by most commentators, many of whom are baying for the blood of the Kenyan Olympic organisers who have taken the blame. “The problem with Kenyan athletics is not speed, strength or endurance,” writes one popular columnist. “It’s the finishing.”He observes that “we have the raw talent, but perhaps not the organised, structured training and coaching required.” The observation just about sums it. Not just for Kenya, but for many countries that “lost” in the Olympics, even the majority that did not manage even a medal. Still, as has often been stressed, the very idea of the Olympics is not just about winning or losing. It is about participating and joining in the human spirit with the motto “higher, faster, stronger”. Moving on, the motto suggests physical attributes, which may seem a bit curious that the Olympics once awarded medals for the abstraction of art. For four decades, from 1912 to 1952, the Olympics awarded official medals for sculpture, literature, painting, architecture and music, alongside those for the athletic competitions. As reported in a recent issue of the Smithsonian Magazine, every work had to be somehow inspired by the concept of sport. A total of 151 medals to original works in the fine arts were awarded during the four decades. The medals would however be removed from the official record after the scrapping of the arts competition in 1952.It is a long riveting story, for which space does not allow. But beginning 2004, the IOC has been holding a Sport and Art Contest where entrants send sculptures and graphic works on a particular theme. The theme for this year’s Contest was “Sport and the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.” No medals are awarded but cash to the winners, and a display of the best works at an Olympic venue. Twitter: @gituram