As the jingoism, nationalism and cultism inspired by the Olympic Games hopefully wane, let’s praise Paschal Grousset, arch-rival of de Cubertin at the turn of the nineteenth century.

While the Baron’s vision of sport as an heroic pursuit (by white males, [he was opposed for aesthetic reason to women taking part in the Games]) led him in the end to praise the spectacle of the Berlin Olympics, Grousset was firmly anti-competitive. Both men were big promoters of physical activity as a key ingredient of the educational system, but their visions were opposite: de Cubertin emphasised competitive sport whereas Grousset had an egalitarian plan of enabling everyone to participate in non-competitive physical games.

We should ask ourselves: should the Olympic champions really be revered as role models? One thing that strikes us is the constant refrain: “all these years of sacrifice have matured in this medal.” Sacrifice? Shouldn’t sport be fun and exhilirating? What is the point of sacrificing four years for a low-probability week of ecstasy?

Shouldn’t the lottery money (which after all is provided by people of lower than average intelligence) be spent on the less fortunate and less active, rather than on the deCubertinian, elitist goal of creating people with uber-thighs? In Grousset’s opinion the latter is like stealing from the blind, an immoral deed for an antisocial pursuit.

The competitive spirit is part of our make-up; it is questionable whether it needs fostering by the State in the field of sports. Social policy is better directed to the goal of enabling everyone access to the benefits and pleasures of physical exercise.

If you ride a Brompton and would like to test your competitive skills, the Brompton World Championship is one month away. Picture above by Jeremy Hughes