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Διεθνές
συνέδριο - Έκθεση Διεθνείς Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες,
Αθήναι 1906
Βόλος,
26 Φεβρουαρίου - 2 Μαρτίου 2004
επιστροφή
Elli Bambakidis, Archivist
Dayton Metro Library, USA and Canada
Κείμενο προς τη λίστα επικοινωνίας των Αμερικανών Αρχειονόμων Hello Everybody:
I just wanted to share with you a memorable experience.
Here it is:
A Memorable Experience
Last month we received an announcement from the Society
of Hellenic Archivists (SHA) inviting Archivists, Historians
and Archival Societies from the countries that participated
in the 1906 Olympic Games in Athens, to attend an International
Conference in Volos, Greece and to contribute original archival
material for an Exhibition. I was the only SAA member who
had the good fortune to attend this conference, held February
26-March 2, 2004!
The 18 Countries that participated in the 1906 Athens Olympic
Games were: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic
(Bohemia), Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
and United States of America. Fifteen of these countries
were represented at the conference.
I presented a paper on America’s Team at the 1906 Olympics.
This team included a gold medal winner in swimming, Charles
Daniels, born in Dayton, Ohio. Daniels also won gold medals
in the 1904 and 1908 Games. The United States was well represented
not only at the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896,
but also at the 1906 Games. A review of America’s enthusiasm
for the Olympics and its participation in 1906 was given,
and an exhibit online dealing with the team focused on some
of the outstanding American athletes at the 1906 Games, including
Daniels, Lightbody, Paul Pilgrim, Ray Ewry and Martin Sheridan.
Also featured was Canada’s gold medal winner in the marathon,
William Sherring.
Overall the conference was outstanding, under the leadership
of Mr. Georgios Dolianitis and Mr. Athanassios Nikolaou,
President of the Cultural Association “Friends of the Books,”
with the guidance of Ms Sofia Nikolaou and the organizing
committee.
I felt that this was an opportunity that comes only once
in a lifetime to an archivist. The speakers came from various
backcgrounds and they each had something different to say
and present. All of them spoke about their athletes and many
commented on various issues concerning the early Olympic
Games. One of these issues is the recognition of the Olympic
Games of 1906 by the International Olympic Committee. Another
is acknowledging the pivotal role played by individuals in
Greece and England in reviving the modern Games, before Baron
de Coubertin of France arrived on the scene toward the end
of the 19th century. De Coubertin actually became involved
only after the Greeks and English had already staged modern
versions of the Games earlier in that century. A good paper
to read is by Dr. David Young, on “How Olympia 776 BC became
Athens 2004: Origin and Authenticity of the Modern Games.”
The conference was sponsored by the Hellenic Ministry of
Culture under the General Secretariat for the Olympic Games.
It was the wholehearted support of the General Secretary,
Mr. Konstantinos Kartalis, who made this conference possible.
Participating institutions were the Dolianitis Library, the
“Friends of the Book” in Volos, the Society of Hellenic Archivists
and the Hellenic Society of Olympic – Sport Philately and
Documents. An excellent exhibit opened the first day with
a large crowd of more than two hundred people. Original manuscripts,
photographs, newspapers, stamps, and many artifacts were
displayed in a very well organized manner. This made it unique
since it displayed documents pointing to the high level of
organization, participation and public support which attended
the 1906 Games. Unfortunately these items are kept by various
individual in separate places and there is no a central area
where all these archives are stored and preserved. I hope
to see this excellent exhibit displayed in Athens and other
venues in Greece during this year’s Olympic Games.
The reception and welcome that all the invited speakers,
including myself, received in Greece was unforgettable. The
Society of Hellenic Archivists is a small but highly professional
group, which is anxious to work with other parts of the world
in the archival field. I was invited by archivist Alexandros
Krauss to visit the Central State Archives in Athens as well
as the Archives of the National Bank of Greece and the Dolianitis
Library. Their new buildings and their work incorporating
new technology is outstanding!
Thank you.
Elli Bambakidis, Archivist
Dayton Metro Library, 215 East Third St., Dayton, OH 45402
(937) 227-9500 ext. 333
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