The Story of the Olympics

From School Library Journal Grade 5 Up?A thorough and detailed history of the Olympics is presented in spirited, readable prose. Anderson chronicles the development of the modern games, beginning with a brief description of their ancient origins. By focusing on the "stars" of the Olympiads, the author offers not only a chronology of the events and the athletes, but also sheds light on the changing nature of the games. The book's format and index make it readily usable for research, while the readable text invites browsing. In addition to discovering details about medalists, readers learn how international politics and materialistic goals have interfered with the games' underlying premise. For example, the terrorist attack on the Israeli athletes in 1972 and boycotts prompted by contemporary problems go counter to the ancient Greek practice of ceasing conflicts in order to hold the events. And the specter of drug use by athletes and the need to monitor for it detract from the original concept. However, what endures is the spirit of individuals persevering and triumphing in spite of obstacles. This is an engrossing story on many levels, and it will enhance any collection of books about the Olympics, along with other recent offerings such as Davida Kristy's Coubertin's Olympics (Lerner, 1995).?Renee Steinberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From