The Story of the Olympics: Revised and Expanded Edition [Paperback]

Dave Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Relive the excitement and drama of the world's greatest sporting event--the Olympics Games. Pulitzer Prize--winning sportswriter Dave Anderson traces this international spectacle from its roots in ancient Greece to the recent Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

Anderson includes all the superstar--from long-standing legends like versatile athlete Jim Thorpe; to Babe Didrikson, who broke three world records in the 1932 Summer Games; to Nadia Comaneci; the first gymnast to record a perfect 10. He also highlights the latest generation of medal winners, such as Amy Van Dyken, who splashed her way to four gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Games, and Michael Johnson with his incredible record-breaking dash in the 200-meter run. Woven into these fascinating stories is a discussion of how outside issues and events have shaped the modern Olympics. Anderson also provides an overview of the major sports and explains what it takes to win at each.

With over seventy-five stirring photos of the champions in action, this revised edition of The Story of the Olympics is also thrilling as the Games themselves.

Editorial Reviews

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, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-6. Anderson hits the high spots in this survey of the Olympics. The first half of the book briefly describes the ancient Olympics and gives the history of the modern Olympics games, grouped into seven time periods from 1900 to 1994. The second part of the book looks at certain Olympic sports, such as track and field, gymnastics, and figure skating. Focusing on dramatic moments, this book offers short, readable vignettes rather than a comprehensive survey of the subject. The black-and-white photographs vary in quality. Not an essential purchase, but a possible choice for libraries looking to supplement in an Olympic year. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Rev Exp edition (May 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688176402
• ISBN-13: 978-0688176402
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,889,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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