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May 7, 2008
Exhibit celebrates modern Olympic Games
University Park, PA—"Faster, Higher and Stronger: The Modern Olympic Games," an exhibit on display in the Frank and Mary J. Smeal Foundation Exhibits Hall, 104 Paterno Library, June 4 through August 29, features the personal Olympic collection of Penn State Alumnus Harold Wilson '51.
Wilson, a library leader, has developed a substantial Olympic Games Collection that
includes programs, tickets, brochures, maps, pins, mascots, and medals, from the 1912 Stockholm through the 2008 Beijing Games. Among the most notable items in Wilson's collection are daily programs containing event entry listings including Jim Thorpe from the 1912 Games, a plush mascot, "Amik," from the 1976 Montreal games, and logo, poster and mascot pins from the Summer Games beginning in 1912 The exhibit will also include University Archives and Hal Wilson materials on Penn Staters who have competed and participated in the Olympic Games.
On July 9, noon to 1 p.m., a lunchtime presentation by John Lucas, professor emeritus, Exercise and Sport Science and Official Olympic Historian will be held in the Mann Assembly Room, 103 Paterno Library.
The modern Olympic Games are an international, multi-sport event held every four years, alternating between summer and winter competitions. Founded by French nobleman, Pierre Fredy, Baron de Coubertin, the first modern games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896.
The games in 2008 will be held in Beijing, China, and consist of 302 events in 28 sports. The Olympic Creed states "the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." The most recognizable Olympic symbol is the Olympic rings: the rings represent unity of the five inhabited continents. The five colors: red, blue, green, yellow and black were chosen to represent at least one color from each national flag.
For more information, contact Jackie R. Esposito, Penn State University Archivist, jxe2@psu.edu, 814-863-3791.
pictured here: Penn State's Horace Ashenfelter won a gold medal in the steeplechase in the 1952 Helsinki Olympics