The British School at Athens invites postgraduate students and professionals to apply to the course on the ‘History and Philosophy of the Olympic Games: understanding ancient ideas and communicating modern ideals’, organised by the British School at Athens.

This is  a dynamic course for postgraduate students and professionals (e.g., athletes, coaches, teachers, journalists, tour-guides, and sport managers) seeking to explore the ancient origins of the Olympic Games and effectively communicate their educational value and significance to their target audience.

– Gain specialised knowledge at postgraduate level on issues related to ancient sport as well as the means for an academic and professional development.
– Gain hands-on experience in organising scholarly presentations or lessons on the ancient and modern Olympic Games for students at different levels.
– Adopt a critical approach to the comparison of ancient and modern Olympic ideals and practices that seeks to improve the management and practices of Olympic and athletic institutions today.

The course travels backward through history, beginning with the modern Olympics of Paris 2024 and Athens 2004, then “digging down” through the modern Olympic revival of 1896, to arrive at the traditional origin of the Games at Olympia in 776 BCE. It is organised around elements common to the ancient and modern games: ceremonies, athletes, contests, and rewards. We look at the historical and philosophical origins of things like the Olympic flame, the athletes’ oath, and the link to peace. We ask who the athletes were, how they were trained, categorized, and selected. We compare common events, such as footraces, boxing, wrestling, javelin throwing, and equestrian events, and we examine how and why victors were celebrated with prizes, songs, images, and privileges. Participants will be able to tailor their study toward their personal interests by choosing topics to research and share either in traditional academic papers and presentations, professional exercises such as lesson-plans or news features, or digital media such as websites and blog-posts.

Course dates: 30 March – 5 April 2026
Location: Greece, with on-site visits and immersive learning
Deadline: 1 December 2025

For more information, a provisional itinerary and the application link, please visit: https://www.bsa.ac.uk/courses/history-and-philosophy-of-the-olympic-games/