The Olympics of Grace () was an early international multi-sport event for womenLe Olimpiadi della Grazia (seconda parte) FIDAL (Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera) (accessdate 15 June 2021) that was held from 29–31 May 1931 in Florence, Italy. Primarily composed of track and field events and contested by women from eleven European countries, the competition was a forerunner to women's participation in the European Athletics Championships.Olympiad of Grace. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
History The formation of the International Women's Sports Federation (FSFI) and the hosting of the 1921 Women's World Games in Monte Carlo, led by Alice Milliat, marked the growth of organised international women's sport.Gori, Gigliola (2004). Italian Fascism and the Female Body: Sport, Submissive Women and Strong Mothers (pg. 154). Routledge. 978-0714682914. The Grand Council of Fascism in Italy was partly encouraging of the movement but stated that, regardless of sporting prowess, motherhood was a woman's most important role.Lo Sport . La Donna nel Fascismo. Retrieved on 2014-01-11. Women's engagement in sport fitted the views of Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, whose feminine ideal concerned rural, strong and fertile women, in opposition to ostentation and cosmopolitanism.Rizzoli, Biancamaria (2012-09-12). Il costume e la moda. . Moda Arte. Retrieved on 2014-01-11. Still, reflecting the social background of emphasising femininity over pure athleticism for women,PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORTING ACTIVITY FOR WOMEN DURING THE FASCIST ERA. Pp. 203-204. Retrieved 2023-02-21. the 1931 sporting event was designated the Olympics of Grace. International promotional material around the event stressed it "will be devoted not to contests of speed, strength or skill, but to exhibitions of gymnastic grace".Florence Jan. 8, page 17. The San Bernardino County Sun (1931-01-09). Retrieved on 2014-01-11."Olympics of Grace" for Women. The Spokesman-Review (25 January 1931). Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
The tournament was supported by Italian women's sports organisations as well as the FSFI. It was not sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Both this event and the Women's World Games led to greater inclusion of women at the Olympic Games. The number of Olympic women athletes increased over five-fold from the 1920 to the 1936 Summer Olympics (65 to 331).Antwerp 1920. IOC. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.Berlin 1936. IOC. Retrieved on 2014-01-11.
In addition to the track and field events, a dancing competition was held and the winner's cup was presented to a troupe of German dancers under the tutelage of Mary Wigman, one of the originators of modern expressionist dance.Wellesley College. "The Wellesley News" (1932-12-08). The Wellesley News. Book 935. Retrieved on 2014-01-11. It is not known what other events were held in Florence besides dance and athletics.
Medal summary
Athletics 60 metres 8.0 ? ?100 metres 12.6 12.8 12.8200 metres 25.8 26.0 ?80 metres hurdles 13.0 13.2 ?4×75 metres relay Nellie Halstead Muriel CornellMary SearyDaisy Ridgley38.6 Lidia BongiovanniMaria BravinTina SteinerGiovanna Viarengo39.2 Anna HřebřinováRudolfa KrausováZdeňka SmolováAnna Kuzniková?4×100 metres relay Nellie HalsteadMuriel CornellMary SearyDaisy Ridgley51.4 Tilly FleischerMarie DollingerDetta LorenzLisa Gelius51.8 Anna HřebřinováRudolfa KrausováZdeňka SmolováAnna Kuzniková?Swedish relay Nellie HalsteadMuriel CornellMary SearyDaisy Ridgley55.6 Marie DollingerLisa GeliusDetta LorenzAugustine Hargus55.8 Herma SchurinekVeronika KohlbachLiesl PerkausMaria Weese57,0 High jump 1.45 m 1.45 m 1.40 m Long jump 5.46 m 5.20 m 5.03 m Shot put 12.23 m 11.64 m 11.33 m Discus throw 36.51 m 34.47 m 34.38 m Javelin throw 37.27 m 35.75 m 31.18 m
Participation Eleven European countries competed at the Olympics of Grace. Final standings are below.
TeamNationPoints 1 77 2 71 3 54 4 35 5 22 5 22 6 17,5 7 16 8 10,5 9 6 9 6
References