We want to get to know you more to help improve our service. Please take 2 minutes to fill out our survey here. Thank you! test2

Discover content and watch films on our latest and improved iOS app. Download it here!

This film is part of Free

Wenlock Olympics

Much Wenlock has a special place in the history of the modern Olympic games - and perhaps it could help to resolve a potential crisis in Moscow.

News 1980 5 mins

From the collection of:

Logo for Media Archive for Central England

Overview

Dr William Penny Brooks established an athletic competition modelled on the original Grecian Olympic Games at Much Wenlock in 1850. He corresponded with like-minded sporting enthusiasts in France and Greece leading to the development of the modern Olympic games in Greece later in the century. That spirit of co-operation was under threat in 1980 when the Moscow games were hit by boycotts over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Could Much Wenlock provide an alternative?