“Agones Myth and Revival”

[All photos: ERT /Katerina Anastasopoulou]

By Philip Barker

“Agones Myth and Revival” a  new film documentary on the history and revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 will be screened for the first time this coming Sunday by Greek television network ERT.

“Agones” is the Greek word for Games.

“It expresses the competition and the passion for excellence in ancient Greece. A word that has been preserved for thousands of years, giving a sacred meaning to what the Olympics were in antiquity.” said film maker Katerina Anastasopoulou who led the ERT production team for the documentary.

The makers promise “an artistic and philosophical journey from mythology to the 19th century.”

“How can you film history? That was the biggest challenge! How can you illustrate a story with such intellectual and philosophical content?” said Anastasopoulou.

The production design was the critical factor for the result. I tried to connect the locations and the words with powerful symbols and an essence of the Olympic values that only the Olympic flame can give. The light is present everywhere! You can see it and you can feel it. “

“It is not a classic sports documentary, because the approach is made through art, history and culture. The story brings up the universal Olympic values that were born in Ancient Olympia and led to the idea of revival in the modern era.”

Cinematography by Yiannis Lazaridis captures the inspirational scenery and light of Ancient Olympia. The story moves on to Vienna, Athens and Paris, and reveals the founders of the modern Olympic Games and the difference of ideas after the foundation of the Games.  It considers the debate which saw some demand that the Olympic Games be held permanently in Greece.

The documentary not only commemorates the 125th anniversary of those 1896 Games in Athens, but also weaves in the story of the 200th anniversary of the struggle for Greek independence which began in 1821. The story of the documentary is linked to the Greek and French Revolution.

The 1896 International Olympic Games were “an historical event that offered Greece glory, connecting the country directly with modern Europe and the rest of the world.” Anastasopoulou said.

A number of scenes in the film were shot in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens which had served as the centerpiece of the 1896 Games, and also at Ancient Olympia, the Louvre Museum and the Sorbonne University in Paris where the decision had been taken to revive the Olympics for the modern era.

“I put a lot of emphasis on the choice of locations, trying to bring the story to life, enriching it with rare photographs, newspaper articles and original scores of 19th century music. Greek light and history travels the world through the cinematography of Yiannis Lazaridis” K Anastasopoulou said.

There is an exclusive interview with International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach shot in the ancient stadium at Olympic and contributions from Hellenic Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos, the distinguished Austrian specialist in Ancient sports history Dr. Ingomar Weiler, Rector of the Paris Academy Gilles Pecout, Oscar-winning director Costa-Gavras, and a descendant of the photographer Ioannis Lampakis who captured some memorable images at the Games.

The 1896 International Olympic Games were also notable for the premiere of a specially commissioned Olympic hymn by Spiros Samaras, a composer from Corfu.

“Many unknown pieces of music were played during the 1896 Olympics in addition to the Olympic hymn.  I am happy that I was able to record the original score with the ERT Contemporary Music Orchestra,“ Anastasopoulou said.

A modern score to accompany the film has also been written by Dimitris Papadimitriou, a distinguished composer with an international reputation who has spent much of his life in Alexandria. By coincidence, 1896 Olympic benefactor George Averoff, who bankrolled the renovation of the stadium, lived in the same city.

“The exceptional music of Dimitris Papadimitriou is one of my favourite parts of the film.  I feel so lucky and honored that he offered his music for the project. He is an artist!”

The COVID-19 crisis had caused some delay in completing the original score.

Although there were parades with lanterns and light shows at the 1896 Games, there was no Olympic Torch Relay.

The crew nonetheless travelled to ancient Olympia to interview Xanthi Georgiou, the high priestess who lit the Flame for Tokyo from the rays of the sun and Artemis Ignatiou, the distinguished dance choreographer who has directed the flame lighting ceremony for over a decade.

“I’m very grateful for the work of the ERT production team! They are my new family and I hope that we will be able to produce many more projects for our ERTFLIX streaming service in the future.”

The documentary is transmitted by Greek television (ERT) on 18th July at 10pm. [Athens time]