A Visitor's Guide to the Ancient Olympics by Faulkner Neil

Author:Faulkner, Neil [Faulkner, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2012-04-23T16:00:00+00:00

5 MANAGEMENT

THE EOC

The Olympic Games are managed by the Elean Olympic Committee, a board of nine Hellanodikai (‘Judges of the Greeks’), all of whom are citizens of the local city-state of Elis. A small state ruled by an oligarchy (like virtually all the Peloponnesian city-states), Elis's selection procedure involves the election by popular vote of a group of respectable property-owners, the citizens voting tribe by tribe. All the names are then inscribed on potsherds (ostraka ) and placed in a large ceramic vessel. A final choice of nine is made by drawing lots.

This may seem an odd procedure, but it is an almost universal Greek practice, in both oligarchies and democracies. The lot reduces the influence of patronage and possible bribery in the electoral process, and it allows the gods to have their say. In democracies, it has the additional advantage of making elections less of a popularity contest and widening participation in the highest levels of government.

The EOC members combine the roles of management committee, supervisory officials, and the judges and umpires at actual events. Although the nine work as a tight-knit group, there is a division of labour among them, with subcommittees of three responsible for the equestrian events, the combat sports, and the foot-races and pentathlon.

The Hellanodikai are instantly recognisable. They wear purple robes – the royal colour in Greece – and carry forked sticks, making them a highly visible presence at all the programme's many processions, rituals and contests. You will see them watching the events from elevated seats in the Stadium and the Hippodrome.

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