Product Description
In this text, Olympic scholar John Lucas examines the issues and challenges that the Olympic Games will face through the year 2000. Lucas discusses the foundations of the Games, the major accomplishments of the Olympic Movement, and the challenges and immediate dangers facing the Movement. In addition, he offers specific suggestions for restructuring the Olympic Games. Sport historians and other sport social scientists, as well as Olympic Games administrators and sport enthusiasts, should appreciate the strong historical base and forward-looking perspective of this reference. ... Read more

Product Description
Matina Psyhogeos’ second book, within the last twoyears, was just published by her Psyhogeos Program Publications. Thebook is entitled :”Olympic Games, Past, Present & Future , passingthe torch to a new millennium”.

Some of the remarks and excerpts from the book, which were made uponits publication, follow:

At the start of the book I was very pessimistic about the future ofthe Olympic Games. Scandals were erupting everywhere, IOC membersbeing accused for pay-offs, athletes used drugs while competing and soforth. I thought then that the Olympic ideals, the noble competitionwere history and the demise of the Olympic Games was inevitable.Being an optimist, however, I had a hunch that through my research Iwould definitely find encouraging signs.

The notion to deal with this subject came to me when I heard thedecision of the International Olympic Committee to have the Olympiadof the year 2004 returned to the motherland, Greece. My first reactionwas “how wonderful it would be if the spirit of the contests couldbe recaptured and their execution restored the Olympic Games to theirauthentic lofty heights of noble competition.

Was that a fantasy of mine? Was it an illusion? Is it possible aftercenturies of transformation, evolution, profound philosophical andideological changeovers, profiteering, exploitation of social andfinancial attainment to the highest level, to return and resuscitatethat dead spirit? Re-seize that lost glorious past and re-live thosemoments of utter idealistic transfiguration?

Well, for a moment I thought it could be done. If man could achieve somuch, progress so rapidly, for instance, send a man to the moon, faxan ultrasound of an embryo, within seconds, to a worried grandma,e-mail a digital photograph of a newborn baby to proud relatives,disturb all balances on earth and beyond even dare to challenge thesupreme authority and power of God by cloning and transforming thehuman race to something foreign, something beyond the comprehension ofthe human mind, why then? something so noble, so pure so supreme andidealistic could not be revised, recaptured? The answer of course isobvious. Everything is done in the name of profit. Ourtechnology-advanced society is totally consumed by commercialism,promotion, materialism, greed and money –making schemes. How thenin the world should we expect our top athletes to think and expectanything different?

Why should they compete for glory and an olive tree branch when largecorporations promise them huge amounts of money and long-termcontracts just for using their celebrated name?How could a talentedyoung person resist the temptation of instant fame and wealth?

Can anyone blame those individuals who take advantage of theirGod-given talent to secure their future? A future that places so manydemands on them?

Thinking about all these, my mind was racing to the noble idea of theAncient Games - the best ambassadors, the ultimate diplomats –which had the power to persuade all conflicting sides to cease theirdisputes, declare a truce, unite for a common goal and enjoy thesupreme concept of friendly competition.

Could that lofty spirit become once again an effectual instrument inuniting nations and bringing them closer?

Could that ancient custom of the Olympic Truce be the bearer of goodtidings?Why not?

We are at the dawn of the 21st Century. We are an advanced,well-educated society more aware and better informed, than any othertime in history, of happenings around the world, why then could notthose conflicts be negotiated peacefully and harmoniously? Why couldnot that truce be as everlasting as the Olympic Flame? Why today’svisionary athletes could not be the best ambassadors ofreconciliation, bring people closer and inspire them to work towards acommon goal : PEACE ON EARTH?

All these along with my positive attitude and optimistic nature had mesearch to find instances that will give us hope on the future of thisremarkable institution: called the Olympics.

As for the Olympians, although, they were crowned only with thekotinos/ the wreath made from the wild olive tree branch, they werecompensated in many other ways besides being honored and esteemed andapotheosized. And, naturally, sponsors existed then.Not Coca Cola,IBM or Microsoft but wealthy Athenians/Elians and Myceneans whooffered opulent presents to athletes.

The most characteristic example was “The Contests in Honor ofPatroklos” as it is stated by Homer in the Iliad, where Achillesgave fabulous presents to the victors including strong women capableof taking care of the house and the fields.

Going through many instances and settings indicative of life and thethought process in ancient Greece and comparing them in a contemporarycontext one surmises that situations do not differ much they’resimply adjusted to suit the times.

Towards the end of the book I was relieved that my original concernsabout the future of the Olympic Games, at the start of the newMillennium, were unwarranted. I staunchly believe that the turbulenttimes, violence and scandals which were caused occasionally, cannotpossibly overshadow the triumphant moments, the great achievements ofthe still idealistic, visionary youth.

The Torch is passed to a new Millennium, let us celebrate!

An inspiring institution as the Olympics, not only has endured andsurvived throughout the centuries, it has in fact, matured and becomeeven more compelling, more influential, more formidable. Let us thenall work diligently and contribute towards that goal, with whatevertalent or ability each might possess, to safeguard and preserve thatsacred trust the ancient Greeks delegated to us.

We all realize that the Challenge of the Ancient Olympics remains thevertex which every Olympiad, every subsequent generation attempts toapproach. From that challenge and those heights come more intimateaspects, flashes of human potential and frailties. From all thoserevelations, the modern mind and body are summoned to overcomefragilities and weaknesses and accentuate dormant facilities andaptitude in order to merit to contemporary times and today’scompetition.

The Olympiad of 2004 – upon its return to Motherland – promisesan awakening, a re-claiming of the beauty, the grace, the good and thesupreme good, the perfection, the noble competition and the arête –so prevalent in the Ancient Olympics.

Let us relive those incredible moments of past glories and make a wishfor even more implausible feats, greater instances of noblestriving. Let us hope for more superior human beings who set highstandards – by their example- for others to emulate.

The Olympiad of 2004, in Athens, pledges rejuvenation and re-awakeningof fundamental principles, renewal of old values, merits andvirtues. That anticipation makes us all hopeful and reassured that theOlympic Games have not lost their luster and eminence, the OlympicFlame is still aglow, illuminating all honorable ideas and notions onwhich athleticism was founded and stands for. We shouldenthusiastically cheer the future triumph and prosperity of theOlympics, celebrate their nobility and shout out joyfully: Hurray forthe Olympic Spirit! Long live all subsequent Olympiads and aspiringOlympians!! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Olympic Games, Past, Present and Future
I bought three books about Greece by Matina K. Psyhogeos, including (i) Olympic Games, Past, Present and Future: Passing the Torch to a New Millennium; (ii) Make Your Journey to Greece an Unforgettable Experience; and (iii) History of Greece in a Nutshell. I shared her books with some of my Thai friends and we very much enjoyed reading them. Although there are many books about Greek history, travel, and Olympics out there, they can't be compared with Ms. Psyhogeos' books as her books contain resourceful information (a lot of which could not be found somewhere else) and rare pictures. Combined with her unique writing style (which distilled the information in a thoughtful manner), the stories in the books have become very interesting to follow indeed. We've learned a lot about Greece and the Greek people from her books. Moreover, the layouts and font sizes in her books make the books very easy to read without straining the eyes. This is also a very important characteristic of her books. Many other travel-related books are generally inconsiderate to readers as they are published in very small font sizes which can hardly be read. With all these unique and positive characteristics, we rate these books of hers five stars.

B. Boonyaketmala (Author of various books and articles on Thai politics, media, films, and culture)

The Best Olympics Book
I was amazed with the concept of this book. It was entirely different than any other one on the subject. Every aspect of it offered a new meaning to the Olympic Spirit and the ideals of the Games. It is indeed a wonderful book which, anyone interested in the noble competition, should read.
My two teenage daughters were thrilled as well.
Congratulations to its author!

Tribute to the Olympic Spirit!!
This is the most uplifting book I've read on the Olympics. The author's approach to the subject is unique to say the very least. I've learned not only about the history of the Games but also the reasons and the rationale that created these idealistic contests. The comparison among the ancient and contemporary games is also an eye-opener and last, but definitely not least, the optimistic thoughts on future Olympiads are indeed very encouraging and provocative. I highly recommend it for children and adults.

The Olympic Games:Past, Present & Future
With the 2004 Olympics to be held in Athens, this book is the perfect way to prepare yourself for the historic event!The Olympic Games recounts the history of the original Olympic Games, as they were held in Ancient Greece.The author provides beautiful pictures of Greece and of the original site of the Olympics to draw the reader back in time.Thisbook would make a perfect gift for anyone training ofr the 2004 Olympics, or anyone planning to attend the games in Athens. ... Read more

Product Description

The book aims to outline the progress, problems and challenges of delivering a safe and secure Olympics in the context of the contemporary serious and enduring terrorist threat. The enormous media profile and symbolic significance of the Olympic Games, the history of terrorists aiming to use such high-profile events to advance their cause, and Al Qaeda's aim to cause mass casualties, all have major implications for the security of London 2012.

Drawing on contributions from leading academics and practitioners in the field the book will assess the current terrorist threat, particularly focusing on terrorist targeting and how the Olympics might feature in this, before addressing particular response themes such as transport security, the role of surveillance, resilient designing of Olympic sites, the role of private security, and the challenge of inter-agency coordination. The book will conclude by providing an assessment of the legacy of Olympic security to date and will discuss the anticipated issues and dilemmas of the future.

This book will be of interest to students of terrorism studies, security studies, counter-terrorism and sports studies.

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Palaestra, published by Challenge Publications Limited on June 22, 1990. The length of the article is 1150 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Past, present, and future prospectives of the IWSOG. (International Winter Special Olympics Games)
Publication: Palaestra (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 1990
Publisher: Challenge Publications Limited
Volume: v6Issue: n3Page: p44(3)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from The Futurist, published by World Future Society on November 1, 1993. The length of the article is 1373 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

From the supplier: Playing host to the Olympic Games gives a city an opportunity for business expansion. Atlanta, host city for the 1996 Olympic Games has a chance of becoming a major 21st century global city. This can be achieved with effective corporate planning and the right financial structure.

Citation Details
Title: Place wars and the Olympic Games. (Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta,Georgia)
Author: Stepehn E. Roulac
Publication: The Futurist (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 1993
Publisher: World Future Society
Volume: v27Issue: n6Page: p18(2)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Palaestra, published by Challenge Publications Limited on September 22, 2001. The length of the article is 331 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: An open letter to everyone who cares about the future of sports for individuals with disabilities. (Letters to Editor).(commentary on plans to limit athletic events at 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and their effect on disabled athletes)
Author: Reuven Heller
Publication: Palaestra (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2001
Publisher: Challenge Publications Limited
Volume: 17Issue: 4Page: 5(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description

“10-Minute Toughness is a solid mental training program. In fact I feel it is the best of its kind. . . . [It's] what the title says: ten minutes a day that connects your talents and abilities to the outcome you're seeking. As a retired NFL player looking forward, I can see as many applications for the toughness Jason Selk's program brought out of me in the business world as there were on the football field.”
--Jeff Wilkins, Former NFL Pro Bowl Kicker

“The mental side of the game is extremely important. 10-Minute Toughness helps the players develop the mental toughness needed for success; it really makes a difference.”
--Walt Jocketty, General Manager of the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals

“Jason Selk has spent a tremendous amount of time and energy developing effective mental-training programs and coaches workshops. He is truly committed to helping individuals and teams to perform at their very best, when it really counts.”
--Peter Vidmar, Olympic Gold Medalist

Mental training is a must for high performance both on the field and off. But simply hoping for mental toughness isn't going to build any mind muscles. You need a proven routine of daily exercises to get you where you want to go. 10-Minute Toughness is your personal coach for boosting brainpower and achieving a competitive edge in whatever game you play. With quickness and ease, you'll learn how to master your own mind and psych out your opponents using personalized techniques from one of America's most successful sport psychology consultants. Like no other program available, the 10-Minute Toughness (10-MT) routine gets you ready for the competition in just ten minutes a day.

Customer Reviews (25)

It gives you a plan...
I think this book is beneficial to anyone that has goals. It gives you a straight forward plan that will help you get there. Great for coaches to use with their players.

Bland, with too many tangents
This book was almost a complete waste of time. The ideas were not new, and hardly dove into the methods making it not interesting. The books spends most of the time talking about athletes the author worked with but hardly applies the lessons learned. I do not need a bunch of name dropping to make me believe you are knowledge. I'd much rather have a deeper analysis of the ideas. I did pick up a few helpful tips, but I think I would've gained them from reading any other sports psychology book.

the BEST mental toughness book out there!!
I was just browsing through some of the sports psych books and came upon this one. Read the little blurb and bought it. It literally changed my life. So many other books suggest what your end result should be, but not any help on HOW to actually do it. This book is a step by step guide to helping people achieve their goals and being tough when it matters the most. Without this book I never would have been able to go to the Olympics in 2010 and win a bronze medal. Everything in this book directly helped in developing a mental plan and putting it into action. I really suggest this book to anyone (athlete or not) who needs help in putting together a plan to reach their goals. Seriously, a MUST read!!

Such a practical way to pursue excellence
This is such a practical way to approach performance excellence, no matter what field you apply it to. Sports, business, lifestyle - anything you want to truly change in your life, any goal you really want to pursue, the 10-MT program is the way to go.

In the few weeks since using it, I've achieved two goals that I wasn't sure I had the capability to achieve: a 1 hour 46 minute half marathon, and a sub 23 minute 5km. It might not be that impressive to a real athlete, but they represent huge improvements in my recreational running. And I'm setting bigger goals than I ever thought I would, in my 40s.

One of the biggest ways that 10-MT helped me achieve these goals was to take my mind OFF the goals themselves (after defining them) and focusing instead on the way I need to perform to achieve them. So instead of starting a race thinking "I will cross the line in under 1 hour 50 minutes" I'm thinking "shoulders are soft, centre is strong, legs and light and quick". 10-MT has been making my training and races much more enjoyable and much more gratifying.

The best book I've read so far (of about half a dozen) on achieving personal excellence.

The `Missing Details' for all those "Achievement Books"
In the last several years, we've been bombarded with books like `The Secret' and its ilk - all basically claiming that we can "manifest" what we want in our lives by simply holding the thought in our minds until it happens. Even Napolean Hill's classic `Think and Grow Rich' is similar in its relatively nebulous, goal-setting vagary as it instructs us to simply focus on a `product goal' - repeat a daily positive statement about the goal - and let the subconscious somehow "take over the details" in making it a reality.

If such ambiguity within the realm of achievement and `peak performance' has left you frustrated, you'll likely find Jason Selk's '10 Minute Toughness' just what you need to fill in the pieces of the puzzle. Whether your "game" is an actual sport, college exam, business negotiation, writing project... (anything), Jason helps you break a goal down from `product' to `process' and turn that goal into reality by creating a 10-minute daily "mental workout" for its achievement.

I was surprised to see an earlier review claiming the book is "long-winded." One of the things I loved about it is its brevity; Jason is concise and provides just enough examples within the field of sports. In fact, if you're looking to improve your performance in any athletic endeavor, look no further; `10-Minute Toughness' provides the mental tools you'll need.

While acknowledging that the book is about sport performance, I would have liked some examples from Mr. Selk in how he's used these techniques to improve performance in other contexts. He's worked with corporate teams, Fortune 500 companies, CEOs, etc.: Examples of translations to these realms of performance would have been nice. However, if one's "game" falls within these areas, a modicum of common sense in identifying one's performance levers will make the book applicable and highly effective. That said, I'd be first in line to purchase a follow-up book on applying the '10-Minute Toughness' techniques to contexts outside of athletics.

Bottom line: If you want to improve your performance in sports or any endeavor, '10-Minute Toughness' has your simple yet comprehensive mental formula. It provides clear and powerful instruction along with relevant examples. All necessary worksheets are in the back of the book as well. Highly recommended!
... Read more