Asterix at the Olympic Games

Well, this one picked up somewhat with a few more laugh out loud moments, as well as the typical on running joke (such as Obelix trying to get his share of the magic potion – he tries so much to get a taste and no matter what he does he always gets knocked back). One of the best jokes was when Obelix says to Fulliautomatix that Dogmatix is so much better because he can scratch his ear with his hind leg, and a few windows later we hear a cry 'so can I' and we see Fulliautomatix scratching his ear with his hind leg (it is much better in graphics, but I tried to find an image on Google and couldn't).
There are a few of what I call 'in jokes' in this one – not in the sense that you need to be familiar with the Asterix comics to show more understand them (though there are a few, such as Obelix and the magic potion) but rather ones that you probably would not understand unless you knew about the Ancient Greek world. In fact there are probably quite a few throughout the Asterix comics, though I remember still enjoying them as a kid despite not understanding the context in which they were written.
Mind you they are quite bad with anacronisms, but then again this is forgiveable because this is Asterix. For instance the Spartans win all of the competitions because, well, they are Spartans. However, the Spartans of Ancient Rome were not the Spartans of the Classical period because they were inbred so much that when they were finally defeated by the Romans it was discovered that they paled in comparison to their noble ancestors. I knew a modern Spartan once, and I must say that I did want to marry her, even if it is because Spartan women produce strong children (though that is my helophilia coming through). Also, because of my helophilia, I tend to prefer Greek women who come from places that are identifiable with the Classical period, and most of the Greek women that I know come from the North.
As for the Olympic Games themselves, I guess there are a few comments, and relations, to the modern Olympics, though in many cases this album is more looking at the Ancient Games as opposed to the modern. Mind you there is the question of the use of the magic potion which is strictly banned. In fact the album ends up dealing with the issue of drugs in sport which, at the time, I did not think was a huge issue. It is only lately that the issue of drugs in sports seems to be battering our airwaves (and in fact one of the AFL teams at this time is under investigation, and has been charged with, conduct unbecoming of the game, though no actual drug related charges have been laid).
However, I suspect that the whole issue of drugs in sports has been going on since professional sport came about and winning became a very profitable enterprise. I am also sure that the use of drugs in sport have been around for as long as medicine has been around. Mind you professional sport is still a very modern phenomena. While they did have professional sports back in Ancient Rome, and such events and participants were considered celebrities, the idea of spectator sports is really only a new thing, and with the exception of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, sports were generally played for fun, rather than prestige and money. show less

Asterix and Obelix hear about the Olympic games and decide to enter, thinking the magic potion will see them through as sure winners. But when they learn about the rules against such performance-enhancers, Asterix competes without it, a rare instance of the magic potion not spoiling a story.

Soon we see the 2012 Olympic Games to be held in London, and after what I saw on national news last night, I am not holding out much hope for the opening ceremony.

Anyway, to the book. The 12th volume of the series sees Astrerix, Obelix and Getafix head to Athens to compete in the Olympics which at the time was limited only to Greeks and Romans. The Gauls consider themselves Romans by virtue of being occupied by the invaders which suddenly has some of Rome's top athletes and administrators worried due to the magic potion.

In what is a funny view into the inner-sanctum of sporting prowess, Greek philosophy and European politics the ROmans become increasingly unconcerned with attempting to take on the Gauls, and there world-famous orgies show more and feasts soon infiltrate the Greek camp living off olives and vine leaves which in turn concerns the Olympic Committee (which at this point in time does not seem to be susceptible to backhanders and other bribes).

It is worked out that banned substances that increase sporting prowesses are not allowed which then has Obelix banned from competing and Asterix is forced to train So it goes on with some skullduggery (the Greeks seem to be cleaning up everywhere) and the Committee, not wanting to alienate the Romans, creates a new event for non-Greeks only.

This book was printed to coincide with the Mexico Games of 1968 (into English in 1972 to coincide with Munich) and then into a film aligned with the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It also has been adapted into a video game which I believe is a first for the franchise.

Also of note, the two authors make a guest appearance as officials in registering athletes, although their nameplates are in Greek. This is the first time they have appeared in one of their stories. show less

Six out of ten. CBR format. Asterix and Obelix (and friends) enter for the Olympic games in Athens.

Because my Greek isn't too good I have not more than sampled it and so can't judge how good a translation it is but I can say that you shouldn't expect an easy read.

ASTERIX ET OBELIX

In deze strip kregen de beide scheppers van Asterix weer een heel nieuw idee: Asterix wint de spelen zonder de toverdrank! Zoals in alle strips is ook hier een geniale inval het uitgangspunt voor een komisch avontuur.

Picareske Romeinen en «road-movies». Vanaf het begin van de serie vergezellen de lezers Asterix en zijn metgezellen op reizen die altijd weer een verrassing in petto hebben. In dit avontuur gaat het echter heel anders toe, hier rukt namelijk het hele dorp uit om medailles te gaan oogsten in Griekenland. Daardoor komen in dit verhaal karakters naar voren die tot nu toe een bijrol vervulden, zoals Nestorix, die hier volledig uit de band springt.

En na de eerste aanzet van het rugby te hebben aanschouwd in Asterix en de show more Britten, zien we hier gestaafd door lachwekkende voorbeelden dat onsportieve praktijken ook in 52 v.Chr. reeds schering en inslag waren. show less