The musician-turned-designer wants to reinstate arts competitions back on the world’s biggest sports stage. Yes, you read correctly – Arts used to be an Olympic discipline, with medals awarded in five categories…
ADVERTISEMENTPharrell Williams wants to reintroduce arts competition into the Olympics, reviving a tradition that’s been missing for nearly 80 years.
The musician-turned-designer is aiming to reinstate arts competitions, starting with raising awareness through his recent star-studded Louis Vuitton event in Paris.
He shared his goal to see the tradition revived by the Olympics in 2028 the night before today’s 2024 Games’ opening ceremony.
“We get to remind people that at one point, the Olympics actually had the arts as a section that ran all these competitions,” said Williams before the event. “Sculpture, architecture, visual arts. The idea we get to put the arts back in… Why not take this moment to bring awareness?”
Why not indeed?
Art competitions formed part of the modern Olympic Games during its early years – from 1912 to 1948. Medals were awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture.
There were also suggestions to also include film, photography and theatre, but none of these art forms was ever included in the Olympic Games as a medal event.
In 1949, a report presented at the International Olympic Committee meeting in Rome concluded that practically all contestants in the art competitions were professionals, and that the competitions should therefore be abolished and replaced with an exhibition without awards or medals.
At a 1951 meeting, the IOC decided to reinstate the competitions for the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. However, the organisers claimed there was insufficient time, and an art competition was not held. An art exhibition took place instead.
Several attempts have been made to re-include them, but without success.
Could Williams be the one to do it?
Incidentally, do check out our ultimate Olympic Quiz if you’re keen on Olympic facts. This article has already assured you get at least one question right.
Williams hosted the ritzy A-list event at the Louis Vuitton Foundation building on Thursday (25 July).
Attendees included LeBron James, Steven Spielberg, Mick Jagger, Zendaya, Anna Wintour, Charlize Theron, Serena Williams, Rosalía, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah and Zac Efron.
Williams called the inside of the event like an “indoor carnival.”
ADVERTISEMENTCheck out some of the pictures from the evening:
Williams curated a select group of world-renowned artists including KAWS, Daniel Arsham and Derek Fordjour to design interactive art installations.
Some of the sports represented at the event included archery, tennis, basketball and equestrianism along with carnival games. “The game will begin on the inside tonight,” he said.
Through donations, Williams said he wanted the event to support Olympic hopefuls as well as 36 athletes across 11 different countries who are competing on the Refugee Olympic Team this year.
ADVERTISEMENT“We get to raise money for the other athletes who don’t have the means to get the gear or proper training equipment,” said Williams, who added that he spoke about creating music for the games with Thomas Bach, the president of the IOC.
Williams said he recorded a track called ‘Triumph is Cosmos’, adding: “This is like the victory lap around the solar system.”
