Wags (and the BBC docu-sitcom 2012) have dubbed the royal and sporting celebrations of this summer the 'Jubiliympics', a concise summary of the festivities taking place throughout Britain this year. However, as with most things, it’s not a new idea. A correspondent to Cobbett’s Political Register, known only by his initials ‘CL’, mused upon how George III’s jubilee should be celebrated in 1809. Clearly a man with the benefit of a classical education, he recommended an extravagant celebration where no expense would be spared, which would encompass musical, thespian and Olympian activities. He advocated the construction of amphitheatres and temporary stages, the marshalling of musical bands, sailing and rowing matches, and the gathering of athletes and actors.
Almost one hundred years ahead of his time with the his notion to revive the ‘Olympian Games’, CL’s ideas now sound strangely familiar.
‘I would therefore recommend the institution of a National Jubilee to consist of Grand Sacred Oratorios, Amphitheatrical Sports, Thespian Amusements and various other public Diversions, somewhat after the following manner: Grand Oratorios should be appointed to take place in every Cathedral Church in Great Britain . . .Extensive amphitheatres should be erected upon specified plains throughout the country at proper distances from each other, in the centre of which gymnastic exercises should be exhibited, after the manner of the Olympian Games of Greece. . .So there we are: if the river pageant, the beacons and processions are not for you, celebrate the jubilee and the Olympics in one fabulous display of patriotism and sport synthesized by Olympic Morris dancing and wrestling while Rule Britannia plays in the background.
...These sports should consist in trials of skill in the arts of fencing, cudgel-playing or single-stick sparring, wrestling, horsemanship and the like; together with morrice-dancing, running leaping and throwing, &c. . .
. . . the air at every interval to be agitated with the most powerful bands of martial music, playing the national airs of ‘Rule Britannia’, ‘See the Conquering Hero Comes’, ‘God Save the King &c’.
