[ga] Olympic Hymn and my Intellectual Property...

[Sotiris Sotiropoulos <sotiris@hermesnetwork.com>]

A couple of years ago I translated the Olympic Hymn by
Costis Palamas from Greek to English.  I thought the
translation was rather good, even had some compliments.
So, I sent the Athens Olympics Organizing Committee a
copy.  I did not hear back from them.  Then, I contacted
the IOC, by roundabout means (their web site technical
administrators) and the IOC did respond after a few
months.  A Marienne Chappuis from their Legal Department
told me that the IOC was not currently in need of an
updated translation of the Olympic Hymn.  Her exact words
were: "This is in follow-up to your correspondence to the
IOC with respect to the new translation from Greek into
English that you propose for the Olympic Anthem. Please
note that, although the IOC has studied with much interest
your proposal, the IOC still considers that the Official
Translation of the Olympic Anthem is the one that was
adopted in 1957." [I posted her exact initial message to
an academic Classics list:
http://omega.cohums.ohio-state.edu:8080/hyper-lists/classics-l/01-12-01/0366.html
plus I have copies of her messages] Now, when I questioned
her on what criteria the decision had been based, she
repeated herself and didn't provide me with any details.
Well, my translation with full credits can be found online
at: http://fp.gnosis.f9.co.uk/olympics/  (scroll to just
before the bottom of that page or simply click on the
anchor link to the Official Olympic Anthem (Greek &
English)  The person who posted it on that page is
completely unknown to me, I've never met them.  They
borrowed the translation (with my permission) from a web
page I once maintained (but have since taken down for some
unknown reason even to myself).

Interestingly enough (despite the snubs from the IOC and
ATHOC), yesterday, I ACCIDENTLY discovered that the
British Olympic Association is using my translation of the
OLYMPIC HYMN on their web site (and God knows where
else!), but they have NOT included my name as the
translator! nor was I even informed!  To see the poem:
http://www.olympics.org.uk/olympicmovement/olympicmovement.asp
about 2/3 of the way down the page.

One covincing bit of proof that the translation belongs to
me is a forwarded message I sent (signed with a digital
certificate on Aug 7, 2001) which contains a copy of my
original translation and which I subsequently modified
only very slightly (changed the word "of" to "in" and I
removed an "and") but it is recognizably my translation in
its pre-final form. [A copy of the original digitally
certified message containing the poem that I had sent to
the publisher Aristide Caratzas on Aug 21, 2001 regarding
my translation can be viewed at:
https://maillists.uci.edu/mailman/public/mgsa-l/2003-January/001347.html

The other gentleman, one Leon Leonidou, who had legally
posted my translation to his website with my permission
(mentioned above: http://fp.gnosis.f9.co.uk/olympics/) had
this to say when I sent him an email yesterday apprising
him of the situation:
----------------
Dear Sotiris

I had a look at their website and the translation they
have there it is
indeed your translation. I can confirm what happened if I
am asked to do so.
This is unbelievable!!!

Regards
Leon Leonidou
-----------------

A further example of evidence that it is my translation is
the explanation I gave about my work when questioned about
the translation after I had posted it to the Classics-L
list on Wed Aug 08 2001:
http://omega.cohums.ohio-state.edu:8080/hyper-lists/classics-l/01-09-01/0287.html

Now, yesterday (before I discovered the copyright
violation by the BOA), I got a call from a man who
identified himself as Philip Barker of Sky (Sports)
Television UK.  He was interested in my translation of the
Olympic Hymn, and he asked me why I thought the Hymn had
been kept in obscurity for so many years, between 1896 and
1957 when it was officially adopted by the IOC.  We had a
chat, and when we disconnected, I just chalked it up to
another interested party who had run across my translation
(as it's happened before).  But something tells me that
wasn't a coincidence... this sort of thing never is.

I am truly appalled at the action of the British Olympic
Association vis a vis my translation of the Olympic Hymn.
Most especially when one considers how zealously the
various official Olympic organizations champion the cause
of their so-called "Intellectual Property"...

Plagiarism.  Pure and simple.  Whatever happened to
Olympic ideals and ethics?  What a pity, especially when
all they had to do was ask.  Although, I will admit,
somewhere beneath my righteous and justified indignation
and hurt, I am slightly flattered.  But I'm still VERY
pissed off and offended!

Sincerely,

Sotiris Sotiropoulos

P.S. For posterity's sake, here's another look:

The Olympic Hymn

Ancient immortal spirit, pure father
Of the beautiful, the great and the true,
Descend, appear, and emblaze this place
With the glory of your own earth and sky.

In the race, the grappling, and the toss,
Kindle the impulse in all noble contests,
Crown with the perennial wreath,
And fashion the steely and worthy body.

Plains, mountains, and seas glow in your presence
Like some great clear porphyrous shrine,
And every nation hurries here to your temple
In supplication, ancient immortal spirit.

Costis Palamas (1859-1942)

Translation by: Sotiris Sotiropoulos,
Canada ©2001
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