... games (Milestones in Women's Sport, 1999, p.2). Women were excluded from Olympic participation from ancient times through the advent of the modern day Olympics in 1896 (International Olympic Committee, 2000, p.2). The discouragement of female participation in athletics combined with the society instilled male dominance, deeply effected the "ideal" image of a modern day athlete. In the 1900 Paris games, women were allowed to compete in sports such as golf, tennis, and yahting, but most didn't even realize their events were considered an official part of the Olympic schedule (International Olympic Committee, 2000, p.1). The types of physical activity women were permitted to participate in were confined to non-strenuous, non-competitive contests. "When women did participate, they did so in the main for social reasons and seldom in competition (Hargreaves, 1994, p.89)." This is opposed to masculine building violence and tests of strength such as football, and boxing; which were ...

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