When korfball was in the Olympics

A hundred-and-three years ago - 1920 - war raged in eastern Europe, a pandemic had killed millions and a small island in north-west Europe demanded independence.

A turbulent time. 

But also a time of increasing liberty and social improvement with women recently being able to vote in elections in many countries.

Into this maelstrom came hope. Hope in the form of sport: the sixth modern summer Olympics.

Peace, hope, sport ... and tug-of-war

Antwerp, Belgium’s largest city, had avoided the devastation of the First World War so it was the ideal location for the first post-war Olympics: a Games that exemplified peace with the release of doves at the opening ceremony and the first flying of the iconic, white, multi-ringed flag.​

In a bid to make a success of this first Games after the War, the organisers were eager to drum up crowds introducing the latest sporting thrills of archery, rowing and wrestling.

And yet the Games held onto some throwbacks to their Victorian origins - officially retaining tug-of-war - an event more fitting to a village fête than the ultimate in international sporting endeavour.

A tug-of-war contest at the 1920 Olympics.

Alongside, this frankly weird inclusion came - as a demonstration sport - the magnificent sport of korfball.

A controversially inclusive sport

Just 18 years old at the time, korfball was something of a groundbreaking sport. It contrasted starkly with pre-War pursuits.

The Olympics themselves had been a somewhat upper class endeavour - after all who else could afford the amateur status that the Olympics demanded?​

Korfball depicted in the 1928 Olympics official report.

​And at the time, men and women playing together on the same team was seen as…not progressive, but controversial or even offensive. 

Korfball players had been subject to accusations of immorality. Female players showing bare ankles and knees were more than frowned upon, and their for-the-time risqué outfits drew sharp words.

​Yet due to the war, fit young male athletes were in short supply and that loosened the strictures that bound society’s values and morals. That meant it was time for progress, but it was an uphill struggle!
​

​Getting korfball on the Olympic bill

Strictly speaking, as a demonstration sport, korfball was not a true international feat of skill.  In fact, the match was a Netherlandish intra-national: the teams that competed were South Holland (not a country, but including the cities of Rotterdam and The Hague) and Amsterdam (also not a country). Still, it was kind of the Belgians to let their neighbours show off their favourite sport-of-the-moment.

​To put on the game, organisers estimated they needed 1,400 Dutch guilders (around £12,000 in today’s money). By Spring 1920, only a third of that sum had been found and to avoid cancellation a fundraising 'Korfball Day' was arranged in April.​

A Google Map showing the locations of Antwerp, South Holland and Amsterdam.

This did the trick. 

​That wasn’t the end of the shenanigans and wrangling, but basically it was now game on for the korf!
​

One summer Sunday afternoon in Antwerp

At 1pm on Sunday 22 August 1920 with the first Olympic korfball game due to start at 2pm, the players set off from their boarding house for the stadium a few kilometres south of the city centre. Unfortunately, their drivers got confused and headed north towards a fairground that had the copyright-infringing name 'the Olympic Games'. 

In the end, the korfballers arrived at the Olympic Stadium with just 10 minutes to spare before the game start time!

The 1920 Olympic korfball match. From Wikimedia Commons.

Following typical Olympics style, field events and track events coincided. Korfball on the field was up against the marathon. Once the starting gun was fired and the runners settled in for their 2+ hours of track-based slog, the public was introduced to korfball.

As a demonstration sport, it was supposed to be a fair and equal game showing off its finer qualities.  We have no commentary on the match, but rumour has it that fairness and equality might have been forgotten once the scoring started.

It finished 2-0 for South Holland which seems like a spectacularly low-scoring game - perhaps everyone was distracted by the marathon.

As the game ended at 3pm, the spectators could relax and watch the last gasps of the marathon.

The korfballers didn't stick around though - instead heading off for their train, and if things haven't changed much, a well-deserved cold glass of De Koninck beer at the station tavern!
​

A glass of De Koninck Bolleke.

The 1928 Olympics brochure.

Korfball's last Olympics

Belgium, ruined by war, was now ruined by a celebration of peace. The nation apparently lost more than 600 million Belgian Francs from hosting the 1920 Olympic Games. Ironically, the 1,400 Guilders contribution of korfball may not have been the big  sporting money that was needed!

In 1924 the organisers of the Paris Olympics  for some reason chose 2 types of fighting - savate and la canne - as demonstration sports: women did not take part.

​But another 4 years on, korfball reappeared at the 1928 Olympics in (you guessed it) Amsterdam.

This time it was another demonstration match-up. The  match-up pitted "Red and White" against "Red and Black". 

We do not know the result.

International korfball since then

Antwerp was once again at the heart of international korfball in 1933 when it saw the creation of the International Korfball Federation.

However, it was not until 1978, that the World Korfball Championships got going.

​Despite being played every 4 years since then, The Netherlands has won it nearly every time (other than 1991, when Belgium triumphed).

But that's not all.

Japan versus Australia. From the IKF.

Korfball has been a part of every World Games since the 1985 London Games, which included squash, rugby and, inevitably, tug-of-war

Chengdu. From Wikimedia Commons.

​Each of the 10 World Games, the Netherlands has won gold. 

And korfball will be back again at Chengdu's World Games in 2025.

​We can't wait!

​But we might have to wait at least 9 years for Olympic korfball.

Since the 1928 Olympics, we've had a sad and boring 95-year Olympic korfball drought.

​A drought which won't be relieved at Paris 2025 nor Los Angeles 2028. 

Perhaps Brisbane in 2032 will be our time and our place?

Brisbane: home of the 2032 Olympics.