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Asterix at the Olympic Games

(Astérix #12)

René Goscinny,

Albert Uderzo (Illustrator)

4.15 · Rating details · 7,654 ratings · 146 reviews

The athletes of the ancient world assemble in Athens for the Olympic Games. Asterix and the Gauls enter too, but they're due for a setback. As an artificial stimulant, magic potion is banned. Can our friends win at the Games without it? And what's the special ingredient of the other potion, the one in the cauldron in the shed with the door that doesn't close properly? ...more

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Hardcover, 48 pages

Published July 22nd 2004 by Asterix (first published 1968)

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Community Reviews

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Average rating 4.15 ·

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· 7,654 ratings · 146 reviews

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Jun 25, 2018 Sidharth Vardhan rated it really liked it

Shelves: children-books, 4-europe, graphic-picture, chandler-s-box

Is it me or does anyone else wonder what the magic potion means for sexual lives of Ghauls?

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Aug 29, 2010 Dirk Grobbelaar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels-comics

One of the very first Asterix books I can remember reading as a kid. And it’s as good as ever.

The title leaves no room for interpretation, this story does in fact take place at the Olympic Games. In an effort to irritate the Romans, the Gauls set off for Greece to take part in the games (as Romans, of course, since they are part of the empire and would otherwise not be allowed to compete). The kicker? They plan on using the magic potion to make a clean sweep of all the events.

This doesn’t work a ...more

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Oct 06, 2020 Kavita rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-fiction, humour, greece, comic-books, france

The Olympic Games are about to begin! Of course, the Romans are entering. Gluteus Maximus is all getting ready to win medals for Caesar. But when the Gauls learn about the Olympic Games, they can't help but decide to join. They begin to call themselves Roman citizens since only Romans and Greeks can enter the contest, which irritates the Romans considerably. However, a setback is coming. Asterix and Obelix have no idea they cannoy rely on the magic potion.

This was a hilarious one. After the last ...more

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Jun 30, 2012 Daisy May Johnson rated it really liked it

Oh I love Asterix. It's been a constant in my life and along with Twinkle and Bunty was one of the first comics I read. In a fit of topicality, I picked up Asterix At The Olympic Games. And, very simply, it's great. This would be a superb introduction to the Olympics for somebody just starting to explore comics and language (and it could be a very nice parent / child joint-read).

The Asterix books are full of puns and wordplay. They're stamped into nearly every frame and the vitality of these is ...more

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Aug 27, 2013 David Sarkies rated it really liked it

Finally the magic potion is of no use
27 August 2013

Well, this one picked up somewhat with a few more laugh out loud moments, as well as the typical on running joke (such as Obelix trying to get his share of the magic potion – he tries so much to get a taste and no matter what he does he always gets knocked back). One of the best jokes was when Obelix says to Fulliautomatix that Dogmatix is so much better because he can scratch his ear with his hind leg, and a few windows later we hear a cry 'so Finally the magic potion is of no use
27 August 2013

Well, this one picked up somewhat with a few more laugh out loud moments, as well as the typical on running joke (such as Obelix trying to get his share of the magic potion – he tries so much to get a taste and no matter what he does he always gets knocked back). One of the best jokes was when Obelix says to Fulliautomatix that Dogmatix is so much better because he can scratch his ear with his hind leg, and a few windows later we hear a cry 'so can I' and we see Fulliautomatix scratching his ear with his hind leg (it is much better in graphics, but I tried to find an image on Google and couldn't).

There are a few of what I call 'in jokes' in this one – not in the sense that you need to be familiar with the Asterix comics to understand them (though there are a few, such as Obelix and the magic potion) but rather ones that you probably would not understand unless you knew about the Ancient Greek world. In fact there are probably quite a few throughout the Asterix comics, though I remember still enjoying them as a kid despite not understanding the context in which they were written.

Mind you they are quite bad with anachronisms, but then again this is forgivable because this is Asterix. For instance the Spartans win all of the competitions because, well, they are Spartans. However, the Spartans of Ancient Rome were not the Spartans of the Classical period because they were inbred so much that when they were finally defeated by the Romans it was discovered that they paled in comparison to their noble ancestors. I knew a modern Spartan once, and I must say that I did want to marry her, even if it is because Spartan women produce strong children (though that is my helophilia coming through). Also, because of my helophilia, I tend to prefer Greek women who come from places that are identifiable with the Classical period, and most of the Greek women that I know come from the North.

As for the Olympic Games themselves, I guess there are a few comments, and relations, to the modern Olympics, though in many cases this album is more looking at the Ancient Games as opposed to the modern. Mind you there is the question of the use of the magic potion which is strictly banned. In fact the album ends up dealing with the issue of drugs in sport which, at the time, I did not think was a huge issue. It is only lately that the issue of drugs in sports seems to be battering our airwaves (and in fact one of the AFL teams at this time is under investigation, and has been charged with, conduct unbecoming of the game, though no actual drug related charges have been laid).

However, I suspect that the whole issue of drugs in sports has been going on since professional sport came about and winning became a very profitable enterprise. I am also sure that the use of drugs in sport have been around for as long as medicine has been around. Mind you professional sport is still a very modern phenomena. While they did have professional sports back in Ancient Rome, and such events and participants were considered celebrities, the idea of spectator sports is really only a new thing, and with the exception of Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, sports were generally played for fun, rather than prestige and money. ...more

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Dec 30, 2020 Ashok Krishna rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Call me obsessed, but it will always be 5 stars for my stars Asterix and Obelix! ❤️

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Jan 31, 2021 Mia rated it it was amazing

I just have one thing to say about this book - “brain over muscle”!
Ok maybe two - This was a great story! One of my favs no doubt.

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Jun 14, 2018 Rollie Reid rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2018

I still don't understand the joke about "un manque de pot" but this is still terribly funny. ...more

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Feb 03, 2018 Joseph R. rated it it was amazing

Things are quiet in the Gaulish village that is home to Asterix. The nearby Roman encampment Aquarium is full of excitement. Their finest athlete, Gluteus Maximus, has been selected to represent Rome in the Olympic Games in Greece. He trains in the forest where his confidence is shattered by Asterix and Obelix, whose magic-potion enhanced powers make them faster and stronger. Once the village chief finds out about the games, he wants his tribe to go too. They'll easily be victorious thanks to dr ...more

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May 29, 2019 Deborah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: france

Welcome to 50 B.C., where one small village of Gauls is holding out against the Roman legionnaires who surround them. Asterix, the cunning little warrior, and his sidekick, Obelix, the mighty boar loving Menhir deliverer, with his dog, Dogmatix, are back. Accompanied by Getafix (the Druid who brews the magic potion), Cacofonix (the bard who grates on everyone's ears), Vitalstatistix (the tribal chief), and other villagers, they travel to the Olympics in Athens. I loved the series as a child and ...more

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Jan 15, 2016 Sarah Crawford rated it liked it

A Roman, Gluteus Maximus, is training for the Olympic Games and thinks he's going to win until he encounters Asterix and Obelix and then he gets depressed. The tribe decides that they will compete in the games, and Asterix and Obelix will represent them.

They get to Greece and encounter Diabetes, their guide, and they visit Athens and then move on to Olympia for training.

However, they cannot compete in the games since they would be using magic potion (their version of steroids), and since Obelix ...more

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Nov 29, 2015 Sruthi rated it liked it · review of another edition

This is my first Asterix book and I must say, I probably will not buy another one. It was very OK. Wasn't as funny as people make it out to be and though it is just 50 pages, it is definitely a slow read.

The story line has no depth. The story is too short. The drawings are not up to par. And I hate the fact that a lot of supporting characters look alike.

I guess you either are a tintin fan or an Asterix fan. I certainly am the former! ...more

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Jul 13, 2014 Oliver rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: you-know-for-kids, history, comics, france

The Gallic duo are off to Greece to compete in the Games and put the Romans to shame. One of the funniest of the Asterix books.

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Sep 17, 2014 Denim Datta rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: comedy, adventure, comics

Nice funny book. This is the 12th book of Asterix.

Asterix and co participate in the Olympics games in Athens.

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Jun 06, 2015 Ojo rated it really liked it

These names will never cease to make me laugh. Veriambitious!

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Apr 10, 2018 Francis Pellow rated it really liked it

really enjoyed that all the village went on the adventure to the Olympics.

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Mar 19, 2020 R rated it it was amazing

They are like that box of chocolates...you open one and you don't wanna stop till you have devoured them all. :-D

Asterix at the Olympic Games is among my earliest memory of falling in love with books. As the adventure takes our friends from the li'l Gaulish village we know so well all the way to Athens and Olympia, where they compete against Romans (and Spartans, and Greeks and...well, that is beside the point), for the first time in the history of Asterix comics, as Romans. Along the way, it al ...more

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Aug 03, 2019 Luis Tormento rated it it was amazing

Gluteus Maximus, an athletic Roman legionary, is chosen as one of Rome's representatives for the upcoming Olympic Games in Greece. Gaius Veriambitius, his centurion, hopes to share in the glory of Olympic victory. While training in the forest, Gluteus Maximus encounters Asterix and Obelix, who unintentionally outdo him at running, the javelin and boxing, thanks to the power of the magic potion. Demoralised, he consigns himself to sweeping the Roman camp instead of training. When Veriambitius ask Gluteus Maximus, an athletic Roman legionary, is chosen as one of Rome's representatives for the upcoming Olympic Games in Greece. Gaius Veriambitius, his centurion, hopes to share in the glory of Olympic victory. While training in the forest, Gluteus Maximus encounters Asterix and Obelix, who unintentionally outdo him at running, the javelin and boxing, thanks to the power of the magic potion. Demoralised, he consigns himself to sweeping the Roman camp instead of training. When Veriambitius asks Vitalstatistix that Gluteus Maximus be left alone, Vitalstatistix decides the Gauls should enter the Olympic Games as well. Veriambitius argues they cannot, as Romans are the only non-Greeks allowed, but Asterix rationalizes that as Gaul is part of the Roman Empire, they are technically Romans (despite their resistance to Roman rule), making them a Gallo-Roman team, demoralising the centurion and his legionary further. The Gauls hold trials that prove inconclusive as everyone is dosed with the magic potion. Eventually, they decide to register only Asterix and Obelix as competitors.

The entire male population of the village travels to Olympia (aboard a galley where they have to do the rowing), where Asterix and Obelix register as athletes (with Getafix as their coach) and the others all enjoy a holiday. When Gluteus Maximus and Veriambitius discover the Gauls have come to compete, they are left in despair (Vitalstatistix telling them "We're not stopping you entering, it's just that we're going to win"), and this despair spreads among all the Roman athletes. They give up training and spend all their time having elaborate parties, washing their uniforms and sweeping the whole area. The scent from their feasts eventually causes the Greek competitors to complain about their own healthy food. Alarmed, the Greeks send a judge to warn the Romans that even if they think drinking will somehow make them better athletes, it will be held against them as all artificial stimulants are forbidden, prompting Veriambitius to tell him about the Gauls' magic potion. The Gauls are dejected by the news that victory is not as certain as they had expected, but Asterix decides to compete anyway. Obelix, being permanently affected by the potion, now cannot compete and anyway doesn't quite understand what's going on – he thinks he's been dismissed just because he fell into a cauldron and wonders if telling the officials he fell into a regular pot or amphora will change anything.

At the games, Asterix and the Roman athletes are beaten at every turn by the Greeks, causing a dilemma to the Olympic officials. Although their victories prove what they've believed all along (that Romans are decadent barbarians and the Greeks are perfect beings), too much success will reflect badly on the country's reputation, so they announce a special race for just Romans. After the announcement, Asterix and Getafix start talking, very loudly, about a cauldron of magic potion left in an unguarded shed. Eager to win, the other Roman athletes steal the potion that night.

The race begins, and the Roman athletes easily beat Asterix. After the race, Getafix accuses them of having used magic potion and, when the Romans deny the accusation, Asterix sticks his tongue out at them. When the Romans return the gesture, it is revealed that Getafix had added an extra ingredient to this particular batch of potion and the Romans now have blue tongues from drinking it. They are disqualified, and Asterix is declared the winner.

The Gauls return home for their traditional banquet. Getafix notices Asterix hasn't brought his Palm of Victory home. Asterix explains he gave it to someone who needed it more: Gluteus Maximus, whose apparent victory is shown to have pleased Julius Caesar greatly, promoting Maximus to centurion and Veriambitius to tribune.
Text extracted from Wikipedia ...more

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Feb 23, 2019 Suhel Banerjee rated it really liked it

Marking individual Asterix books is a new low, but greater men have done worse things for reading challenges.

Re-reading the series, first time as an adult. Not surprisingly finding many gems, such as naming of characters, puns etc that may have been missed as a kid. This episode in particular has some allusions to modern day doping in sports, but of course in the days of Julius Caesar. The book written in the 1970s still showed stark racist overtones, which when looked through the lens of 2019 s ...more

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Mar 23, 2020 Aditi rated it liked it

[SPOILERS AHEAD]This was one of the few Asterix comics at home and that I remember reading every summer. On this last re-read, it was still the same excitement and captivation with the story. Dogmatix is my favourite and I liked the fact that Obelix naively happened to suggest the solution to the problem, without his knowledge. Asterix was very generous to give away his palm of victory to the Romans. Not one of my top favourites, but still very good.

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Oct 05, 2019 Amrita Nambiar rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is quite an accomplishment for me because it's the first french book I've read! I understood most of it, which I'm very proud of, and I got the overall gist of the book. Asterix and Obelix are classics and I obviously enjoyed reading this book! :) ...more

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Oct 30, 2019 Lies added it

... aaand i have almost finished my goodreads reading challenge xD
some will think comics don't count as books... i kind of agree, but hey it's reading all the same

besides, how else was i ever gonna get my challenge done? ;) ...more

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May 06, 2017 Anna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

In this one, the Gauls decide to take part in the Olympic games.

Fun, not too punny, even a twist at the end. One of the best Asterix books.

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Jun 03, 2018 Bart rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-read

Actual rating: 3.25

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Sep 04, 2018 Jc rated it liked it

Can Asterix and his magic potion win all the Olympic medals?

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Nov 03, 2018 Erik rated it it was ok

Shelves: comics-humor

There's apparently an audience for these predictable tales and non stop puns, but I'm not part of it. ...more

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Jun 22, 2019 Fabiano Cerqueira rated it liked it

Unfortunately, this graphic novel is a little below the expectations. The story is funny, but it doesn't sustain the same level of humor than the previous stories. Besides that, its development and conclusion are simplistic. ...more

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Nov 02, 2019 Tamara Zann rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: picture-books

I get more jokes than I used to. Simple reading for a tired evening.

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Feb 10, 2020 Kátia Cristina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Funny,, funny, funny! If you want to relax and learn history it's the best choice as you'll kill two birds with one stone!!! ...more

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Feb 25, 2020 Saint No Stopping Us rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: graphic-novels

Six out of ten. CBR format.

Asterix and Obelix (and friends) enter for the Olympic games in Athens.

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About René Goscinny

René Goscinny

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René Goscinny (1926 - 1977) was a French author, editor and humorist, who is best known for the comic book Asterix , which he created with illustrator Albert Uderzo, and for his work on the comic series Lucky Luke with Morris (considered the series' golden age). ...more