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The first Olympic Games were held at Olympia in 776 BC. Some people have thought that the games in 776 BC were not the first games, but the first games held after they were organized into festivals held every four years as a result of a peace agreement between the city-states of Elis and Pisa. (Olympia is in Greece) The only event held at the first Olympics was the stadium footrace. The Olympics were important to the Ancient Greeks. The only event in the first 13 games was a running race of 192 meters.
Archologists have
traced the founding of the Olympic games to King Iphitos, who planted the olive tree from
which the wreaths for the winners were cut. Olympic Games were held in the
valley of Olympia in Greece every four years for almost 1200 years. Inspired by the
ancient Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin started the modern Olympic Games in 1896.
They attracted about 245 athletes (ALL MEN) in 43 events. At the Sydney 2000 Games, more
than 10,000 athletes will take part in 300 events. The Olympic Movement has survived wars,
and terrorism to become a symbol of the ability of the people of all nations to come
together in peace and friendship. The Ancient Olympic Games, honored Zeus, the king of the
gods.
In 708 B.C., wrestling and the pentathlon were added. The pentathlon was jumping, running, discus throw, the javelin throw, and wrestling all together. Boxing was added in 688 B.C., and the four-horse chariot race was added in 680 B.C. Horse racing was added in 648 B.C. Some unusual events included in the Olympics were a race in armour, a chariot race called the apene in which two mules pulled the chariot, and a competition for trumpeters.
The Romans
conquered Greece during the 140's B.C., and the games soon lost their religious meaning.
In 393 A.D. Emperor Theodosius I banned the games.
THE MODERN GAMES
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In 1894 a French historian, Pierre de Coubertin, brought together a number of people for different nations to talk about reviving the Olympic Games. He believed that international competition would help promote friendship between nations. As a result of this meeting, the first Modern Games were held in Athens in 1896.
The first event was the 100m race and the only medal given was a silver one to the winner. It wasn't until the early 1900's that the Olympic Games caught on. In 1907 the International Olympic Committee decided to give medals to the first three places in all of the events.
An Olympic flag and the Olympian's oath were also introduced in the early part of the 1900's. The Olympian taking the athlete's oath vows: "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." This oath is also taken by a judge from the host country, although it is worded slightly different: "In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship."
The Games were stopped during the Second World War and did not start again until 1948 when they were held in London. Japan and Germany were not allowed to compete again until 1952 which was also the first time that the Soviet Union took part. Athletes entered the stadium together for the first time at the Melbourne Games in 1956.
Canada, along with 35 other countries, boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow in protest over the Russian invasion of Afghanistan.
Nowdays we have a celebration after the games in the form of the Closing Ceremony.
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We have many more sports than they did in Ancient times. There are twenty eight different categories of sports.
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This year (2000) was the first time
that Taekonwdo, Women's Water
Polo, Canoe - Slalom, Synchronized Diving, Trampoline, Triathlon, and Men's Football have
been played. About 4 billion people showed up for the Olympic Games in Sydney.
Approximately 10,200 athletes from about 200 countries took part.
Approximately 6.2 million tickets were sold to the Sydney Games!