Ancient Olympic Games

History

Ancient Olympic Games

According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC. They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia. They continued for nearly 12 centuries.

OlympiaOlympia, the site of the

ancient Olympic Games, is in the western part of the Peloponnese which, according to Greek mythology, is the island of "Pelops", the founder of the Olympic Games. Imposing temples, votive buildings, elaborate shrines and ancient sporting facilities were combined in a site of unique natural and mystical beauty.

The Games and religionThe Olympic Games were closely linked to the cult of Zeus, but were not an integral part of a rite. They had a secular character and aimed to show the physical qualities and evolution of the performances accomplished by young people, as well as encouraging good relations between the cities of Greece. According to specialists, the Olympic Games owed their purity and importance to religion.

Through the 12 centuries of the Olympic Games, many wonderful athletes competed in the stadium and the hippodrome of ancient Olympia's sacred area, moving the crowds with their great achievements. Although mortal, their Olympic victories immortalized them. Of the best athletes who left their mark on the sacred valley of Olympia, some surpassed all limits and became legends by winning in successive Olympic Games and remaining at the forefront of their sport for more than a decade.

Participants

All free male Greek citizens were entitled to participate in the ancient Olympic Games, regardless of their social status.

Married women were not allowed to participate in, or to watch, the ancient Olympic Games. However, unmarried women could attend the competition.

The ancient Olympic Games were initially a one-day event until 684 BC, when they were extended to three days. In the 5th century B.C., the Games were extended again to cover five days.

The ancient Games included running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration and equestrian events

Victory CeremoniesThe official award

ceremony would take place on the last day of the Games, at the elevated vestibule of the temple of Zeus. In a loud voice, the herald would announce the name of the Olympic winner, his father's name, and his homeland. Then, the herald placed the sacred olive tree wreathen the winner's head. Red ribbons were tied on his head and hands as a mark of victory.

End of Olympic GamesThe Games officially

ended in 393 AD, when the emperor Theodosius I decreed that all pagan cults and practices be eliminated. Another date commonly cited is 426 AD, when his successor, Theodosius II, ordered the destruction of all Greek temples.

Modern GamesIn 1892, Pierre de

Coubertin (1863–1937) of France declared his intention to spearhead a movement to revive the ancient Greek Olympics. It was in furtherance of de Coubertin's dream that the International Olympic Committee was.

The first Games held under the auspices of the IOC was hosted in the Panathenaic stadium in Athens in 1896. The Games brought together 14 nations and 241 athletes who competed in 43 events.

Citius, Altius, Fortius Faster, Higher, Stronger

Olympic motto

Summer Olympic Games 1896 Athens, Greece 1900 Paris, France 1902 Athens, Greece (unofficial) 1904 St. Louis, United States 1906 Athens, Greece 1908 London, United Kingdom 1912 Stockholm, Sweden 1916 Berlin, Germany (cancelled due

to WWI) 1920 Antwerp, Belgium 1924 Paris, France 1928 Amsterdam, Netherlands   1932 Los Angeles, United States 1936 Berlin, Germany 1940 Tokyo, Japan (later switched to

Helsinki, Finland then cancelled due to WWII)

1944 London, United Kingdom (cancelled due to WWII)

1948 London, United Kingdom

1952 Helsinki, Finland 1956 Melbourne, Australia 1956 Stockholm, Sweden 1960 Rome, Italy 1964 Tokyo, Japan 1968 Mexico City, Mexico 1972 Mьnchen, Germany 1976 Montreal, Canada 1980 Moscow, Soviet Union 1984 Los Angeles, United

States 1988 Seoul, South Korea 1992 Barcelona, Spain 1996 Atlanta, United States 2000 Sydney, Australia 2004 Athens, Greece 2008 Beijing, China 2012 London, United Kingdom

Winter Olympic Games 1924 Chamonix, France 1928 St. Moritz, Switzerland 1932 Lake Placid, United States 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen,

Germany 1940 St. Moritz, Switzerland

(cancelled due to WWII) 1944 Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

(cancelled due to WWII) 1948 St. Moritz, Switzerland 1952 Oslo, Norway 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy 1960 Squaw Valley, United

States 1964 Innsbruck, Austria 1968 Grenoble, France 1972 Sapporo, Japan

1976 Innsbruck, Austria 1980 Lake Placid, United

States 1984 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia

(until 1988) 1988 Calgary, Canada 1992 Albertville, France 1994 Lillehammer, Norway 1998 Nagano, Japan 2002 Salt Lake City,

United States 2006 Torino, Italy 2010 Vancouver, Canada 2014 Sochi, Russia

THE END