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Essay on ancient olympic games
Essay on ancient olympic games
The influence of ancient olympic games
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On your mark, get set, run. For centuries man has been running competitively. The sport has been around as long as any other, and has evolved over time. Since the first Olympic games in 776 B.C. running has been the center of major competitions (“Ancient Olympic Games”). From the Olympics to high school track meets, from trails to treadmills, and from a mile to 26.2 miles, running is a part of competition everywhere. The benefits of running are endless, and continue to prove that those who run are in the best state of health. Running has evolved in many variations, and each variation remains one of the best ways to remain in optimum health.
Running competitively dates back to Ancient Greece. The first Olympic games were located at Olympia, which was originally created as a place of worship (“Ancient Olympic Games”). Different from today, religion played a large role in the games. At its center, Olympia housed Zeus’s Temple. Ceremonies were held for both Zeus and Pelops, the founder of the games (“Ancient Olympic Games”). The Olympic games have now evolved and strayed from the original ties to religion. However, the events themselves are still linked to these first games. Running was the center of these games, as it is now of today’s Summer Olympics. The original games included a stade race, which is equivalent to today’s 200 meter race. Another race dating back to Olympia is the Diaulos, the equivalent of a 400 meter race (“Ancient Olympic Games”). While the Olympic Games have evolved, running competitively, and some specific events can be traced back to the original games.
Since those first games, the Olympics have grown immensely. The first games were just one day of competition (“Ancient Olympic Games”). Now the Summer ...
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...sue. These many variations and the benefits of competitive running bring new meaning to the saying “run for your life”.
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Running is an action or a movement, but actually it serves as more than just that. Running is what the human body was made to since the creation of the human species. Over many years of evolution the body has evolved and become adaptable to different types of running. Many who begin running at such a young age whether it is long distance or sprints,but have never stopped and realized, wait how is this affecting my body? Many believe that there is all good to running and that no harm can come from it. Others may argue that it comes with a series of lasting internal injuries that may not affect them at the moment but affect them in the long run. The physical characteristics associated with running can come with a list of positives, but have we forgot about the negatives ? Runners remain with lasting injuries that serve as injurious to the body . The benefits and downfalls in the physical aspects of running serve in areas such as the heart, bones, and joints.
Since 776 BCE, the Olympics have been a way for people of different cultures to come together and compete in friendly competition. In 1892 the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, although it had been over a thousand years since the last game it still had brought together an assortment of different religions and ethnic groups together. Many factors shaping the Olympic Games reflect the changes that have taken place in our world since the last game in 393 CE in Greece such changes include woman’s suffrage, global economy, world wars, and proving competency.
There are many factors that have shaped the cutting edge Olympic development from 1892 to 2002. The unique objective was to make a global group through games rivalry. Much like the Ancient amusements between Greek city-expresses, the recreations were made to advance solidarity. Be that as it may, as time passed numerous overall occasions, for example, the Cold War and ladies' suffrage adjusted the objectives of the Olympics. Political perspectives and developments started to shape the Olympics. Furthermore, economic increases and interests turned into an essential part of the Olympics. The cooperation of countries amid the twentieth century included patriotism, and additionally social, political, and economic purposes behind joining and taking
Today we owe one of the largest global social gatherings to the Greeks, the Olympic games. The Olympic games were held every four years in Olympia, Greece. Today “the Olympic games are held every four years, with the summer and the Winter Games alternating by occurring every four years but two years apart.” Just like the Ancient Olympic games, today’s Olympics are designed to be a time of peace in which all nations can come together to compete in different sports.
most prestigous event of the olympic games and, therefore, was held at the end of the program. The race was held at the altis, beginning at the balbis, or starting line. The runners would sprint one length, or stade, and finish at the Altar of Zeus. The distance covered was approximately 600 ancient feet, or 200 meters.
Of the more than twenty million Americans who are running today, most who start do so for the wrong reasons, with the wrong attitude, and tend to lose interest after a few weeks or months. Many quit. This is usually because they become concerned with superficial goals such as time and distance and never discover the more profound mental benefits that running offers. (Lilliefors 15)
Modern Day Olympics are a huge tradition that sweeps the screens of televisions across the world. Competitors take the arena with uniforms that dawn their countries colors and designs that are meant to resemble their designated flag. For months the news is centered around the games; the preparation, the athletes, and of course the competition. Countries aren 't obsessed, they are inspired and full of pride seeing athletes from their country compete and show their incredible skill. This tradition dates back to ancient Greece where the games began. Tony Perrottet writes about the traditions of the ancient game in his book The Naked Olympics.
The first Olympic games started in 776 B.C, beginning with the Isthmos games, which were held every two years in Corinth (Cartledge 3). The four-year Olympics were in Delphi. The Olympics in Greece was only to worship Zeus, a Greek god. This started off as a five-day event in which the first day was a day for sacrifices to honor the different gods. At this time, there were only 3 sports that took place; running, boxing, and horse racing, although there were four types of racing on foot (Grolier 3). The only differences were the length in which athletes ran and what they wore to race. Boxing was a very violent sport that took place. Boxers usually fought until one of the participants had to admit that he was weak and could not fight any longer. Another type of boxing was with armor, usually more violent, and ended up with a bruised athlete (Lassila 4). Out of all sports, horse racing was the most watched and attracted sport to many viewers. Participants usually had two or four horses on chariots, depending how many laps they did (Lassila 2). The games went over 11 centuries until a roman emperor named Theodosius banned the Olympics (Cartledge 1).
Running can improve your mood, as well as physical health, “Running reduces stress by boosting levels of serotonin in your brain and creating a more positive mood. Self-esteem is improved and goals are achieved through running. Runners realize a greater sense of self-reliance and accomplishment… Cardiovascular health is greatly improved through running by increasing your heart rate and working the heart muscles on a regular basis” (RunAddicts). Running is similar to a drug, however without the withdrawal effects. Similar to MDMA (ecstasy), running releases serotonin. After running one feels tired but refreshed and energized due to the serotonin released, which is referred to as the “runner’s high”. This runner’s high, somewhat similar to a drug intoxication, causes a euphoria and creates a positive and energized mood, which temporarily regulates anxiety, improves sleep quality, and constructs a better self-image. As well as being mentally advantageous, running is also physically constructive. Like running and swimming, through working the heart muscles and increasing your heart rate running can also improve endurance and cardiovascular health by allowing the blood to pump more powerfully. Furthermore, running can drastically improve one’s
The Ancient Greek Olympics were not only sporting events, it was a celebration to honor the great and powerful Zeus. The Ancient Olympics were held every four years at the famous Olympia, a district of Elis, here all free Greek men were allowed to compete. The first record of the Olympic Games was held in 776 B.C. The main sports were the Pentathlon, the Equestrian Events, Pankration, and Boxing.
Endurance running is a rewarding experience that puts to test an athlete’s courage, perseverance and determination. It is a marvelous wonder how the human body, with the proper conditioning and mental focus, could achieve such tasking running distance. Elite runners complete the marathon course in just over 2 hours, while the average runner completes it in about 4.5 hours. It’s difficult to comprehend how someone could run, consistently, for 4.5 hours.The actual marathon is simply a formality as the journey starts the day training begins. The outcome, the day of the marathon, is dependent on how successful the training program was executed. Long distance runners are the biggest advocates of the sport, always convincing others to jump on the training wagon. However, some runners, while they refuse to admit it, ponder if the effects of long distance running could be doing more damage than good. It is true that long distance running is potentially dangerous to the heart; however, research suggests that physician examination, as well as proper mechanics and posture during the training phase would ensure an enjoyable journey towards reaching an endurance goal injury free and would even benefit the heart in the long run.
The Olympic Games were started by the Greeks a long time ago. It was in the honor of Zeus, the kings of the gods and were part of a religious festivals. They started in 776 B.C. The games were held every four years in Olympia, which is located in southeast Greece. People came from all around Greece to take part or just watch the games. Events in the Ancient Olympic Games were boxing, chariot racing, riding, pentathlon, discus, javelin, jump, running, and wrestling. Events in modern Olympic Games are swimming, diving,
Most at times do not really realize how important history and its events greatly influence the way we live and what we do today! Every four years we celebrate the beginning of something that was brought up long ago, the Olympics! This great event in which, now the whole world participates in started way back in the year 776 BC. It started from people playing for the God Zeus to people playing for their country and a medal, the Olympic Games sure did evolve as the time and beliefs changed.
Ancient Olympics The ancient Olympics had some differences from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Women where not allowed to even watch the games on penalty of death let alone play in them.. Also, the games were always held at Olympia in Greece instead of being moved around to different sites every time. But also they had some similarities to our modern Olympics, winning athletes were heroes who put their home towns on the map, and became financially sound for life. The conflict between the Olympic's ideals of sportsmanship and unity and the commercialism and political acts which accompany the Games where also present in ancient times. "Sotades at the ninety-ninth Festival was victorious in the long race and proclaimed a Cretan, as in fact he was. But at the next Festival he made himself an Ephesian, being bribed to do so by the Ephesian people. For this act he was banished by the Cretans."
Athletics were of immense importance to the Greeks. The first Olympic Games were made up of only foot races and later through the centuries expanded to include wrestling, javelin hurling, discus throwing, boxing, jumping, chariot racing, horse riding, the pankration and the pentathlon. The period of competition gradually expanded to five days and the festivals to one month. The foot races included four types of racing. The stadion was the oldest event in which runners sprinted for 192 meters or 1 strade. The 2-strade race was 384 meters and long distance running ranged from 1,344 to 4,608 meters (7-24 strades). Ancient Greece also had a 2-4 strade race by athletes in 50-60 pound...