Olympic Games

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The Olympic Games were a vital part of Greek culture which was heavily influenced by athletics. Today, the Olympic Games are the world's largest presentation of athletic skill and competitive spirit. Thousands of athletes and spectators participate in this universal event. Revived in 1896, the Olympic Games had their beginnings in ancient Greece, and since then the event is very much comparable to modern Olympic events. In a city in southwestern Greece, called Olympia, is the birthplace of the Olympic games. Created to offer thanksgiving and honor to Zeus, chief god, the first record of the Olympics dates back to 776 bc and the event occurs every four years thereafter. The first day of the festival was devoted to non-human sacrifices as praise to the gods. Speeches from famous philosophers , poetry readings parades, and banquets were also held before the games begun. 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... ... middle of paper ... ...re also more rules, regulations and restrictions on the events in the modern Olympics. In conclusion, the Olympics have been a substantial part of our culture today, as it was during the age of ancient Greece. The Olympics continue today in close replication of the classical Olympics. The Olympic games are an example of the many contributions ancient Greece has passed on to Western civilizations. Works Cited "Olympic Games" Britannica Junior Encyclopedia 1977 ed. "Olympic Games (ancient)" Microsoft Encarta Reference Library. CD-ROM. Microsoft Corporation, 2002. "The Ancient Olympics". 14 December 2003. "The Ancient Olympics" Perseus Digital Library 2002. 12 December 2003. "The Ancient Greek Olympics" 2000. 10 December 2003. "The Olympic Games". Odysseus 2001 7 December 2003.

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