The Olympics are a series of sport’s that people from around the world compete in. They are held every 4 year’s in a different host country. The Olympics allow other countries to compete without war. An important part is lighting the Olympic torch. It was first lit at the temple of Hera in Greece as a symbol of friendship, competition and love.
The Olympics started (approx) in 776 BC in Greece. They are the most important and valued of the 4 Greek festivals. The Olympics were held in Olympia, Greece in the sanctuary of the god Zeus, at the bottom of the mountain, Mt Kornos. The sports are a religious festival held for Zeus. Only men were allowed to compete in the Olympics. The woman did not; they weren’t even allowed to be spectators. They had a special version of the Olympics called the Heraea in which there were fewer sports than the Olympics. Before the Olympics began the athletes trained for 4-10 months and swear an oath that they were freeborn men and that they would not cheat. The 190 metre sprint was the first sport at the Olympics. Other sports in the ancient Olympics included horse racing, boxing, pankration, chariot racing, pentathlon, race in amour, wrestling, javelin hurling and the jumping event. The winners of the Olympics/Heraea were crowned with wild olives and the men got privileges, honors and valuable gifts. In 1900 woman were allowed to enter the Olympics. They were only allowed to enter either golf or tennis but they feared losing their femininity entering the Olympics. The Olympics were eventually stopped in the 4th century when emperor Theodosius said it was a pagan spectacle.
They started again in 1986 in Athens, after the founding of Olympia. The modern Olympics allowed both genders (woman had made first appearance at Olympics in 1912) to participate in any sport in the Olympics. New sports like synchronized swimming and gymnastics were introduced as well. The Olympics were continued to be held every four years with the commonwealth games and winter Olympics in between. Poor organization and absence of worldwide athletes hampered the Olympic games in St Louis and in Paris. At the turn of the 3rd millennium 40% of the competitors were woman. Some sports in the Olympics include swimming, cycling, sprints, high jump and many more.
In between the Olympics the winter games and commonwealth games are held. The common wealth games include sports like the ones in the Olympics. The winter games include games like ice hockey, bobsledding and skiing.
Overall I think the Olympics is a important celebration to Greece and the rest of the world. It lets countries compete without war and aguments.