The History of the Olympic Games

The video on “the Hidden History of the Olympic Games” provides intriguing revelations that the Olympic Games are driven by astonishing propaganda associated with international rivalry and social struggles (Poulton, 2012). The video clarifies that Olympic Games have preserved the colonial strategies and operations in most host nations and cities by the organizing bodies (Poulton, 2012). This has caused the production of unique ceremonies and symbolisms while supporting the encroachment of thieving indigenous lands in host colonies. For instance, Germany used the event to advocate the myth of Aryan racial dominance and physical prowess in the 1936 Berlin games. The German artists emerged to idealize athletes through sculptures and significant forms with muscle tones and physically fit features (Mason, 2012). The significance of the Munich massacre is that retribution is harshly critical in political agendas. This caused a loss of potential athlete skills where about 11 athletes were demised. A rivalry was triggered from the occasion even though the authorities were informed of terror attacks (Mason, 2012).

According to the Olympics Game timeline, the first ever Olympic Games was held in 776 BCE, in Olympia which is in Athens, Greece. They were held there at olympia for 13 years. We don't know how the games began according to Robert Woff, some stories say the Zeus started the game. According to this story, it started out with Zeus and his father, Kronos were wrestling in olympia, who knew it would turn into what it has become. Wrestling wasn’t the only sport in the ancient greek olympics, there were many more that were involved. Some of the original events according to “Ancient sports” are boxing, equestrian events (chariot racing & riding), pankration, pentathlon (discus, javelin, jump, running, wrestling).

There are quite a few factors that shaped the modern-day Olympics from 1892 to 2002. Pierre de Coubertin states that he wanted to create the Olympics to spread world peace. He does this by substituting war for friendly sports competitions (doc 1). Of course, there were some bumps in the road while trying to achieve this utopia. Some factors that have changed the Olympics are the allowing of women being able to compete in the Olympics, women’s suffrage, nationalism, wars, and economic conditions (doc 2-7).

The purpose of the ancient Greek Olympic Games was not to boost the status of your country like it is today, but to honor the Greek Gods. More specifically to honor the God Zeus, who was also known as “Father of Gods and men. The son of Cronus and Rhea was a wise and fair God who ruled both Heaven and Earth. His official title was King of Mount Olympus which is also the home of the Greek Gods. People worshiped Zeus due to his high authority, and because he controlled lightening and thunder which he used as weapons. Zeus held many titles such as patron of hospitality, keeper of oaths, and God of crops and harvest. The Greeks wanted to insure that they would have good fortune. To do so they went to Greek temples and prayed. Greek Gods were a

Ahh, the Olympics. A nice time to sit down, watch the television, and bond together with friends and family as you all watch the glorious victories rain down on the athletes. We've been enjoying the Olympics for years and years to come...but, have you ever thought about how these games came to be? Believe it or not, but the games that we watch through our television every four years actually dates back to Greeks. Incredible, huh? We've been enjoying these games for centuries, and they've impacted so many things we rely and believe in today, including the government and even religion. Here, let me loom over the details some more...

Perhaps the basic difference between the ancient and modern Olympics is that the former was the ancient Greeks’ way of saluting their gods, whereas the modern Games are a manner of saluting the athletic talents of citizens of all nations. The original Olympics featured competition in music, speeches, and theater performances as well. The modern Games have a more expansive athletic event schedule, and for 2 and a half weeks they are supposed to replace the

Olympic Games reflect the Ancient Greeks lifestyle and view of life because of their religion. The first Olympic Game was in honor of Zeus. There was a statue

Today every four years a designated country hosts nation from all over the world to compete in different activities such as track, swimming, soccer and many more. This worldwide event is referred to as the Olympic Games. However, the original Olympic Games were nothing like what is broadcasted today. The Olympic Games, originally a religious festival, in Olympia, Greece dating back 776 BC was a festival surrounded with competitive events to honor the Greek God Zeus but over time the games have been subject to a considerable makeover.

Olympics holds competitive events that people look forward to. This is where men and women athletes get to represent their countries legacy and pride. It contains many competitions such as basketball,soccer,archery,wrestling,swimming,etc. Though, the Olympics games were first instituted by the Greeks. Greece created in honor of the king of gods, Zeus. Every four years, athletes from all over Greece would play in the Olympics .However, after 1986, the Olympic games were held in different venues around the world. For example, some places the Olympics took place in were in Africa, Australia, Asia, and America. They did this because they wanted the games to be an representation of international brotherhood and friendship. In the beginning of the games, the torched would be first lit by the sun rays in Olympia and carried by runners to the site of the games.

The Olympic Games originated in Olympia, one of the great religious centers of Greece (Fiero 37), and their purpose was to honor the Greek gods. In Greece the games were held every four years in midsummer; in today’s time the games occur every four years as well

The “Organized Greek Games” article states, “The Olympics were the Super Bowl, the World Cup, the Heavyweight Championship of Greek athletics (Baker p.59).” This statement indicates how much impact the games had on the Greek athletics. The Olympics, or any other sport competition in general, has always given athletics the chance to test and demonstrate their physical strength. The article has stated that sport competitions were accepted into numerous celebrations and festivals in ancient Greece (Baker p.59). The satisfaction that these games had in these festivals later on led to the birth of the Olympic games. Sport competitions are also well known throughout various cultures. There are many diverse societies in the world that see the importance of sports like the ancient Greeks. The crucial entertainment values that these sports carry are the reason why competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics have existed for many years. The ancient Olympics games were one of the early discoveries that have demonstrated how valuable sports were to ancient

“Although the ancient Games were staged … from 776 BC through 393 AD, it took 1503 years for the Olympics to return” (“The Games”). The Olympic Games were very important to the Greeks just like the Games are a huge spectacle for the world now. The Games were always important to the Greeks but it took a while for modern people to warm up to the idea. Once they warmed up to the idea of the Olympics they took off with it and it is now a global spectacle. The Olympics have a rich history, significant purpose, and has evolved over time.

Sports were a way of life and in the case of the Olympics games it was a religious event, which is a far cry from the modern day games. (Lenskyj 16) The Olympics games were held in honor of the leader of the Greek gods himself, Zeus. And, the only place fit for such an event would the Olympia, which translated to home of the gods. It was a sanctuary 60km form the nearest town, and away from any centers of population and political influences. (Golden 16) It was this isolation that made keeping the peace easier. It was a way of saying to spectators and athletes alike to only bring your sport sprit to the area and all leave all their biases behind. In the studies of Olympic Games, we can’t determine the exact date when the game first started. Archeologists and historians have found records of the games dating to as far back as 776 BC. (Spivey 169) Without a clear date of when the first Olympic Games were open, we can generally guess that they start somewhat 3,000 years ago. The one thing we do know for sure that the games would take place every four years, and the period of time between each game is known as an Olympiad. In Olympia, there used to be

With growth of interest in sport in the 19th century, and the organization °f annual and traditional sport competitions, especially between schools and universities, the idea arose of reviving the Olympic Games in the modern world. A Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, was the enthusiast whose personal drive and initiative brought about the inauguration of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 with the participation of 311 athletes from thirteen countries, competing in nine sports.

Olympic games began in Ancient Greece from 776 BC and lasted to 393 AD. It is believed that they may have begun for hundreds of years before.