History
The Olympic Games were founded in Greece. They were games for men only, women couldn't even watch or they would be punished!
The games have been going since around the 13 th century BC. Some records say that Hercules, son of Zeus, won a race at Olympia and said that the race should be held every four years. It's more likely that the Olympic festival was a religious event but the king of Elis turned it into pan-Hellenic festival, and made a temporary truce, so the athletes were harmed.
It was a religious festival, in honour of the gods worshipped in Hellenes. The festival became the height of the year by 572 BC, when Elis and Sparta agreed that Elis was in charge of the event its self, and Sparta enforced the sacred truce.
There was only one event until the 15 th Olympiad, the 200 yard race. In time, the festival games grew and became more important. By 720, there were three races, 200 yards, 400 yards and 4800 yards (2.5 miles).
Other events quickly followed
- Wrestling
- Pentathlon
- Boxing
- Chariot Racing
- Pankration Wrestling
The prize was a wreath of the wild olive, but there were some prizes for the winner's city state.
The athletes had to arrive in Elis a month before the Olympics to do spiritual, moral and physical training under supervision of the judges, who decide which athletes are ready to compete. Everyone competing had to swear an oath to say that he was a free-born Greek, and not criticized the Gods.
The athletes competed in the nude because one athlete once deliberately lost his shorts so he could run more freely, and they decided to get rid of clothes.
Women were not allowed to watch the games, not because the men were naked, but because Olympia was dedicated to Zeus, and it was a sacred area for men. However, women had there own FEMALE ONLY games, where the men were banned
Even when the Greece had vanished, the Olympics lived on, but held by the Romans, who made the games there own gladiator games, where the slaves replaced the Greek competitors.
Back to top The Summer Olympics
The summer Olympics are on every four years, and they are in different places every time. It is an international competition against countries and athletes, and has loads of different events.
There are water events, track events, events on horseback, team events and many more.
Back to top The Winter Olympics
The events in the winter Olympics are totally different to the ones in the summer Olympics. There are 12 on the snow, 33 on the track and 6 on the ice rink.
Back to top How sustainable are the Olympics?
The Olympic Games have been going on for many centuries, but has it just been a waste of time, effort and money? Is it better to have the games in another country, or have it in your own? I'll let you decide, but here are a few things I thought you should know about the sustainability of the Olympic Games.
What to do?
In the past, stadiums have been built, but then deserted. This is going to harm the environment, because land and money is wasted. Something could be done, to use the area more than once.
Here are seven things that could be done.
• The facilities could be used afterwards for local clubs and tournaments.
• The village could be turned into apartments for people to live in or villas for holidays.
• Make the stadium out of recycled or recyclable materials.
• The stadium could be one that has been already built, and the swimming pool and diving boards could be the local pool.
• Use renewable energy sources as the main source of power.
• Build the stadium with chairs and things that are easy to assemble and take apart, so they can be used again for something else.
• Set up a green transport system for when spectators and athletes get into the city.
Now
Right now, the Beijing stadium is being built, and I am glad to hear, is going for a greener future, but lots more can be done. The London Olympics is still in the planning stage, and it is expected to cost £9.35 BILLION. That is a huge amount of money that can be spent on things like the NHS and greener living. So, all can benefit from a simple change of Olympics.
Back to top The countries and flags
There are many countries involved in the games, and there is more every year. The 1904 Olympics were held in the United States, and only 12 nations competing. In the 2004 Olympics, held in Athens, there were 203 participating nations. Over a decade of games, saw to an increase of 191 in the amount of nations participating. Maybe, in another decade of games, there will be 394 different nations, but only time will tell.
The Olympic Flag
Whenever these five rings are raised, you know that the Olympics are just around the corner. There are five different coloured rings on the Olympic flag because every country that gets involved has at least one of the colours of the rings on their country's flag.
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