the Olympics in the antiquity

The Greeks are the founders of the Olympics, the Olympics were helt at the foot of the mountain Olympus (each 4 years). Thanks to evidence is proved that the very first Olympics was about 900 BC.
Later, about 800 BC, came King Iphitus into lead, and introduced that during the Olympics an armistice was between the always warring factions.

the Sports

In the begin was there just one part. A running-match of circa 192 meter (1 stadie) and the earliest known winner was Coroibos of Elis.
In 724 BC was there a second sport added, a race of 2 stadies. And by the next Olympics was the dolichus added of 24 stadies (± 4.5 km (2.8 miles)).
12 years later came the pentathlon to the list of Olympic sports, which consist of running, jumping with weights in the hands, throwing the discus, javelin and wrestling.
Further were added over the years chariot races, the running-match in equipment of war and boxing. In 648 BC was the pankration added too, a violent wrestling- and fistcamp.
There were many sports added which were variants on this, and "sports" as trumpetmatches.

the Clothes

Firt, the athletes wore simple clothes around the hips, but about 720 BC the athletes went naked into the arena.

the Time

The Olympics were first only 1 day long, but in 692 BC was it enlarged to 2 days. 60 years later were the Olympics already 5 days: 1 opening day, 3 contestdays and 1 closing day.

the Winners

The prices were very lean. The winner won a crown of uncontrolled growing olive-branches, but in the country of birth got the athletes mostly a statue (in the birth-place) and a big fortune.

the first Corruption scandal

The Olympics radiated big glory, and because of that it fell into decay. The countries set a high value upon a victory that the states hired professional athletes and bought over the officials.

the End

The Olympics fell into big decay: there came resistence against the religious ideas which were made by the origin of the Olympics.
Another low point was in 67 AC, when emperor Nero participate drunk in the chariot races. He won without that he rode the race out. There were no opponents too, in spite of he was laureated.
In 393 AC forbid the Roman emperor Theodosius I the Olympics, and within 200 years, had plunderexpedition of invaders, earthquakes and floods the pride place of the Olympics in Olympia practically leveled with the ground. And was the world not conscious of the glory which was there once.