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The first Olympic games were organized, possibly as early as the 13th century BC. They were first recorded in 776 BC. One legend said that Hercules won a race in Olympia and he decided that the race should be held every 4 years. Another legend told that Zeus defeated Cronus for the control of Heaven. He then decided to hold a festival to celebrate. The real story about how the Olympic games started is that it used to be a religious festival and King Iphitus wanted to turn it into a bigger event. He made a truce with the other rulers so the participants could travel peacefully through the country to the festival. In 776 BC the festival was reorganized and started the first Olympiad. A 200-yard foot race was the only event in the Olympic festival until the fifteenth Olympiad. Then longer races were originated. Later new events were added, such as wrestling and the pentathlon in 708 BC, then boxing in 688 BC. The official prize for an Olympic winner was a branch of wild olive. Some cities gave unofficial prizes such as letting them live free of charge, in a hall for distinguished citizens, or letting them pay no taxes. The athletes who competed in the ancient Olympic games used to wear shorts to compete, but when an Olympic competitor deliberately lost his shorts to run more freely, clothing was abolished. Women were not aloud to watch the Olympic games because the women had their own festivals. Olympia was dedicated to Zeus and was a sacred area for men. Many changes have occurred in the Olympics since 776 BC, but the Olympics still live on…
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