ANCIENT & MODERN

OLYMPIC GAMES
ANCIENT OLYMPIC GAMES

• According to historical records, the first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC.

• They were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia.

• They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius decreed in 393 A.D. that all such
"pagan cults" be banned.
OLYMPIA- WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
• Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, is in the western part of the Peloponnese

• Greek mythology is the island of "Pelops", (founder of the Olympic Games)

• Imposing temples, votive buildings, elaborate shrines and ancient sporting facilities  combined in a site of
unique natural and mystical beauty.

• Olympia a meeting place for worship and other religious and political practices as early as the 10 th century B.C.

• The central part of Olympia was dominated by the majestic temple of Zeus, with the temple of Hera parallel to it.
ANCIENT OLYMPICS: A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL

 The Olympic Games were closely linked to the religious festivals of the cult of Zeus.

 Indeed, they had a secular character and aimed to show the physical qualities and evolution of
the performances  accomplished by young people, as well as encouraging good relations
between the cities of Greece.

 According to specialists, the Olympic Games owed their purity and importance to religion.
• The oldest myth which concerns the beginning of the Olympic Games is that of Idaios Daktylos Herakles.

• According to other myths, Zeus, the father of humanity, fought and defeated Cronus in a struggle for the
throne of the gods.

• Finally, the well-known demigod Herakles is mentioned.

• He staged games in Olympia in honour of Zeus, because the latter had helped him conquer Elis when he
went to war against Augeas.
AWARD CEREMONY

• The official award ceremony would take place on the last day of the Games, at the elevated vestibule of
the temple of Zeus.

• In a loud voice, the herald would announce the name of the Olympic winner, his father's name, and his
homeland.

• Then, the Hellanodikis placed the sacred olive tree wreath, or kotinos, on the winner's head.
• All free male Greek citizens were entitled to participate in the ancient Olympic Games, regardless of
their social status.

• Married women were not allowed to participate in, or to watch, the ancient Olympic Games.
ANCIENT OLYMPIC EVENTS
• The ancient Olympic Games were initially a one-day event until 684 BC, when they were extended to three
days. In the 5th century B.C., the Games were extended again to cover five days.

• The ancient Games included running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration and equestrian events.

• Pentathlon  The Pentathlon became an Olympic sport with the addition of wrestling in 708 B.C., and
included the following: 

• Running  the stade race (200m foot race), the diaulos (two stades - 400m foot race), dolichos (ranging
between 7 and 24 stades).
• Jumping  Athletes used stone or lead weights called halteres to increase the distance of a jump. They held onto the
weights until the end of their flight, and then jettisoned them backwards.

• Discus throw  The discus was originally made of stone and later of iron, lead or bronze. The technique was very similar to
today's freestyle discus throw.

• Wrestling  This was highly valued as a form of military exercise without weapons. It ended only when one of the
contestants admitted defeat.

• Boxing  Boxers wrapped straps (himantes) around their hands to strengthen their wrists and steady their fingers. Initially,
these straps were soft but, as time progressed, boxers started using hard leather straps, often causing disfigurement of
their opponent's face.
• Pankration  This was a primitive form of martial art combining wrestling and boxing, and was
considered to be one of the toughest sports. Greeks believed that it was founded by Theseus when he
defeated the fierce Minotaur in the labyrinth.

• Equestrian events These included horse races and chariot races and took place in the Hippodrome, a
wide, flat, open space
BARON PIERRE DE COUBERTIN: THE FATHER
OF THE MODERN OLYMPICS
• The revival of the Olympic Games began with Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863–1937) of France.

• Coubertin was greatly interested in education, and he firmly believed that the best way to develop the
minds of young people was to develop their bodies as well; learning and athletics should go together.

• After he visited the ruins of ancient Olympia, it occurred to Coubertin that perhaps the best way to
generate widespread acceptance of his theory was to resurrect the Olympic Games.
OLYMPIC REVIVAL

• He hoped the new Games would bring back the ideals of physical, mental, and spiritual excellence displayed in
the ancient Games  as well as build courage, endurance, and a sense of fair play in all who participated.

• In addition, he hoped the Games would turn the tide he saw worldwide of the growing commercialism of sports.

• In 1892, Coubertin first introduced the idea of starting the Olympic Games again.

• Few people were ready to accept his idea. But in 1894 Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) and began planning the first modern Olympiad.
The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece — a fitting place to rekindle the
spirit of the early Greek Games.
HOW THE OLYMPICS HAVE EVOLVED

World war
• Unlike ancient Greece, modern nations have not stopped wars for peaceful athletic competition.
• Because of World War I, Games were not held in 1916. Nor were they held in 1940 and 1944, during World War II.

Culture
• The ancient Greeks furthered culture by giving honors for cultural achievements at the Olympic Games.
• The modern Olympics hold an arts festival, where the culture of the host country is showcased in various art forms.

More events included

• Footraces, jumping, discus and javelin throwing, boxing, wrestling, and some other events were carried over from the
original Olympic Games
• But such present Olympic contests as cycling, canoeing and sailing, football (soccer), basketball, judo, rifle shooting, and
water polo were unknown in early times.
Games around the globe
• In contrast with the Olympic Games of Antiquity, each edition of the modern Games takes
place in principle in a different city and country.

Longer Games
• In ancient times, the Games were held first on one day, and finally over five days.
• Today the official duration is no more than 16 days.

Athletes from all over the world

• The modern Games encourage all nations to compete.
• A person may enter if his or her country has a National Olympic Committee (NOC) that is
recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Women join in
• Events for women have become a major interest in the modern Games, and the winners
receive honors equal to those given the male winners.

Winter Games
• In 1924, the Winter Games became a new feature of the modern Olympics.
• Until 1992, the Winter Games were held in the same year as the Summer Games. Beginning in 1994, the
Winter and Summer Games were held two years apart, on separate four-year cycles.

Others Olympic Games

• Paralympics  1948
• Youth Olympics  2010
• Web Olympic 2014
THE OLYMPIC LOGO
THE OLYMPIC MOTTO
OLYMPIC CORE VALUES