Transcript Ancient Olympic Games

History
 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.
 Olympia, the site of the
ancient Olympic Games, is
in the western part of the
Peloponnese which,
according to Greek
mythology, is the island of
"Pelops", the founder of the
Olympic Games. Imposing
temples, votive buildings,
elaborate shrines and
ancient sporting facilities
were combined in a site of
unique natural and
mystical beauty.
 The Olympic Games were
closely linked to the cult of
Zeus, but were not an
integral part of a rite. 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.
 Through the 12 centuries of
the Olympic Games, many
wonderful athletes competed
in the stadium and the
hippodrome of ancient
Olympia's sacred area,
moving the crowds with their
great achievements. Although
mortal, their Olympic
victories immortalized them.
Of the best athletes who left
their mark on the sacred
valley of Olympia, some
surpassed all limits and
became legends by winning
in successive Olympic Games
and remaining at the
forefront of their sport for
more than a decade.
 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.
However, unmarried
women could attend the
competition.
 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
 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 herald placed the
sacred olive tree wreathen
the winner's head. Red
ribbons were tied on his
head and hands as a mark
of victory.
 The Games officially
ended in 393 AD, when
the emperor Theodosius
I decreed that all pagan
cults and practices be
eliminated. Another date
commonly cited is 426
AD, when his successor,
Theodosius II, ordered
the destruction of all
Greek temples.
 In 1892, Pierre de
Coubertin (1863–1937) of
France declared his
intention to spearhead a
movement to revive the
ancient Greek Olympics.
It was in furtherance of
de Coubertin's dream
that the International
Olympic Committee was.
 The first Games held
under the auspices of the
IOC was hosted in the
Panathenaic stadium in
Athens in 1896. The
Games brought together
14 nations and 241
athletes who competed
in 43 events.
Citius, Altius, Fortius
Faster, Higher, Stronger
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1896 Athens, Greece
1900 Paris, France
1902 Athens, Greece (unofficial)
1904 St. Louis, United States
1906 Athens, Greece
1908 London, United Kingdom
1912 Stockholm, Sweden
1916 Berlin, Germany (cancelled due
to WWI)
1920 Antwerp, Belgium
1924 Paris, France
1928 Amsterdam, Netherlands
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1932 Los Angeles, United States
1936 Berlin, Germany
1940 Tokyo, Japan (later switched to
Helsinki, Finland then cancelled due to
WWII)
1944 London, United Kingdom
(cancelled due to WWII)
1948 London, United Kingdom
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1952
1956
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
Helsinki, Finland
Melbourne, Australia
Stockholm, Sweden
Rome, Italy
Tokyo, Japan
Mexico City, Mexico
Mьnchen, Germany
Montreal, Canada
Moscow, Soviet Union
Los Angeles, United States
Seoul, South Korea
Barcelona, Spain
Atlanta, United States
Sydney, Australia
Athens, Greece
Beijing, China
London, United Kingdom
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1924 Chamonix, France
1928 St. Moritz, Switzerland
1932 Lake Placid, United States
1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen,
Germany
1940 St. Moritz, Switzerland
(cancelled due to WWII)
1944 Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
(cancelled due to WWII)
1948 St. Moritz, Switzerland
1952 Oslo, Norway
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
1960 Squaw Valley, United
States
1964 Innsbruck, Austria
1968 Grenoble, France
1972 Sapporo, Japan
 1976 Innsbruck, Austria
 1980 Lake Placid, United States
 1984 Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (until
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1988)
1988 Calgary, Canada
1992 Albertville, France
1994 Lillehammer, Norway
1998 Nagano, Japan
2002 Salt Lake City, United
States
2006 Torino, Italy
2010 Vancouver, Canada
2014 Sochi, Russia