Essay on History of the Olympics - 1625 Words

While watching the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City this year I became interested in how the games started and what they were like in previous years. The Olympic Games as we know them have only been around since the first modern Olympiad, which was held in Athens in 1896. However, the tradition of athletic competition has been around longer than history itself. Athletics in Ancient Civilization nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Athletic competition was always an integral part of life for the members of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece. Physical fitness was extremely important, and children would start being trained to compete at a young age. Kings, pharaohs, and nobles spent much of their time training and preparing to†¦show more content†¦The events the athletes participated in were all related to war tactics, such as boxing, wrestling, etc. These small tournaments were the beginning of what would become the ancient Olympics. The Ancient Olympics nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Long before Nike was a sponsor and NBC had the television rights, the Olympics were very different. The ancient Greek Olympics were religious festivals designed to celebrate the gods. The competitors trained rigorously not for their own personal glory, but instead to impress and please their gods through a demonstration of strength and agility. To win an Olympic contest was regarded more highly than winning a battle and proved the individuals virtue. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;There are many legends related the beginning of the ancient Olympics. One such tale is that of Hercules winning a race at Olympia and he decreed that races should be instituted every four years. The most popular of the legends tells of Zeus originating the games after he defeated Cronus in battle. Records of the ancient Olympics date back to 776 BC, which was when the first official Olympiad was held. From then on they were held every four years in honor of Zeus, in accordance with the four-year time periods which the Greeks called Olympiads. The majority of the events were held at the Olympic stadium near the temple of Zeus just southwest of Athens. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The ancient games were the most sacred of events, defined by solemn openingShow MoreRelatedOlympic Diving and Olympic History1023 Words   |  5 PagesAnything related to the Olympics sports in today’s modern era dates clear back to 776 BC; however, some sports that are in the twenty-first-century Olympic Games have only just started. A sport like diving reached the Olympic level in 1904 at the Summer Olympic Games. Both springboard and platform diving have had an interest in my life, since, indeed I am a diver myself. As diving had began to evolve from just a simple â€Å"swan dive† to a 109 B (Forward 4 and  ½ somersaults, pike). 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Ryan Murphy from fromRead MoreOlympic History Essay827 Words   |  4 PagesThe Olympic sports are a world competition, and there are a variety of world records. Cesar Cielo, from Brazil swam 20.91 in a 50 meter freestyle in 2009, as well as the 100m freestyle the same year. Paul Biedermann of Germany swam the 200m and 400m freestyle race in 1;42 and 3:40 in 2009. Zhang Lin from China swam the 800m freestyle in 7:32 in 2009. Sun Lang from China swam the 1500 m freestyle in 2009. Liam Tancock from Great Britain swam the 50m backstroke in 51.85 in 2009. Ryan Murphy from fromRead MoreHistory And Purpose Of The Olympic Games1439 Words à ‚  |  6 Pagespast you on the final lap. It all comes down to this, less than half a second until it’s all over. You finish and win the game. How is the setting different from the first Olympics to the Olympics today? This speech will explore the history and purpose of the Olympic Games, and how this has changed overtime. 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