Originally, the games were part of a big religious festival organized to honor Zeus, the ruler of the gods in Greek mythology. from their ancient beginnings to modern times. These Games were considered to be such a huge success that Eunice promised to organize the second Special Olympics in 1970 and continue doing it every two years. These disciplines have been popular for thousands of years, so it comes as no surprise that they were included in all modern games as well. Up until 1924, the Olympics were predominantly a summer event that did not include any winter sports. The modern Olympics are luxurious events that countries use to boost local tourism and improve their international reputation. For example, in 2004, the Summer Olympics came. The race, known as the stade, was about 192 metres (210 yards) long. It might come as a surprise that this model continued until as recently as 1994, when the Winter Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway were held in a different year. They are an international sports festival that began in Ancient Greece, , according to the most reliable sources. More than 11,000 from a record number of 201 countries participated. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. On the other hand, cycling was a fairly new sport in 1896. . The first ancient Games most likely took place in 776 BC. Men wrestling, detail of an ancient Greek cup, by Epictetus, c. 520, National Olympic committees, international federations, and organizing committees, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2010, Organizing committee for the Olympic Games, Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids! When Hercules finished his Twelve Labors, he constructed the fabled Olympic Stadium in honor of his father. Four Main Sports Featured in All Modern Olympics, , the founders of the games were Zeus and his son Hercules. The International Olympic Committee chooses the location of each Olympic Games. However ancient in origin, by the end of the 6th century bce at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called “classical games,” had achieved major importance: the Olympic Games, held at Olympia; the Pythian Games at Delphi; the Nemean Games at Nemea; and the Isthmian Games, held near Corinth. In August of 1968, the Special Olympics were officially added to the Olympics schedule. Male athletes, representatives of different city-states from various parts of the ancient Greek world, flocked at Olympia to compete in equestrian, athletic, and combat sports. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. According to legends related to the ancient Greek Olympics, the founders of the games were Zeus and his son Hercules. 8. She is the sister of the former president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, who started fighting for the rights of people with special needs after her brother took office in 1961. The rebirth of the Olympics happened at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. © 2020 apsporteditors.org All rights reserved. Just how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in Greece almost 3,000 years ago. The choice is based on applications made by the chief authority of a city, with support of the national government. But the Olympic ideal did not die and this book is a succinct history of the ancient Olympics and their modern resurgence. Many Greek competitors came from the Greek colonies on the Italian peninsula and in Asia Minor and Africa.

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