The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games have become so much a part of our lives that we are no longer curious about its beginnings. We talk of legendary sportsmen and their exploits at the games but a few of us know the legends behind the games. The first Officially recorded Olympic Games was held as far back as 776 BC. But the Games are believed to have begun as early as 1370 BC. 

According to legend, the games were conducted to commemorate the victory of the Greek God Zeus in his battle with a rival God Tronous for possession of the Earth. The battle was believed to have fought at Olympia in Greece, said to be abode of Gods, and the games were held periodically in Olympia. And there are many legends, which explain the beginning the legendary Olympic Games.

The Olympics in ancient Greece began in a small way with a few games, and few competitors from nearby regions, but soon grew to be a mammoth festival. Participants came from every corner of Greece, and a sacred truce was declared during the games to enable warring states to partake amicably and to ensure safety of all participants and spectators. 

The ancient Olympics were not merely spectacles of physical prowess. The Olympic festival continued for five days and there was big fair. The Greeks, who believed in the harmonious development of the body and soul, included in Olympics, Competitions for poets, dramatists and orators. The Games became so popular that in later years even the Romans participated in them. In 65 AD Emperor Nero of Rome took part in the chariot race at the 211^th Olympiad. He was awarded the prize although he did not complete the course!

There were, in all, 293 Olympics spread over 1,168 years.  The games finally came to an end in 393 Ad when the roman Emperor Theodesius banned them. The reasons for the ban are not certain.

Exactly 101 years ago, in 1892, the Baron de Coubertin, French founder of Modern Olympics, gave his clarion call for the resurrection of the games. French aristocrat and educationalist who wanted to restore the glory of sport and promote Global Peace and understanding through medium of sport. In 1893, he was instrumental in calling an in international conference at Paris in which 13 nations were represented and unanimously adopted the Coubertin’s proposal of holding the Olympic Games every four years. Accordingly, the first modern Olympics were held, quite appropriately, in Athens in 1896. The Baron also introduced the Olympic Flag, with it five colourful interlaced rings, at the Antwerp Olympics in 1920. The five rings represent the five continents and their colours include colours from the flags of all partaking countries, which supports the spirit of international good will.