Every four years, athletes from all around the world gather to compete for one of the highest achievements in any sport: Olympic gold. Although we may remember the Olympics for its most recent or modern events, few realize this tradition has been around for more than 2700 years and began a long time ago in ancient Greece. The Olympics, one of the world’s oldest and biggest sporting traditions, started in ancient Greece to honor their god Zeus and to showcase physical performances.
The first ever recorded Olympic Games took place in 776 BCE in Olympia, Greece. The events were very simple and consisted of running, wrestling, javelin, and a couple more. Victors then earned more than just medals. They were celebrated all across Greece through poems, statues, and more. This was possible back then as the games were more than just a sporting event but a demonstration of honor, strength, and glory. However, despite all the glory, the event declined naturally with the passage of time.
After centuries, the Olympics were revived in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator who founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The games began in Athens as fitting to the Olympic’s Greek origins and it attracted athletes from 14 nations. Since then, the Olympics have expanded, including women athletes, new sports, and new countries.
The modern Olympics, too, was more than just a sporting event. The Olympics were a stage of global tension and political statement at times. For instance, the games were a reflection of Nazi Germany’s rise in 1936, a reflection of Soviet propaganda in the cold war era, and a reflection of technological growth of Japan in 1964.
The Olympics continue to the present day, blending ancient traditions with modern ideals. From sacred competitions in greek stadiums to modern day eventhalls, the spirit of the olympic continues and the event now connects all people together with a shared language of sports.
By: Daniel Song
Works Cited
https://www.olympics.com/ioc/ancient-olympic-games/history
https://www.britannica.com/sports/Olympic-Games
https://www.sportsmed.org/membership/sports-medicine-update/summer-2024/history-of-olympic-sport