Greetings, my curious readers! You all, of course, know about the Olympic Games, even from time to time, I’m sure, you cheer for our Russian athletes in front of the TV screens. But has anyone ever wondered why these sports competitions are named like that, where they were held for the first time and how old they are?
I think everyone can give a short answer to one or two questions. Well, so that you can freely talk about the history of the Olympics, I suggest you take a closer look at the topic called “The First Olympic Games in History.”
Lesson plan:
How it all began?
Ancient history will always remain a mystery to us, which even historians are not able to fully reveal. So it is in this matter. There is no reliable information about who actually founded the first Olympic Games in human history and when. Everything related to long ago, is always shrouded in myths.
The king of the small country of Elis named Iphit was preoccupied with one question: how to save his people from robbery and war, and came to a fortuneteller for advice. The oracle's answer was a little strange: “We need to establish games that please the gods!” And Iphit went to his neighbor, the ruler of Sparta, voiced the prediction, negotiated peace and, in gratitude, promised to organize athletic competitions.
The ancient Greek rulers established the order of the games and entered into a sacred alliance. The established competitions were to be held once every four years in the ancient Greek town of Olympia. This is how the competition got its name Olympic.
There is another version of the appearance of the Olympic Games, according to which they began to be held thanks to the son of the god Zeus, Hercules, who brought a sacred olive branch to Olympia, marking the victory of his father over his fierce grandfather.
According to other information, the same Hercules, with the help of athletic competitions, immortalized the memory of King Pelops for his victory in chariot races.
Which version is better for you?
Organization of the first games
Whatever myth about the appearance of the first Olympic Games we are more inclined to believe, according to documents, the date when they took place for the first time is attributed to 776 BC. On the bronze disk of King Ifit, the rules of the competition were written down and a clause was introduced on a mandatory military truce for the duration of the competition. The words of the text of reconciliation are inscribed around the disk.
The venue for the competition, Olympia, was declared sacred and could only be entered without weapons. Anyone who encroaches on a shrine while holding a sword in their hands was proposed to be considered a criminal.
It was decided to hold competitions between the harvest and the grape harvest, in the sacred month that began after the summer solstice. The sports festival initially lasted for one day, then the competition was extended for five days, and later they began to compete for a month.
A specially created commission set the day for the start of the Olympic Games, and messengers traveled from Elis in different directions to report the beginning of the truce and the date of the holiday. A month before the start of the competition, athletes from different ancient Greek states came to Olympia to train. Envoys from the warring states of Ancient Greece gathered together to conduct peace negotiations and resolve conflicts.
Who could participate in ancient Greek competitions?
In order to apply for participation in the Olympic Games, one could not be a slave, a barbarian, or a criminal. The ancient Greeks considered everyone who was not a citizen of their state to be barbarians. There was no age limit for participants in the competition - they could be either an adult man or a young man under the age of 20.
At first, only athletes from Elis took part in the competition. After a dozen games were held, residents of other policies of Ancient Greece began to be admitted to the number of participants, and then athletes from the ancient Greek colonies joined them.
Olympic sports
In the programs of the Olympics of Ancient Greece different kinds sports were included gradually.
At first, the athletes' competitions included only running.
These were short distance competitions where athletes ran from one end of the stadium to the other. Subsequently, a double run was added when the distance included a round trip. The fifteenth Olympic Games already included long-distance running in their program. The sixty-fifth competition was distinguished by a weighted running competition - the athletes were equipped with shields, helmets, and leggings.
In the second decade of the Olympic years, the competition program included chariot riding, as well as the pentathlon, which included wrestling, running, long jump, javelin and discus throwing.
During the thirty-third Olympiad in Ancient Greece, such a sport as pankration appeared - martial arts with kicks, punches, and choking techniques. By this time, the athletes were already skillfully competing in fist fights, in which they protected their heads with a bronze cap and their hands with leather belts with metal tips. Around the same time, horse racing was added to the Olympic program.
Ancient Greek Olympic winners
Why did athletes try so hard, enduring physical stress and training every year? Of course, for the sake of glory, to glorify both themselves and the city they came from!
The tradition that existed in Ancient Greece of carving the names of the winners of the Olympics on marble columns that were installed along the banks of the Alpheus River played an invaluable role - the name of the first winner has reached the present day. He became a cook from Elis named Coreba.
All winners of the competition were called Olympians. For their victory, the athletes received a wreath of olive leaves and money as a reward.
But the most important reward awaited them at home, in their city, when the heroes received various privileges. They gained fame throughout Ancient Greece and were respected at the level of great warriors. If an athlete won Olympic competitions three times, then a bust was erected in his city of residence and entered into the book of outstanding citizens.
If you already know such philosophers as Pythagoras and Plato, then you will be interested to know that at one time the former was a champion in fist fighting, and the latter in pankration.
Why did it end?
The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece began to lose their significance in the 2nd century BC. They began to turn into ordinary local competitions.
The reason for this is the conquest of the country by the Romans, who did not care about the spirit of sports, they saw only a spectacle in the games. The change of religion to Christianity put an end to the Olympics. Many scholars say that the competition was officially banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in 393 AD with his code of laws against paganism.
Only after centuries, in 1896, the Olympics were revived again thanks to the initiative of the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin.
5 Interesting Facts About the Ancient Olympic Games
- Women were not allowed to participate in the Olympic Games, not only as participants, but also as spectators. An exception was made only for the priestess and chariot drivers.
- All athletes taking part in the first Olympic Games competed completely without clothes. Yes, yes, they ran around naked!
- An athlete who violated the rules in a pankration competition was hit with a stick by the judge.
- The Olympic Games were to be repeated every 1417 days. This period of time was called the “Olympic year.”
- It is noteworthy that the athletes used dumbbells to achieve a standing jump. Apparently, with them I jumped into the distance more confidently.
And in 1978, an animated film was made about how the Cossacks became Olympians. Want to watch it? Then run and turn on the video)
This is such an interesting sports story. Now you can easily show off your knowledge in class. I look forward to seeing you again on the ShkolaLa blog, come back for new ones interesting stories.
Good luck in your studies!
Evgenia Klimkovich.
The first Olympic Games were a set of sports competitions in which men from different parts of Greece took part.
The first Olympic Games took place in Ancient Greece in the famous city of Olympia, from where they got their name.
There are legends about the appearance of games that say that they were founded by God Zeus in honor of the victory over his father Kronos.
Some argue that the first Olympic Games were started by Hercules, the son of Zeus. It was believed that Herkal dedicated them to his friend who died in battle.
Where were the first Olympic Games held?
The first games took place in Olympia and gained popularity during the reign of King Iphitus in 776 BC.
In those distant times, the people of Greece suffered and were constant warriors. Ifitus did not like this very much and, in order to prevent all troubles, he went to Delphi to ask for help from the ancient Oracle.
The priestess-soothsayer Pythia retold Iphit the will of the Gods, which said that in order to save the people and end all wars, the king needed to revive the existence of the Olympic Games.
Ifit did as the Gods wanted. During the Olympic Games, the countries made peace and minted it on a bronze disc.
So Ifitus managed to make Olympia the sacred city of the first Olympic Games.
How were the first Olympic Games held?
Unique sports competitions were at that time a symbol of the truce between.
The first Olympic Games took place in June in the valley of the Alpheus River, near Mount Kronos.
The duration of the first games was only one day, but later extended to 5 days.
On the first day, participants in the first Olympic Games took an oath in front of the statue of Zeus. They swore a fair fight and adherence to the rules of the Olympics.
From the second to the fourth days the competition itself took place. Already on the 5th last day, the winners of the first Olympic Games were awarded with olive wreaths, oil and branches.
In addition to wreaths and other awards, the winners became privileged and received leadership positions, some even.
A four-year period in the Greek calendar was named after the winner before the start of the next games.
Not everyone could become spectators, but only:
- men;
- unmarried women.
Married women were prohibited from entering the games, except for the goddess Demeter.
The first winner of the first Olympic Games was the baker Koreb in 776 BC. He was born in the city of Elis and won the 190-meter race.
In 394 AD, the emperor of the Roman Empire, Theodosius, was the first to introduce a ban on holding them, because he considered them paganism. Only 15 centuries later, sporting events resumed and are still held today.
Modern society is spoiled by the huge variety of available entertainment and is therefore demanding. It easily gets carried away by new amusements and just as quickly loses interest in them in pursuit of new, still unusual toys. Therefore, those pleasures that managed to hold the attention of the windy public for a long time can be considered truly strong attractions. A striking example is sports competitions of various types, from team games to paired martial arts. And the title of chief “guard” is rightfully borne by the Olympic Games. For several millennia, these multi-type competitions have attracted the attention of not only professional athletes, but also fans of various sports disciplines, as well as simply lovers of a colorful, memorable show.
Of course, the Olympic Games weren't always as expensive and high-tech as they are today. But they have always been spectacular and fascinating, starting from their very appearance during Antiquity. Since then, the Olympic Games have been suspended several times, they have changed their format and set of competitions, and have been adapted for athletes with disabilities. And to date, a regular two-year organizational system has been established. How long? History will show this. But now the whole world looks forward to each new Olympic Games. Although few spectators, watching the intense rivalry of their sports idols, guess how and why the Olympic Games appeared.
The Birth of the Olympic Games
The cult of the body inherent in the ancient Greeks became the reason for the appearance of the first sports games on the territory of ancient city-states. But it was Olympia that gave the holiday its name, which has stuck for centuries. Beautiful and strong bodies were glorified from theater stages, immortalized in marble and displayed in sports arenas. The most ancient legend says that the Games were first mentioned by the Delphic Oracle around the 9th century. BC e., which saved Elis and Sparta from civil strife. And already in 776 BC. The first pan-Greek Olympic Games were held, founded by the godlike hero Hercules himself. It was a truly large-scale event: a celebration of physical culture, religious worship and simply affirmation of life.
Even the wars sacred to the Hellenes were suspended during the Olympic competitions. The seriousness of the event was arranged accordingly: the date of its holding was set by a special commission, which, through ambassadors-spondophoros, notified the inhabitants of all Greek city-states about its decision. After this, their best athletes went to Olympia to train and polish their skills for a month under the guidance of experienced mentors. Then, for five days in a row, the athletes competed in the following types of physical exercise: 
This set can be considered the first composition of Olympic sports from Antiquity. Their champions, winners of the competition, received truly divine honors and, until the next Games, enjoyed special respect from their compatriots and, according to rumors, from Zeus the Thunderer himself. At home, they were greeted with songs, sung in hymns and honored at banquets, making obligatory sacrifices on their behalf to the supreme gods. Their names became known to every Greek. But the competition was tough, the competition was serious, and the level of physical fitness of the competitors was very high, so few managed to retain the laurels of the winner the following year. Those same unique heroes, who three times turned out to be the best of the best, had a monument erected in Olympia and equated to demigods.
A distinctive feature of the ancient Olympic Games was the participation in them not only of athletes, but also of artists. The ancient Greeks did not categorize human achievements at all and enjoyed life in all its manifestations. Therefore, the Olympic Games were accompanied by performances by poets, actors and musicians. Moreover, some of them did not refuse to show themselves in sports - for example, Pythagoras was a champion in fist fighting. Artists sketched key events and images of athletes, spectators admired the combination of physical and spiritual beauty, and enjoyed an abundance of delicious food and drinks. Sounds like a modern day workout, doesn't it? But the original Olympic Games were still far from the modern level of organization. This is confirmed by the unfortunate cessation of their history, albeit temporary.
Banning the Olympic Games
So, cheerfully and amicably, exactly 293 ancient Olympics were held over 1168 years. Until in 394 AD. The Roman Emperor Theodosius the First “Great” did not ban the Olympic Games by decree. According to the Romans, who brought and imposed Christianity on the Greek lands, shameless and noisy sports competitions were the embodiment of a pagan, and therefore unacceptable, way of life. You could even say that they were right in their own way. After all, religious ceremonies in honor of the gods of Olympus were an integral part of the Games. Each athlete considered it his duty to spend several hours at the sacrificial altar, offering prayers and making sacrifices to the divine patrons. Mass ceremonies accompanied the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games, as well as the awarding of the winners and their triumphant return home.
The Greeks even adjusted the calendar to accommodate their favorite sports, cultural and entertainment event, creating the so-called “Olympic calendar.” According to it, the holiday was to be held in the “holy month”, beginning on the first full moon after the summer solstice. The cycle was 1417 days, or Olympiad - that is, the ancient Greek “Olympic year”. Of course, the warlike Romans were not going to put up with this state of affairs and free-thinking in society. And although the Olympic Games still continued after Rome conquered the lands of Hellas, the pressure and oppression of Greek culture inevitably affected them, gradually leading to complete decline.
A similar fate befell other, less significant, but similar in principle, sporting events. They start from about the 6th century. BC. were regularly held in honor of various gods and were named after the place where they were held: Pythian Games, Isthmian Games, Nemean Games, etc. Mention of them, along with the Olympic Games, can be found in Herodotus, Plutarch, Lucian and some other ancient authors. But none of these competitions went down in history so firmly, did not influence the development of European culture so much, and were not subsequently restored to their rights as the Olympic Games.
Revival of the Olympic Games
Christian dogmas ruled over the European continent for more than one and a half thousand years, during which there was no question of holding the Olympic Games in their classical format. Even the Renaissance, which revived ancient values and cultural achievements, turned out to be powerless in this matter. And only at the end of the 19th century, that is, relatively recently, the restoration of the ancient Greek traditions of physical culture became possible. This event is associated with the name of Pierre de Coubertin. This 33-year-old French baron, who had succeeded in his teaching and literary career and social activities, considered regular sports competitions an excellent opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding throughout the world in general and raise the national consciousness of his compatriots in particular.
In June 1894, de Coubertin spoke at the international congress at the Sorbonne with a proposal to revive the Olympic Games. The proposal was received with enthusiasm, and at the same time the International Olympic Committee was created, with de Coubertin himself appointed secretary general. And after two years of preparation, in 1896, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, the capital of the cradle of the Olympic Games. And with great success: 241 athletes from 14 countries, the leaders of these countries, and the flattered Greek government were very pleased with the sporting event. The IOC immediately established a rotation of Olympic venues and a 4-year interval between the Games.
Therefore, the second and third Olympic Games were held already in the twentieth century, in 1900 and 1904, in Paris (France) and St. Louis (USA), respectively. Even then, their organization adhered to the Charter of the Olympic Games, approved by the International Sports Congress. Its main provisions remain unchanged today. In particular, those related to the serial numbering of the Games, their symbols, venues and some other technical and organizational issues. As for Olympic sports, their list is not constant and changes from time to time, sometimes including or excluding some individual items. But basically today there are 28 (41 disciplines) sports:
- Rowing
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Struggle
- Freestyle wrestling
- Greco-Roman wrestling
- Cycling
- Cycling track racing
- Mountain bike (Mountain bike)
- Road cycling
- Swimming
- Water polo
- Diving
- Synchronized swimming
- Volleyball
- Beach volleyball
- Handball
- Gymnastics
- Gymnastics
- Jumping on a trampoline
- Golf
- Kayaking and canoeing
- Rowing slalom
- Judo
- Dressage
- Show jumping
- Triathlon
- Athletics
- Table tennis
- Sailing
- Rugby
- Modern pentathlon
- Archery
- Tennis
- Triathlon
- Taekwondo
- Weightlifting
- Fencing
- Football
- Field hockey
By the way, modern pentathlon was also created on the initiative of de Coubertin. He also founded the tradition, later enshrined in the Olympic Charter, of holding demonstration competitions in 1-2 sports not recognized by the IOC. But the baron’s idea to hold art competitions at the Olympic Games did not catch on. But the personal Pierre de Coubertin Medal is still awarded by the International Olympic Committee for “outstanding manifestations of the Olympic sports spirit.” This award is a special honor for an athlete, and many value it much higher than an Olympic gold medal.
By the way, the Olympic medal was also born along with the modern Olympic Games and can be considered the brainchild of de Coubertin’s inexhaustible enthusiasm and ingenuity. After all, the ancient Greeks awarded their athletes not with medals at all, but with any other prizes: olive wreaths, gold coins and other jewelry. One of the kings even granted the winning athlete his state. IN modern world such waste is unthinkable, because all the principles of awarding and the award system of the Olympic Games since 1984 are clearly stated in the Olympic Charter.
Development of the Olympic Games. Paralympic and Winter Olympic Games.
The Olympic Charter is a kind of charter containing the rules of the Olympic Games and the activities of the IOC, as well as reflecting the very concept and philosophy of the Olympics. At the beginning of its existence, it still allowed adjustments and amendments. In particular, since 1924 it has also regulated the holding of the Winter Olympic Games, or “White Olympics,” conceived as a supplement to the main summer games. The first Winter Olympics were held in Sweden, and then for almost a century they were regularly held in the same years as the Summer Olympics. It was only in 1994 that the tradition began of separating the summer and winter Olympics from each other by a two-year interval. Today, the Olympic Winter Games include the following 7 winter (15 disciplines) sports:
- Biathlon
- Curling
- Skating
- Figure skating
- Short track
- Skiing
- Nordic combined
- Ski race
- Ski jumping
- Snowboard
- Freestyle
- Bobsled
- Luge
- Skeleton
- Hockey
A little earlier, in 1960, the IOC decided to hold competitions among athletes with disabilities. They were called the Paralympic Games due to the general term for spinal diseases. But later it was reformulated into the Paralympic Games and explained by “parallelism”, equality with the Olympic Games, since athletes with other diseases began to compete. By their example, they demonstrate the moral and physical strength necessary for a full life and sports victories.
Rules and traditions of the Olympic Games
The scale and significance of the Olympic Games has surrounded them with many traditions, nuances and social myths. Each successive competition is accompanied by close attention from the world community, the media and private fans. Over the years, the Games have indeed acquired many rituals, most of which are enshrined in the Charter and strictly observed by the IOC. Here are the most significant of them:
- Symbol of the Olympic Games– 5 multi-colored rings fastened together, placed in two rows, implies the union of the five parts of the world. In addition to it, there is the Olympic motto “Faster, higher, stronger!”, the Olympic oath and additional symbols that accompany the Games when they are held in each individual country.
- Opening and closing of the Olympic Games- this is a grandiose performance that has become a kind of unspoken competition between the organizers in the scope and high cost of this action. No expense is spared in staging these ceremonies, using expensive special effects, inviting the best scriptwriters, artists and world celebrities. The inviting party makes great efforts to ensure spectator interest.
- Financing of the Olympic Games– the responsibility of the organizing committee of the inviting country. Moreover, income from the broadcast of the Games and other marketing events within their framework are transferred to the IOC.
- A country, or rather the city where the next Olympic Games will be held is determined 7 years before their date. But 10 years before the event, candidate cities provide the IOC with applications and presentations with evidence of their advantages. The acceptance of applications lasts for a year, then, 8 years before the event, the finalists are named, and only then the IOC members, by secret ballot, appoint a new host of the Olympics. All this time, the world has been tensely awaiting a decision.
- Most The Olympic Games were held in the USA - 8 Olympics. France hosted the Olympics 5 times, and Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada 3 times each.
- Olympic champion title– the most honorable thing in the career of any athlete. Moreover, it is given forever; there are no “former Olympic champions”.
- Olimpic village- This is the traditional habitat of delegations from each country participating in the Olympics. It is being built by the organizing committee according to the requirements of the IOC and accommodates only athletes, coaches and support staff. Thus, you get a whole town, with its own infrastructure, training grounds, post offices and even beauty salons.
In Ancient Greece, and throughout the ancient world, the Olympic Games were one of the most revered holidays. The founder of the Games, according to myths, was the half-god, half-man Hercules. But this is just a beautiful fiction, but oh real person, who was the first to invent and organize the Games, there is no reliable information, there are only different versions about who it could be. But it is absolutely clear that the Games got their name due to the fact that they were held in the Olympia region on the Peloponnese peninsula, in one of the largest sanctuaries of the ancient Greeks.
Olympic Games in Ancient Greece
The first Games, according to historical sources that have reached us, took place in 776 BC. It is also known that the winner of the 192-meter race here was a certain cook named Koroibos.
The ancient Greeks held their Games every four years and they lasted for five days. According to tradition, before the start of the Games, a solemn procession was held, as well as honors were paid to the god Zeus and the god Apollo. In addition, the participants had to take an oath that they would compete fairly, and the judges had to take an oath that they would judge fairly. Then a special person blew a silver trumpet several times, which was a kind of invitation to the stadium for the start of the competition. By the way, the ancient stadium accommodated quite a lot of spectators - about 40,000!
The standard program of the ancient Olympic Games included such disciplines as fist fighting, wrestling, running, running with weapons, javelin and discus throwing. There was another extremely spectacular discipline - chariot racing drawn by four horses. Ancient Greek athletes prepared very seriously for the Games - ten months a year they did it at home, and another month in Olympia, under the guidance of their coaches.
From the 4th century BC, not only athletes began to participate in the games, but also speakers, playwrights, poets, historians, musicians and actors, they also competed with each other for the amusement of the public - it was a grandiose performance for its time.
Not everyone could attend the Games as spectators. Women, slaves, and citizens convicted of certain crimes were deprived of this right. Ancient chroniclers described the following case: a popular fist fighter in Olympia, as it turned out, was trained by his mother, wearing men's clothing. Since then, athletes and coaches were required to appear completely naked at competitions - this eliminated the possibility of cheating.
Those who won the Olympic Games received universal honor in Ancient Greece - sculptors made their monuments, poets composed laudatory odes in their honor. The winners were solemnly welcomed in their small homeland and awarded wreaths made from wild olive branches.
In addition to this, athletes who were able to become the best at the ancient Olympic Games were provided with food for life at public expense, sponsored with large sums of money and exempt from taxes.
During the Games, any hostilities between the warring Greek territories were required to cease. The ancient Greeks considered their Games a celebration of peace. And the presence of this holiday certainly contributed to the strengthening of cultural ties between the Greek states.
The last time the ancient Olympics (293 in a row!) was held in 394 AD, that is, already at a time when Greece was part of the Roman Empire. After this, they were banned as a pagan event by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I (he was strongly influenced by the Christian clergy in this matter).
Revival 1500 years later!
In 1894, the rebirth of the Summer Olympic Games took place (and the ancient Greeks, obviously, simply did not have the Winter Olympics - the climate in the Peloponnese is too warm and mild). This year, the first International Sports Congress took place in Paris, in which delegations from 34 countries (in particular, from Russia) participated. At the congress it was decided to hold the Summer Olympic Games.
But only two years later it became a reality - the opening ceremony of the first resumed Games took place on April 5, 1896 in Athens. Representatives from 13 countries took part in them. Unfortunately, the Russian Empire did not send its athletes.
Competitions in 1896 were held only among men and in only nine disciplines: gymnastics, track and field and weightlifting, shooting, fencing, wrestling, bicycle racing, tennis and swimming.
Public interest in the Games was enormous, a clear confirmation of which is the presence of more than 90,000 spectators.
Since then and to this day, the Summer Games have been held once every four years in different cities around the world. However, three times in the turbulent 20th century, the Summer Olympic Games were canceled due to world wars (they were not held in 1916, 1940 and 1944).
Pierre de Coubertin - first Chairman of the IOC
A key role in the revival of the Olympic Games was played by the French baron, a representative of an old aristocratic family, Pierre de Coubertin. (year of birth - 1863). He really wanted to revive Olympic thinking and Olympic culture, and quite quickly found like-minded people on this issue throughout Europe. One of these like-minded people was the archaeologist Ernst Curtius - it was he who, after conducting his research, essentially wrote the new rules for holding such competitions.
Coubertin believed that the French lost the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) due to the fact that the soldiers had poor physical training. And he believed that by reviving the Olympic Games, he could change this situation. In addition, the baron, of course, wanted to overcome the selfishness of nation states with the help of the Games and contribute to the fight for peace. The youth of the planet should fight not in real wars, but in sports competitions - this was also one of the ideas of the revived Olympics.
It was Coubertin who became the first president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and remained in this post for quite a long time - from 1896 to 1916 and from 1919 to 1925. The three-year break is connected, as many might guess, with the First World War. During these years, de Coubertin served in the French troops. The symbol of the Olympic Games is five intersecting rings, which represent the unification of the five inhabited parts of the world. The colors of the upper rings are black, blue and red, the colors of the lower ones are yellow and green. This symbol, as well as the flag (the same rings on a white background), was approved by the IOC at the suggestion of Coubertin himself in 1914.
It is difficult to overestimate the legacy of de Coubertin, and, for example, today there is a special IOC award - the Pierre de Coubertin Medal. It is awarded for acts of generosity and adherence to the spirit of Fair Play during the Olympics. Some fans and athletes consider this award even more important than a gold medal.
The de Coubertin Medal and one of its winners is the Brazilian marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima
Interesting champions and participants of the past Olympics
Women began to compete at the games only in 1900. And the first champion was Countess Hélène de Pourtale - in sailing. Her yacht “Lerina” came to the finish line first. And then many more women surprised the world with their sporting successes and more. For example, in the eighties, runner Florence Griffith-Joyner caused great excitement. At the 1988 Seoul Olympics, she managed to break three records and win three gold medals. But she was remembered primarily for the fact that she appeared on the track at those Games wearing makeup, false nails, and very bold and unusual outfits.
And most oldest medalist and oldest Olympic champion in history is the Swede Oscar Swan. In 1912 at the age of 64 he showed best result in shooting at a conventional “running deer”(there was such discipline then). And in 1920, at the age of 72, he again took part in the Olympics and took silver as part of the Swedish shooting team - this age record has not yet been broken.
A youngest Olympic medalist- ten-year-old boy Dimitros Loundras, who represented Greece at the first revived Olympics in 1896. He only competed in the team event on bars, and his team ultimately finished in third place.
The 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, America was also quite interesting. In particular, the Cuban poor man Felix Carvajal took part in it. For him, even getting to the Olympics was not an easy task - he collected money for a ticket by begging. Once in St. Louis, he became one of the marathon participants. And he ran first almost the entire distance, but shortly before the finish he stopped to pick and eat an apple - the fact is that Felix had not eaten for about 40 hours. As a result, Carvajal was overtaken, he came in fourth, but became a real celebrity.
And at one of the Olympics at the beginning of the 20th century there was a marathon runner who tried to deceive everyone. A few kilometers after the start, he got into the car and got out of it only shortly before the finish line. Of course, this deception was exposed and the fraudster did not receive any medals.
By the way, there was no marathon distance in the ancient Greek Olympics. It was introduced by Pierre de Coubertin, based on a beautiful ancient Greek legend. In 490 BC. e. The Battle of Marathon took place. The Persians were defeated by the troops of Athens, and to notify the citizens of the city about this, a messenger named Pheidippides was sent there. He allegedly ran the entire route (about 42 kilometers long) without stopping. Once within the boundaries of Athens, he shouted: “Rejoice, we won!” Immediately after this, Pheidippides fell dead - he could not withstand the stress. This legend is not confirmed by historical sources, but this did not prevent marathon running from being made a compulsory discipline in the modern Summer Olympic Games.
A few more interesting facts about the Olympics
Baron de Coubertin himself believed that the Olympic Games should be a strictly amateur competition, in which professionals who received money for playing sports had no place. He believed that professionals had an unfair advantage over those for whom sports were just a hobby. And, for example, in 1913, the medals were taken away from Gene Thorpe - after the newspapers found out that Gene played semi-professional American baseball. After World War II, many countries (for example, the USSR) sent athletes to the Olympics who were only formally amateurs. And this problem was especially acute in hockey. Canada even boycotted the 1972 and 1976 Olympic tournaments due to the fact that the USSR national team was actually composed of professionals, while the Canadians could not send, for example, NHL players.
Over time, due to the objective professionalization of sports, the requirement of amateurism in most disciplines became irrelevant. But, for example, the Olympic boxing tournament still has amateur status and is held according to the appropriate rules.
To this day, Olympic boxing tournaments are held according to amateur rules (which is why, for example, boxers wear helmets)
If we talk about the Winter Olympics, it was first organized only in 1924 in the French city of Chamonix. The Winter Games today also take place every four years. However, their timing does not coincide with the summer ones (for example, the last summer Olympic games were held in 2016, and the last winter ones took place in 2018). Over time, the number of participants and the number of disciplines in both the summer and winter Games is only growing. And, for example, in Sochi in 2014 the number of medal sets being played was 98, and in Pyeongchang. Although, let’s say, at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010 there were only 86 sets of medals. And at the recently completed Winter Games in Pyeongchang, a new record was set - 102 sets of medals in 15 disciplines.
Lighting and relay of the Olympic torch
We should also talk about the procedure for lighting the Olympic flame. This fire is lit several months before the opening of the Games on the site of that very ancient Olympia, on the territory of Greece. 11 girls (actresses playing priestesses) perform a ceremony during which one of them, after saying a special prayer, lights a fire through a convex mirror that receives and focuses the sun's rays. Approximately the same thing was done before the opening of the Games in ancient times, even before our era - this is truly amazing.
After lighting, the Olympic torch relay begins - it is delivered from torch to torch to the country and city that has the honor of hosting the Olympic Games. Until 2007, the Olympic torch relay touched all five inhabited continents of the planet. Now (for security reasons), the torch travels its land path only through the territory of the country where the Games are directly being held. A famous athlete or other significant figure of this country runs his part of the relay and passes the torch on. Carrying a torch with fire at least 100 meters is considered a great honor. All this action, of course, arouses enormous interest on the part of ordinary viewers.
The Olympic flame is delivered to the host city, to the main stadium, at the end of the opening ceremony. Here it is carried a number of times around the running circle and is finally given to the athlete who has been entrusted with lighting the Olympic flame - this is a very honorable right. And after lighting, the fire in a large beautiful bowl (all the organizers try to make its design unusual and unique) will burn all the time the Olympics are going on.
Documentary "The Origins of the Olympic Games"
The history of the Olympic Games is quite mysterious. No wonder. After all, the very first events took place in the 8th century BC. Much information has been lost irretrievably over the years. And myths are woven into the origin story.
But it is not all that bad. Some buildings of that time, statues, sculptures, and household items have been preserved. Scientists have been slowly and confidently excavating them for almost two centuries. There is also documentary evidence. With their help, historians managed to recreate a completely objective picture.
It should also be understood that the period of the ancient Olympic movement covers more than one thousand one hundred years. This is a huge number of generations of the best of the best athletes. These are almost 300 Olympiads, which were held constantly, continuously, every four years, for twelve centuries in a row.
How it all began
If we go back to the thousandth year of the ancient era, we will find ourselves in an era when Olympia became a real temple of the god Zeus - the lord of the sky, thunder and lightning. This supreme god had a long mythical history before his localization on Mount Olympus and gained great love and worship ordinary people.
And this is the goddess Nike, the goddess of victory. She symbolized a winged spirit thirsting for primacy.
Thus, observing numerous religious rituals, competitions began to emerge. The first is running. The men made a ritual race to the altar of Zeus, giving away their energy. This happened in 776 BC. e. Athletes consider this year to be the birthday of athletics.
You need to understand that religious rituals were carried out before, just from 776 BC. e. began to keep documentary records. There are references to the Olympics in fiction. For example, the poet Homer, in his work “The Iliad”, celebrates the Olympic competitions.
Many scientists believe that records began to be kept because writing appeared. In the non-literate era, this was simply impossible.
Nudity
Nudity is perhaps the most surprising and entertaining aspect of ancient games. After all, the athletes were without clothes during all the competitions.
It is believed that this tradition was picked up by athletes after 720 BC. e. An interesting incident happened. It happened that during the competition, one athlete named Arsip, who came to the finish line first, turned out to be completely naked. He lost the bandage due to running fast. All athletes decided to continue competing naked from now on. This custom spread very quickly and was picked up by athletes in all sports.
This transition was natural. In Ancient Greece, the cult of the perfect body was very great. The Greeks admired ideal forms and the strength that constant training gave.
In addition, many scientists believe that nudity is the result of behavior that was common in a society where homosexuality was not something shameful.
Not everyone knows that the very word gymnasium “gymnasion” - where the Greeks studied, means a place for exercise, and the word “gymnos” - naked, naked.
Gymnasiums appeared during the development of the Olympic movement, in the 600s BC. e. Gymnasiums were originally used as places for training.
While there is no direct link between competitive nudity and homosexuality, both phenomena have influenced each other.
Who could participate and who couldn't
In the very first games only local residents Olympia. This continued for more than a hundred years, until all Greek citizens were allowed to participate in the competition. Even later, residents of the Greek colonies were allowed to participate in the competition.
There were other restrictions. The athlete had to have an impeccable reputation. Offenders, slaves, and foreigners were not allowed to participate in the games.
There were no age restrictions. If a young man felt strong, desired fame and met the above requirements, he could compete on an equal basis with adult men. True, gradually, various distinctions were introduced.
Although the primary goal was the Olympics, people gathered in pursuit of secondary goals. It was a meeting place for prominent figures of that time.
Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Herodotus - they had the opportunity to announce their works to a large number of people gathered. 
Since the position of women in Ancient Greek society was much lower in status than that of men, they had no right to either take part in competitions or be present as a spectator. A woman was strictly forbidden to even approach the sacred place or cross the Altis River. The violator was punishable by death - she was thrown into the abyss.
True, there were still exceptions.
➤ There is information that priestesses could attend the festival. This is a separate part of the female population that worships the goddess Aphrodite. In essence, priestesses are prostitutes hiding behind religious canons.
➤ Oddly enough, a high-class woman could exhibit her quadriga, and was allowed to enter the hippodrome.
➤ Scientists have information that virgins of rich and noble parents could watch the brutal games of naked men. This introductory foreplay prepared them for the idea of marriage and allowed them to look at the best of the best representatives of the opposite sex.
Organization of games
The month of August, during the full moon, was chosen as the time for the games. The athletes arrived thirty days before the opening and began training under the supervision of judges (helanodics). These members of the Ancient Greek Committee could remove an athlete from competition if he violated generally accepted rules.
Here is a tunnel that heard the footsteps of brave athletes and the numerous screams of the crowd that greeted them.
Long before the opening, a large audience gathered. A huge tent city was formed around the stadium in fields and olive groves - the ancestor of our Olympic villages.
The games were of such great importance and such respect among many neighboring countries that representatives of states that were currently at war came here. That is why the truce was signed. A sacred disk was used for this. All arriving guests were protected by the truce.
The wars in which this region has always been rich stopped. True, there is information that these truces have been violated several times.
After the first Olympiads, the Greeks decided to divide sports in such a way that there would be some kind of competition for each year. If an athlete won all four games in a row, he received the title - periodonics. Over the entire centuries-long period of periodonists, forty-six people are listed.
First day
There were no competitions on this day. This day was dedicated to religious purification. Athletes visited the sanctuary where they made sacrifices. The most common information is that the victim was supposed to be the genitals of a bull.
After the sacrifice, the athletes swore to compete fairly. The oath was very serious, and the violator was severely punished.
It was not easy for him to be removed from the competition, but he was subject to a huge fine. And lack of money could lead to slavery.
Types of Olympic Games
Every type of sports game has a story to tell. All these types of competitions are the ancestors of today's sports.
Run
The very first species, from which it all began, had a special meaning. After all, each subsequent Olympics was named after the Olympian who won the race.Athletes ran along paths that differed little from modern ones. There were even recesses at the start for resting your toes.
The sprinters ran a distance of approximately 180 meters. 20 runners could run at the same time. For complete fairness, starting positions were drawn by lot.
False starts were strictly prohibited. Those who missed the start before the allotted time were beaten with sticks. In the 4th century BC. e. This problem was solved - they invented an honest start mechanism.
It is not known what results the Greeks showed in the races. No one recorded the results or compared them with the previous ones. Nevertheless, there are various data that there were athletes who overtook hares, did not leave marks on the sand, and came to the finish line far ahead of their opponents.
There were other types of races: a double distance race, competitions in dolichos (long run), in combat uniform, which was about 20 kilograms.
Of the most famous runners of that time, Leonidas of Rhodes is considered the most famous. He won four Olympics in 164-152 BC. e. In races over various distances, including with equipment. He received 12 Olympic wreaths. In his homeland, the island of Rhodes, a monument was erected to Leonid of Rhodes with the inscription: “He ran like a god.”
Struggle
Although the fighters fought according to certain rules, it was a desperate and tough competition. Cases when athletes gave their lives in the ring were not uncommon. For the sake of glory, athletes were ready to do a lot. They were extolled for their bravery, heroism, courage and will to win.
From 688 BC. e. The Hellanodics decided to include fist fights in the program. A little later they added wrestling, and in 648 the most brutal form, pankration, was included in the Olympic program.
Paekration is a fight without restrictions and rules. Everything is allowed. Unless there is a ban on biting and eye gouging. In such competitions, the risk of injury and even being killed was very high, which was especially popular with the bloodthirsty public.
Archaeologists have found information about the magnificent hero Milo of Croton, who lived around 520 BC. e., who became the winner of six Olympics in a row. He possessed superhuman strength.
From 146 BC. e., the Olympics had new owners - the Romans. Apparently, they thought there was not enough blood. And the rivals began to insert spikes into their leather belts to wrap their hands. The fist fight began to resemble a knife fight. Many dropped out of the competition after the first blow.
No one was recognized. If the opponents showed equal preparation, the judges announced a climax. The fighters began exchanging open blows.
The battle could last for several hours. The athletes fought to the death, as in war, on the battlefield and were ready to die, trying to snatch victory at any cost.
Chariots
This is real recklessness and risk. Here, too, not everyone reached the finish line. Nobility was not thought of in these competitions. Everyone fought desperately and toughly.
It was a test of skill. After all, the charioteer was not cleaned up in any way. 44 chariots could participate in the race at the same time. Each quadriga was harnessed by four of the best horses.
Women could also display their quadrigas. And the winner was considered not the desperate charioteer, but the owner of the quadriga. In the entire centuries-old history of the Olympic Games, only one woman received the winner's wreath. This was the daughter of the then reigning emperor.
The largest number of accidents occurred at U-turns. This is a place where athletes were simply thrown out of their chariots. Collisions of several quadrigas led to overturning of the “vehicles”, knocking down horses, and causing jams for other racing crews who were unable to slow down. The degree of danger was absurd. There is a well-known case where 43 out of 44 chariots crashed in a race.
After the chariot races there were horse races. These were no less difficult competitions, where jockeys on bareback horses controlled them only with their own knees and a whip.
Pentathlon
The pentathlon valued a variety of qualities, but emphasized balance and grace. Here one could see the proportions of the human body. These athletes served as models. Sculptors depicted gods from their ideal bodies.The winner of the pentathlon was recognized as the main athlete of the games!
It was necessary to participate in the race, then jump, throw the discus and javelin perfectly, and also prove oneself in the fight. Ancient competitions were very different from modern ones. The mines had a special loop that increased the flight range. The throwing disc weighed 6 kilograms 800 grams - this is three times heavier than what is thrown now.
An intriguing difference was observed in long jumps, which were performed with weights in the hands to increase momentum and length of the jump. The weight of the cargo ranged from 2 to 7 kilograms. Indeed, if you skillfully use inertial force during a jump, the load will literally drag the jumper forward.
It is not known how true the information that has survived to this day is that the jumper Fail, who participated in the 110th Olympics, jumped over the jumping pit. It was a standard hole for those times - 15 meters.
Awards
The official winner was announced by the judges. It could be a participant who died during the competition. Then the joy was darkened.
The alive and healthy winner received an olive wreath, ascended a bronze tripod and greeted numerous admirers from the pedestal. The most capable athletes who were able to win competitions three or more times were awarded a Bust.
The athlete was immediately included in the circle of the chosen ones!
Returning home, the Olympian was considered a hero and received numerous gifts. The heroes of the games were worshiped as gods, believing that since the gods were merciful to the champion and allowed him to surpass his rivals, he was endowed with some kind of higher power.
The sweat of such an athlete became an expensive commodity. It was collected from the athlete’s body along with dust, placed in small containers and sold. Sweat was used as a magical potion.
Only the winner was honored. There were no silver or bronze winners.
Interruption of the Olympic Games
The ancient games disappeared when Olympia itself disappeared.
Historians have established that the last Olympics of antiquity took place in 394 AD. Emperor Theodosius I banned it by decree. He was a deeply religious peasant and viewed the games as a manifestation of paganism.
The son of Theodosius I, Theodosius II completed the work begun by his father. Using fire, he dealt with the sanctuary and temple of Zeus.
The end of the Olympic Games was a consequence of a change in religion!
But more recently, archaeologists have found marble tablets with inscriptions left by fourteen different athletes who were winners of the Olympics after 394. The inscriptions were made one after another in different handwritings, the last one at the end of the 4th century AD. It turns out that history did not take into account 120 years.
True, such evidence scientific world it turned out to be not enough. In addition, they do not fit well into the reality of historical events of that time. Supporters of this version will have to work hard looking for additional information.
The final correction of the place, so glorified by the ancient Greeks, was made by nature itself. At the beginning of the fifth century, two earthquakes occurred here, thoroughly destroying the remaining buildings. Closer to the sixth century, these places suffered from extensive floods that destroyed the remains of ancient Olympia. For thirteen long centuries the ruins of ancient civilization were hidden under an eight-meter layer of dirt and earth.
Excavations began in 1829 and have not stopped to this day, allowing us to form an objective picture of the past.
But that is another story...
