The ancient origins of the Olympics
Welcome back student, what comes to your mind when you listen the world ‘Olympics’, the five-circled logo, lots of sports, medals…what else? Today Olympics is the biggest international sports event and, in this lesson, we will study about the glorious past of Olympic games.
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When did it all started?
The place which has the credit for the origin of the Olympics is Greece, the Olympics were originated about 3000 years ago. You might now know that Olympics is the largest sports event that takes place internationally but do you know where did they get their name from?
The Olympics were held once in every four years in a place called Olympia, which is located in the western Peloponnese peninsula, in honor of the god Zeus. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in the year 1896, in this event there were 280 participants from 13 nations, competing in 43 events. Since the year 1994, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games are being held separately.
Another amazing fact from the past is that, as we know the Olympics were started from Greece, but then the Roman empire conquered Greece and the fair practices in the Olympics were altered by the emperor. Later, Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France played an important role in the revival of the spirit of Olympics.
What we have now?
You might have seen the Olympics logo with five interlinked rings, those rings represent the continents: North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia. Today Olympics is internationally the biggest athletic event which unites the nations, the players and promotes the sportsmanship globally.
India too participates in the Olympics and proudly brings home the medals which obviously encourages each and every Indian.
Did you know India first participated in Olympics in the year 1990.
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