The Olympic Games

1. The first Olympic Games were in 776 B.C.
   1. First Olympic champion
      1. Coroebus, whowon a 192 meter footrace called the stade
2. Heracles and Alcmene founded the Games
   1. It became de most famous of all Greek festivals
3. Every four years between August 6 and September 19
   1. These have its name because it took place in Olympia

1. Olympia is the western part of the Peloponnese, which is the island of “Pelops”
   1. the founder of the Olympic Games
2. Unique place
   1. there was the enormous temple of Zeus parallel to Hera’s temple
3. Natural place
   1. Meeting place for worship and other religious practices
4. Mystical beautiful place
   1. Greeks imposed temples, ritual buildings, shrines and sporting facilities

1. Zeus fought and conquered against Cronus in the struggle for the throne
   1. Herakles did the games at Olympia to honor Zeus
2. Apollo- was the god of moral order and music
   1. Main capacity: protect the art of divination
   2. Pastoral god, protecting his flock from the wolves
3. Athena- Greeks believed that Athena was born of Zeus’s head.
4. Hera- sister and wife of Zeus and was worshipped all over Greece. Zeus- most important of all the
5. Zeus- most important of all the Olympic gods.

Attachments:

• The Olympians

1. First Olympic Games in Athens, Greece in 1896
   1. šIn the opening ceremony, everyone welcomed all the athletes that would compete
   2. More than one century later, Olympics were for the first time held in Athens (2004)
      1. Characterized by ancient and modern traditions
2. Example events: track, field, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, cycling, tennis, weightlifting, shooting and fencing
3. The official symbol: the five interlocking colored rings
   1. Each of them representing one continent.
      1. šThe flag is presenting this symbol on a white background
         1. It flew for the first time in 1920 at the Antwerp Olympic Games.
4. 1924
   1. Turned into an international event
   2. Games in Paris
      1. 3,000 athletes from 44 nations competed and for the first time there was a closing ceremony
   3. Winter Olympic Games were created
      1. figure skating, ice hockey, bobsledding and the biathlon

1. Held every four years
2. This is to respect the ancient origins at Olympia
3. šThe four-year interval of Ancient Olympic Games =“Olympiad”
4. At that time šIn Ancient Greece, time was counted in Olympiads, not years

1. The ancient Greeks believed that fire was given to humankind by Prometheus
   1. Considered it to have sacred qualities
2. Emphasizes the connection between the ancient games and the modern ones
3. The modern use of the Olympic Flame began in 1936 Berlin Games
   1. It consisted of a long relay of runners carrying torches to bring the flame from Olympia to the site of the games
      1. the torch is used to light a cauldron that remains lit until it is extinguished in the Closing Ceremony.

1. The Olympic victor received his first awards immediately after the competition
2. The judge would announce the winner's name
   1. Then, a palm branch would be placed his hands
      1. Red ribbons were tied on his head and hands as a mark of victory
         1. Meanwhile, spectators cheered and threw flowers to him
3. The official award ceremony would beon the last day of the Games
   1. At the elevated vestibule of the temple of Zeus
4. In a loud voice, the judge would announce the name of the Olympic winner, father's name, and homeland
5. Then, the Hellanodikis placed the sacred olive tree wreath, on the winner's head

1. Athletes left their mark on the sacred valley of Olympia
   1. Legends by winning in successive Olympic Games
2. Athletes competed in the stadium and the hippodrome
3. All free male Greek citizens were entitled to participate in the ancient Olympic Games.
   1. Married women were not allowed to participate in, or to watch, the ancient Olympic Games
4. Astylos of Croton- winner of six olive wreaths in three Olympic Games
   1. Milon of Croton- famous athlete in Antiquity; six times Olympic wrestling champion
      1. Leonidas of Rhodes- famous runner in Antiquity
         1. Melankomas of Caria- crowned as the Olympic boxing champion in 49 B.C.
            1. Kyniska of Sparta- first woman to be listed as an Olympic victor in Antiquity.

Attachments:

• OLYMPICS SPORT

1. The ancient Olympic games were a 1 day event, until 684 BC, when they were extended to three days.
   1. In the 5th century B.C., these were extended again to cover five days
2. Equestrian events- horse races and chariot races
3. Pankration- primitive martial art
   1. Boxing- hitting one each other
   2. Wrestling- military exercise without weapons; the athletes admitted defeat
4. Discus Throw- made of stone and iron
5. Jumping- distance of a jump
6. Running- races and test of speed
7. Pentathlon- fencing, freestyle swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting and a cross-country run

1. Now a days, National Olympic Committees represent nation
   1. "an independent State recognized by the international community".
2. The games started with 241 participants representing 14 nations in 1896
   1. These have grown to about 10,500 competitors from 204 nations at the 2012 Summer Olympics
   2. The scope and scale of the Winter Olympics is smaller
      1. In 2010, Vancouver hosted 2,566 athletes from 82 nations competing in 86 events
3. During the Games most athletes and officials are housed in the Olympic Village
   1. It is intended to be a self-contained home for all the Olympic participants
      1. Is furnished with cafeterias, health clinics, and locations for religious expression

1. Greatest sport event in the world
   1. 206 countries
2. Every 4 years
   1. š17 days
3. 42 different sports
   1. 10,500 athletes
4. 306 events
   1. 1,500 medals
5. August, 2020

Attachments:

• juegos olimpicos rio 2016

1. The Olympic Games have revolutionized
   1. First time in history these have been celebrated in South America.š
2. August, 2106
3. Three months past the Olympics and Rio de Janeiro is broke