Olympic Games

The Saddledome, Stampede Park, Calgary, Alberta, western Canada. The Saddledome, which is equipped for ice hockey and figure-skating, was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Sporting contests originally held in Olympia, ancient Greece, every four years during a sacred truce; records were kept from 776 BC. Women were forbidden to be present, and the male contestants were naked. The ancient Games were abolished in AD 394. The present-day games have been held every four years since 1896. Since 1924 there has been a separate winter Games programme; since 1994 the winter and summer Games have been held two years apart.

The modern Games

At the first revived Games in 1896, 245 competitors represented 14 nations in nine sports; at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, over 11,000 athletes represented 202 nations in 28 sports. Beijing, China, will host the 2008 Games and London, UK will host the 2012 Games.

The ancient Games Of all the many Games held in ancient Greece, the Olympics were the oldest and most famous. Claims that certain mythical or even historical characters ‘founded’ the Olympic Games cannot be taken seriously. The Games were not suddenly established, but evolved from simple religious ceremonies to become the most grandiose sports festival of antiquity. Thus the origin of the Olympic Games is lost in obscurity, though evidence from excavations suggests that the sanctuary at Olympia dates from at least the 13th century BC.

The first historical mention of the Games at Olympia dates from 776 BC, when a cook named Coroebus from Elis won the ‘dromos’, a sprint race one length of the stadium, and from this year also dates the four-year period or Olympiad - the interval at which the Games were held.

Events The Games expanded over the centuries to include more varied events. In 724 BC the ‘diaulos’, 2 stadium lengths, was added; in 720 BC the ‘dolichos’ was added - 24 lengths of the arena (comparable to the modern 5,000-metre race). All of these races on foot were run up and down, not around, the arena.

Boxing, chariot races, and the ‘pank ration’ (a mixture of boxing and wrestling) were added in the 7th century BC, and at various times the following other events were held at Olympia: pentathlon (long jump, discus, javelin, running, and wrestling), boys' events, and events for armed soldiers, heralds, and trumpeters. In addition to these sporting events, artists and sculptors exhibited their works and poets recited their poems. Not every event would be included at each celebration.

Development At first the games occupied one day only, but were later extended over five days, the final day being devoted to the presentation of prizes (originally a garland), a closing ceremony, and a banquet. The games were also restricted to freeborn Greeks - slaves and foreign competitors were barred, as were women. In the beginning what may be termed an ‘amateur’ spirit prevailed, but in time professionalism crept in, as eventually considerable money prizes were provided, and the Olympic champion became a national hero, receiving adulation and large material benefits.