The Olympic Games Essay Research Paper The

The Olympic Games Essay, Research Paper

The Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are an international athleticss festival that began in

ancient Greece. The original Grecian games were staged every 4th twelvemonth for

several hundred old ages, until they were abolished in the early Christian epoch.

The resurgence of the Olympic Games took topographic point in 1896, and since so they have

been staged every 4th twelvemonth, except during World War I and World War II.

Possibly the basic difference between the antediluvian and modern Olympics is

that the former was the ancient Greeks & # 8217 ; manner of toasting their Gods, whereas the

modern Games are a mode of toasting the athletic endowments of citizens of all

states. The original Olympics featured competition in music, oratory, and

theatre public presentations every bit good. The modern Games have a more expansive athletic

docket, and for two and one-half hebdomads they are supposed to replace the resentment

of international struggle with friendly competition. In recent times, nevertheless,

that exalted ideal has non ever been attained.

The earliest dependable day of the month that recorded history gives for the first

Olympics is 776 BC, although virtually all historiographers presume that the Games

began good earlier so.

It is certain that during the summer solstice of 776 BC a festival was held at

Capital of washington on the extremely civilised eastern seashore of the Peloponnesian peninsula.

That festival remained a on a regular basis scheduled event, taking topographic point during the pre-

Christian aureate age of Greece. As a testimony to the spiritual nature of the

Games, which were held in award of Zeus, the most of import God in the antediluvian

Grecian pantheon, all wars would discontinue during the competitions. Harmonizing to the

earliest records, merely one athletic event was held in the antediluvian Olympics & # 8211 ; a

pes race of about 183 m ( 200 yd ) , or the length of the bowl. A cook,

Coroibus of Elis, was the first recorded victor. The first few Olympic gamess had

merely local entreaty and were limited to one race on one twenty-four hours ; merely work forces were

allowed to vie or go to. A 2nd race & # 8211 ; twice the length of the bowl & # 8211 ;

was added in the 14th Olympics, and a still longer race was added to the following

competition, four old ages subsequently.

When the powerful, militant Spartans began to vie, they influenced the

docket. The 18th Olympics included wrestle and a pentathlon consisting of

running, jumping, spear throwing, discus throwing, and wrestling. Boxing was

added at the 23rd Olympiad, and the games continued to spread out, with the add-on

of chariot racing and other athleticss. In the 37th Olympiad the format was

extended to five yearss of competition.

The growing of the Games fostered & # 8220 ; professionalism & # 8221 ; among the rivals,

and the Olympic ideals waned as royalty began to vie for personal addition,

peculiarly in the chariot events. Human existences were being glorified every bit good as

the Gods ; many victors erected statues to deify themselves. In AD 394 the

games were officially ended by the Roman emperor Theodosius, who felt that they

had heathen intensions.

The resurgence of the Olympic Games in 1896, unlike the original Games, has

a clear, concise history. Pierre de Coubertin, a immature Gallic Lord, felt

that he could establish an educational plan in France that approximated the

ancient Grecian impression of a balanced development of head and organic structure. The Greeks

themselves had tried to resuscitate the Olympics by keeping local athletic games in

Athinais during the 1800s, but without permanent success. It was Baron de

Coubertin & # 8217 ; s finding and organisational mastermind, nevertheless, that gave drift

to the moder

n Olympic motion. In 1892 he addressed a meeting of the Union diethylstilbestrols

Sports Athletiques in Paris. Despite meagre response he persisted, and an

international athleticss Congress finally convened on June 16, 1894. With

delegates from Belgium, Britain, France, Greece, Italy, Russia, Spain, Sweden,

and the United States in attending, he advocated the resurgence of the Olympic

Games. He found ready and consentaneous support from the nine states.

DeCoubertin had ab initio planned to keep the Olympic Games in France, but the

representatives convinced him that Greece was the appropriate state to host

the first modern Olympics. The council did hold that the Olympics would travel

every four old ages to other great metropoliss of the universe.

Thirteen states competed at the Athens Games in 1896. Nine athleticss were

on the docket: cycling, fence, gymnastic exercises, lawn tennis, shot, swimming,

path and field, weight lifting, and wrestle. The 14-man U. S. squad dominated

the path and field events, taking first topographic point in 9 of the 12 events. The Games

were a success, and a 2nd Olympiad, to be held in France, was scheduled.

Olympic Games were held in 1900 and 1904, and by 1908 the figure of rivals

more than quadrupled the figure at Athens & # 8211 ; from 311 to 2,082.

Get downing in 1924 a Winter Olympics was included & # 8211 ; to be held at a separate

cold-weather athleticss site in the same twelvemonth as the Summer Games & # 8211 ; the first held at

Chamonix, France. In 1992 about 2,174 jocks from 63 states competed at

Albertville, France, in a plan that included Alpine and Nordic skiing,

biathlon, ice hockey, figure skating, velocity skating, bobsledding, and luge. But

the Summer Games, with its broad array of events, are still the focal point of

the modern Olympics. The standard events are archery, hoops, pugilism,

canoeing and kayaking, cycling, equestrian humanistic disciplines, fencing, field hockey,

gymnastic exercises, handball, judo, modern pentathlon, rowing, hiting, association football,

swimming and diving and synchronised swimming, path and field, volleyball,

H2O Polo, weight lifting, wrestle, and yachting. The Games are governed by

the International Olympic Committee, whose central office is in Lausanne,

Switzerland.

Although the Olympic Games have been progressively politicized, the ideal of

the universe & # 8217 ; s best jocks viing against each other in the sphere of alleged

pure athletics has been at least partly realized, particularly from the jocks & # 8217 ;

point of position. And even though accomplishment and bravery are manifested by most Olympic

participants, the great gold medallists are the 1s who are most frequently

remembered.

This past summer the World commemorated the 100th Olympiad which was hoped

to be held in Athens in acknowledgment of the original, Ancient Olympics. Alternatively

the 100th was held in Atlanta GA. Because of this fact, at least for us, we as a

state, gave the best we had to offer. This was even more a advantage when the

& # 8220 ; place field advantage & # 8221 ; is accounted for. And like I mentioned before the Gold

medallists are most likely remembered. It will be awhile before people forget

about Michael Johnson & # 8217 ; s 200 and 400 gold and him oppressing the 200 universe record

he himself set at the tests. And who will of all time bury Carl Lewis & # 8217 ; concluding

competition that ended in fitting manner, with the gold draped around his cervix.

This merely goes to demo that the Olympics are non merely for the Athletes who

compete in it, but it is for the whole universe which comes together for this short

clip every 4 ( good, two now ) old ages. That is why I believe that this is a great

gift from Ancient Greece.