What is olympics? And how did it begin?

The Olympics is a very famous and worldwide game. It is related to Greece where it begins and today we all know what it is and how famous it is!

 

Well most of us just know the basics, many know it completely. So let’s learn about the Olympics!


Olympics is a game which began in Greece in 776 BC. The Olympics is related to Greek gods and from that it is now a worldwide game and sports competition, it has marked some remarkable historical moments too. It has become a great game, creating many world records and became the world’s greatest competition game as well. The history of the Olympics is really fascinating and full of joy so let’s get started with it!

 

How did the Olympics begin?

An image showing physical activities

The word “how” makes us curious if we’re interested in a thing. The Olympics is known to be founded by Heracles son of Zeus, which ultimately became the most famous sporting festival in Ancient Greece. So the games were held every four years originally to honor Greek god Zeus. So ancient olympics were held in Olympia and this is where olympics gets its name. So with this we can surely say that the first Olympics was held in 776 BC.


Another fascinating fact about olympics is that women were not allowed in early olympics games.

But history had a very big turn for olympics!

Why did the ancient Olympics end?

So the decline of olympics was under the roman empire.

When the roman empire conquered Greece, olympics games began to decline. In 393 AD, Emperor Theodosius I ordered a ban on all the pagan festivals, and this was where the Olympics ended.

But it’s history, it took another turn.

The revival of the Olympics.

In the 19th century with the revival of interest of people the ancient games were revived.


Next question: Have you ever wondered who invented the Olympics games?

A person named Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who kind of dedicated himself to physical education. After he visited an olympics site in Greece, he became interested in reviving those games. Not only that time but this interest was stimulated by many in the time of the Greek war of independence 1821.

And with his interest Coubertin proposed his ideas for olympics games and it as an international sporting competition and guess what it was approved and then the International Olympics Committee (IOC) was formed.


Where were the first Modern Olympics games held?

The first modern Olympics games were held in its birthplace Greece in Athens in the year 1896. At that time 14 nations participated in these games and those nations were:

1. Australia

2. Austria

3. Bulgaria

4. Denmark

5. Chile

6. Germany

7. France

8. United States

9. Italy

10. Hungary

11. Greece

12. Great britain and Ireland

13. Sweden

14. Switzerland


The Olympics continue and after every 4 years it is held, and in different cities of different countries.

Well if we’re talking about the Olympics, let’s also learn about its flag, which is its identity for sure!


So who designed the symbol of olympics?

Pierre de Coubertin, in the year 1913 this man designed the symbol of olympics, The Olympic Rings.


And then why those 5 circles? What is the purpose of 5 circles in the symbol?

Those 5 interlocked circles represent the 5 continents, and the five colors in it blue, red, black, green and yellow on a white background, each color represents the colors present in every nation's flags. Which is a very meaningful thing providing recognition to every nation.