History of the Olympic Games.

The Olympic games begun in Olympia, Greece in 776BC. The Greek calender was based on the Olympiad which is the four year period between games. The games were held in a wooded valley in Olympia. Here Greeks built a statue and temples in a grove dedicated to the god Zeus. It was considered as one of the seven wonders of the world.

All athletes competed naked because they believed that the gods liked to see them this way, and women could not compete or watch any of the games and if they got caught doing any of these they would be sentenced to death. At first the only Olympic event was the 200 metre run called a stade. Then in 724BC the two stade race (400 metres) was added. Four years later the 24 stadia event began and in 708BC Pentathlon which is a five event match which consists of sprinting, wrestling, long jump, javelin throw and discuss throw was introduced and later boxing and chariot races and other events were included.

The winners of the games were crowned with wreaths from the sacred olive tree that grew behind Zeus' temple. Greeks believed that the tree was planted by the founder of the games Hercules. The winners paraded around the grove to the sound of a flute while admirers chanted songs written by a poet.