GRADUATE WORK

HISTORY OF OLYMPIC GAMES
CONTENT.

2. Excavations of Olympia.

3. Revival of the modern Olympic Games.

4. Olympic Charter.

4.1. Olympic symbol.

4.2. Olympic motto.

4.3. Olympic flag.

4.4. Olympic flame.

4.5. Olympic Oath.

4.6. Olympic emblem.

4.7. Olympic awards.

4.8. Olympic anthem.

5. Olympism, Olympic movement, Olympic Games, Olympics.

6.International Olympic Committee (IOC).

6.1. IOC Presidents.

6.2. Representatives of the IOC in our country.

7. Olympic committees in our country.

Olympic Games program.

Winter Olympic Games.

Russia at the origins of the modern Olympic movement.

Games of the first three modern Olympics.

Russia at the Games of the IV and V Olympiads.

Russian Olympics.

Games without us.

Games of the XV Olympiad (Helsinki, 1952).

16. Games of the XXII Olympiad (Moscow, 1980).

17.The Olympic Games are 100 years old.

18.Outstanding achievements of domestic athletes at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games of the 20th century.

19. Stavropol athletes - participants in the Olympic Games.

20. Representatives of the Stavropol region at the Olympics.

21. Ode to sport.

Literature.

1. Ancient Greek Olympic Games.

In Ancient Greece, two methods of using physical exercise were distinguished: gymnastics, or general physical education, and agonistics - special training and participation in competitions. Agonistics broke up into gymnastic games and competitions and music competitions (in the field of music, dance, poetry).

Of the gymnastic agons (agon - competition, tournament, holiday), the Nemean Games (in Argolis), the Isthmian Games (on the Isthmus of Corinth), the Pythian Games (in Delphi), and the Panathenaic Games (in Athens) were very popular. However, of all the games held in Ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were the most important.

The problems of the origin and development of the ancient Greek Olympic Games have long been of interest to scientists from different countries.

The origin and development of the Olympic Games is determined by the economic, political, military and cultural prerequisites that were formed in Ancient Greece, during the period of the collapse of clan relations and the maturation of class slave society.

With the development of slaveholding relations, changes also occurred in the cultural life of Greece. Closer ties were established between tribes and, later, cities. Gradually, myths and legends arose about Zeus, Hercules, Hermes and other deities who, according to legend, lived on the top of Olympus. But public games appeared long before myths and legends about pagan deities began to take shape. For many years, ancient agons were also held in places where competitions later became known as the Olympic ones. There is no exact data available about the first Olympic Games. The first reliable mention of them dates back to 776 BC, when the name of the first Olympic winner, Corebus, a cook from Elis, was engraved on one of the marble columns installed along the banks of the Alpheus River.

Some authors note that in 776 BC. The XXVIII Games have already taken place. The venue for the Games was Olympia, located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, in the valley of the Alpheus River, at the foot of Mount Kronos. In Olympia, in addition to temples, there was a gymnasium, palaestra, stadium and hippodrome. The Olympic holiday, in which at first only the athletes of the two cities of Elis - Pisa and Elis participated, was celebrated in the "sacred month", starting with the first full moon after the summer solstice every 1417 days, i.e. The Olympic Games were held once every four years. The periods between the Games were called Olympiads; The Greeks used them for some time to calculate chronology.

The program of the Olympic Games, at first consisting only of running one stage (192 m 27 cm), subsequently expanded to include competitions in pentathlon, running with weapons (sword and shield), pankration, fist fighting, chariot competitions and horse riding.

In the period from the 7th to the 2nd centuries. BC. Only free-born Greeks could participate in the Olympic Games. Slaves and people of non-Greek origin (“barbarians,” as the Greeks called them), as well as women, were not allowed to participate in the Games. Each participant had to prepare for the Games for 10 months at home, and then for a month in Olympia. Only the wealthiest slave owners who had enough free time could afford this.

The Olympic Games were held extremely solemnly. The Games were supervised by referee-managers (helanodics). In the early period, the Games took place on one day, in their heyday (VI-IV centuries BC) - on five days. Before the start of the Games, all participants swore an oath that they had prepared honestly and would compete with dignity, and also made sacrifices to the gods. The winners of the Games (Olympians) enjoyed great fame, respect, and honor. Odes of praise were composed in their honor, hymns were sung, and monuments were erected. The Olympian's prize was a wreath cut from an olive bush marked by an oracle. This was followed by gifts from those hosting the Olympic Games and from spectators. The Olympian received a substantial monetary reward from his hometown.

But much more important were the honors to the hero. The winner was brought to his hometown on four white horses through a hole made in the fortress wall of the city, exempted from taxes, fed for the rest of his life at the expense of the city, monuments were erected, and coins were minted with his image. And sometimes, after death, some were deified and temples were built for them. The memory of Olympians was surrounded by legends to make the victory more attractive to posterity.

Up to 45 - 50 thousand spectators gathered at the Olympic festivities, among whom were famous philosophers, historians, and poets. History has preserved for us the names of outstanding representatives of the ancient world, who most accurately corresponded to the modern term “harmonious person.” Pythagoras, whose theorem is taught in school to this day, was a powerful fist fighter and became an Olympic champion. The father of medicine, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, achieved significant success in wrestling and chariot racing. Famous philosophers Plato and Socrates, and tragic poets Sophocles and Euripides also received various awards for sporting valor.

The games were repeatedly visited by Aristotle and the historian Herodotus. The poet Lucian, having visited the Games many times, described them in his writings.

During the Games, Olympia turned into the center of economic, political and cultural life in Greece. At this time, there was brisk trade here, trade deals were concluded, guests got acquainted with representatives of other countries, with the development of crafts and agriculture, with various customs and religious rituals, listened to philosophers, historians, poets, musicians and ministers of religious worship. In the socio-political and cultural life of Greece during its heyday, the Olympic holidays played a very important role. They contributed to the unification of the policies (city-states). A month before the Games, a sacred truce (ekehiriya) was declared throughout Greece, all feuds between the policies ceased, and no one had the right to enter the land of Olympia with weapons in their hands. Along with philosophical systems, theater, music, and fine arts, the Olympic Games played an important role in “out-of-school” education and upbringing of the population.

The Olympics were not interrupted even after 146 BC. Greek lands were subjugated to Rome. True, the conquerors destroyed the sacred tradition according to which only residents of Greece could participate in the Olympic Games.

The Romans included circus performances in the Olympic Games - fights of gladiators who fought to the death. Gladiator fights with lions, tigers, and bulls aroused fierce interest among the jaded public. But all this, of course, no longer had anything to do with sports and those Olympic ideals that were affirmed by the Greeks earlier.

Athletic competitions were held regularly at Olympia for 1,168 years. In 394 AD Emperor of the East and West Theodosius I, who forcibly propagated Christianity, considered the Olympic Games a pagan rite, declared them wicked and prohibited their further holding by a special decree.

Subsequently, Olympia was destroyed as a result of river floods after two strong earthquakes and found itself under a layer of sand and mud.

After the cessation of the ancient Olympic Games, the idea of ​​comprehensive human development embedded in them was consigned to oblivion for one and a half millennia. In many countries, sports themselves were banned.

2.Excavations of Olympia.

As for the excavations of Olympia, this dream has been nurtured for centuries. The French paleographer Bernard Montfaucon (1655-1741) wrote in 1723: “Undoubtedly, the Olympic land is saturated with countless monuments. And no one has excavated this area.” The famous German scientist Johann Winckelmann (1717-1768), one of the largest specialists in ancient art in world historiography, dreamed of excavating Olympia. His tragic death is associated with an attempt to get to Olympia and begin its excavations.

In 1766, English archaeologists discovered the ruins of Olympia buildings, and in 1829, French archaeologists. Only the German archaeologist Ernst Curtius (1814-1896) managed to fulfill the dream of more than one generation of scientists about excavations in Olympia. Like his famous compatriot, Heinrich Schliemann, who dreamed of finding and excavating Troy since childhood, Curtius walked towards his goal long and persistently. Having visited Olympia at the age of 23, he began to dream of discovering the secrets of this glorious city. His report “Olympia”, read in 1852. in Berlin, he ended with a call to bring to light the treasures hidden under the silt of Alpheus. However, another 23 years passed before Curtius could begin to realize his dream. In October 1875, the first blows of archaeological hammers were heard on the land of ancient Olympia. The excavations lasted six years and exceeded all expectations. Curtius had by that time become a university teacher. In 1887 E. Curtius and his co-authors published a 3-volume work devoted to the results of the excavations, and the world learned about hitherto unknown details of the Olympics. Undoubtedly, this played a certain role in increasing interest in the ancient Olympic Games and in popularizing the Olympic idea.

If yes, you might be very interested to know impressive details of the origins of the Olympic races. The history of the Olympic Games is fascinating and full of surprises. So, let's dive into the uncharted waters of the world Olympiads?

How it all began

The famous Olympic Games in honor of Olympian Zeus originated in Ancient Greece and were held from 776 BC. e. every 4 years in the city of Olympia. Sports competitions were such a great success and of great importance for society that for a while OlimpiyskOuchthe races stopped the wars and ekehiriya - a sacred truce - was established.

People flocked to Olympia from everywhere to watch the competition: some traveled on foot, some on horseback, and some even sailed by ship to distant lands just to get a glimpse of the majestic Greek athletes. Entire tent settlements grew up around the city. To watch the athletes, spectators completely filled the hillsides around the Alpheus River valley.

After the solemn victory and the award ceremony (presentation of a wreath of sacred olives and a palm branch), the Olympian lived happily ever after. Holidays were held in his honor, hymns were sung, statues were made, and in Athens the winner was exempted from taxes and burdensome public duties. And the winner was always given the best seat in the theater. In some places, even the children of an Olympian enjoyed special privileges.

Interesting, that women were not allowed to participate in Olympic competitions under penalty of death.

The brave Hellenes competed in running, fist fighting (which Pythagoras once won), jumping, javelin throwing, and so on. However, the most dangerous were the chariot races. You won’t believe it, but the winner of equestrian competitions was considered the owner of the horses, and not the poor cab driver who risked his life to win.

There are many legends associated with the Olympic Games. One of them says that the first competitions were allegedly organized by Zeus himself in honor of the victory over his father. Whether this is true or not, it was Homer who first mentioned the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece in literature in the poem “The Iliad.”

Archaeological excavations indicate that in Olympia, 5 rectangular or horseshoe-shaped stadiums with stands for fans were built specifically for the competition.

Unfortunately, nothing is currently known about the time of the champions. It was enough to be the first to reach the finish line to gain the right to light the sacred fire. But legends tell us about Olympians who ran faster than hares, and just look at the talent of the Spartan Ladas, who left no traces on the sand while running.

Modern Olympic Games

Modern international sports competitions, known as the Summer Olympics, have been held every four years since 1896. The initiator was the French baron Pierre de Coubertin. He believed that it was insufficient physical training that prevented French soldiers from winning the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. Young people should measure their strength on sports grounds, not on battlefields, the activist argued.

The first Olympic Games were held in Athens. To organize the competition we created International Olympic Committee, whose first president was Demetrius Vikelas from Greece.

Since then, the holding of the World Olympiad has become a good tradition. With the backdrop of impressive excavations and archaeological finds, the idea of ​​Olympism spread throughout Europe. Increasingly, European states organized their own sports competitions, which were watched by the whole world.

What about winter sports?

To fill the gap in winter sports competitions, which were technically impossible to hold in the summer, The Winter Olympic Games have been held since January 25, 1924. The first were organized in a French city Chamonix. In addition to figure skating and hockey, athletes competed in speed skating, ski jumping, etc.

293 athletes, including 13 women, from 16 countries of the world expressed a desire to compete for championship in the competition. The first Olympic champion of the Winter Games was C. Jutrow from the USA (speed skating), but in the end the leaders of the competition were the teams of Finland and Norway. The race lasted 11 days and ended on February 4.

Attributes of the Olympic Games

Now the symbol and emblem The Olympic Games have five intertwined rings that symbolize the unification of the five continents.

Olympic motto, proposed by the Catholic monk Henri Dido: “Faster, higher, stronger.”

At the opening ceremony of each Olympics they raise flag- white cloth with the emblem (Olympic rings). Lights up throughout the Olympics Olympic fire, which is brought to the venue every time from Olympia.

Since 1968, each Olympiad has its own.

The 2016 Olympic Games are planned to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the Ukrainian team will present their champions to the world. By the way, the first Olympic champion of independent Ukraine was a figure skater Oksana Baiul.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games are always a vibrant spectacle, which once again emphasizes the prestige and planetary importance of these global competitions.

Olympic Games - the most significant in the world sport competitions. They are held every four years. Every athlete dreams of winning these competitions. The origins of the Olympic Games date back to ancient times. They were carried out as early as the seventh century BC. Why were the ancient Olympic Games called holidays of peace? In which country were they held for the first time?

The myth of the birth of the Olympic Games

In ancient times these were the greatest national festivals. Who is the founder of the ancient Olympic Games is unknown. Myths and legends played a significant role in the social and cultural life of the ancient Greeks. The Hellenes believed that the origin of the Olympic Games dates back to the time of Kronos, the son of the first god Uranus. In a competition between mythical heroes, Hercules won the race, for which he was awarded an olive wreath. Subsequently, the winner insisted that sports competitions be held every five years. Such is the legend. There are, of course, other legends about the origins of the Olympic Games.

Historical sources confirming the holding of these festivals in Ancient Greece include Homer's Iliad. This book mentions a chariot race organized by the inhabitants of Elis, the region in the Peloponnese where Olympia was located.

Holy Truce

A mere mortal who played a significant role in the development of the ancient Greek Olympic Games was King Iphitus. During his reign, the interval between competitions was already four years. Having resumed the Olympic Games, Iphit declared a sacred truce. That is, during these celebrations it was impossible to wage war. And not only in Elis, but also in other parts of Hellas.

Elis was considered a sacred place. It was impossible to wage war with her. True, later the Eleans themselves invaded neighboring regions more than once. Why were the ancient Olympic Games called holidays of peace? Firstly, the holding of these competitions was associated with names of the gods who highly revered by the ancient Greeks. Secondly, the aforementioned truce was declared for a month, which had a special name - ἱερομηνία.

Scientists have still not come to a consensus about the types of sports in the Olympic Games held by the Hellenes. There is an opinion that initially athletes competed only in running. Later, wrestling and chariot racing were added to the sports in the Olympic Games.

Participants

Among the citizens in Ancient Greece there were those who were subjected to public dishonor and contempt of others, that is, atymia. They could not become participants in competitions. Only dear Hellenes. Of course, barbarians, who could only be spectators, did not take part in the ancient Olympic Games. An exception was made only in favor of the Romans. At the ancient Greek Olympic Games, a woman did not even have the right to attend unless she was a priestess of the goddess Demeter.

The number of both spectators and participants was huge. If at the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (776 BC) competitions were held only in running, then later other sports appeared. And over time, poets and artists got the opportunity to compete in their skills. During the celebrations, even deputies competed with each other in the abundance of offerings to mythical deities.

From the history of the Olympic Games it is known that these events had quite an important social and cultural significance. Deals were made between merchants, artists and poets introduced the public to their creations.

Competitions were held on the first full moon after the summer solstice. Lasted five days. A certain part of the time was devoted to rituals with sacrifices and a public feast.

Types of competitions

The history of the Olympic Games, as already mentioned, is full of tales and legends. However, there is reliable information regarding the types of competitions. At the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, athletes competed in running. This sport was represented by the following varieties:

• Distance running.
• Double run.
• Long run.
• Running in full armor.

The first fist fight took place at the 23rd Olympics. Later, the ancient Greeks added martial arts such as pankration, wrestling. It was said above that women had no right to take part in competitions. However, in 688 BC, special competitions were created for the most purposeful inhabitants in Ancient Greece. The only one a sport in which they could compete, there were horse races.

In the fourth century BC, a competition between trumpeters and heralds was added to the program of the Olympic Games - the Hellenes believed that aesthetic pleasure and sport had a logical connection. Artists exhibited their works on the market square. Poets and writers, as mentioned above, read their works. Sometimes, after the completion of the Games, sculptors were commissioned to create statues of the winners, and lyricists composed songs of praise in honor of the strongest and most dexterous.

Ellanodon

What were the names of the judges who observed the progress of the competition and awarded awards to the winners? Ellanodons were appointed by lot. The judges not only presented the award, but also managed the organization of the entire event. At the first Olympic Games there were only two of them, then nine, and even later ten. Beginning in 368 BC, there were twelve Hellanodons. However, later the number of judges was reduced. Ellanodons wore special purple clothing.

How did the competition begin? The athletes proved to the spectators and judges that they had devoted the previous months exclusively to preliminary preparation. They took an oath in front of the statue of the main ancient Greek god - Zeus. Relatives of those wishing to compete - fathers and brothers - also took an oath. A month before the competition, the athletes demonstrated their skills in front of judges in the Olympic Gymnasium.

The order of the competition was determined by drawing lots. Then the herald publicly announced the name of the person entering the competition. Where were the Olympic Games held?

Sanctuary of Ancient Greece

Where the Olympic Games took place is clear from the name. Olympia is located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. This was once located here temple-cultural complex and sacred grove of Zeus. On the territory of the ancient Greek sanctuary there were religious buildings, monuments, sports facilities and houses in which participants and guests lived. This place was the center of Greek art until the fourth century BC. Later they were burned by order of Theodosius II.

The Olympic Stadium was built gradually. He became the first in Ancient Greece. In the fifth century BC this stadium hosted about forty thousand spectators. For training, a gymnasium was used - a structure whose running track was equal in length to the one located in the stadium itself. Another platform for preliminary preparation - palaestra. It was a square building with a courtyard. Mostly athletes who competed in wrestling and fist fighting trained here.

Leonidoion, which performed the functions, was built in the fifth century BC according to the design of a famous architect in Ancient Greece. The huge building consisted of a courtyard surrounded by columns and included many rooms. The Olympic Games played an important role in the religious life of the Hellenes. Therefore, local residents erected several temples and sanctuaries here. The structures fell into disrepair after an earthquake that occurred in the sixth century. The racetrack was finally destroyed during a flood.

The last Olympic Games in Ancient Greece took place in 394. Banned by Emperor Theodosius. In the Christian era, these events were regarded as pagan. The revival of the Olympic Games took place two millennia later. Although already in the 17th century, competitions reminiscent of the Olympic ones were held repeatedly in England, France and Greece.

Revival of ancient Greek traditions

The predecessors of the modern Olympic Games were the Olympias, held in the mid-19th century. But they, of course, were not so large-scale and had little in common with the competitions, which in our time are held once every four years. The French Pierre de Coubertin played a significant role in the revival of the Olympic Games. Why did Europeans suddenly remember the traditions of the ancient Greeks?

In the middle of the 17th century, archaeological research was carried out in Olympia, as a result of which scientists discovered the remains of temple buildings. The work continued for more than ten years. At this time, everything related to Antiquity was popular in Europe. Many public and cultural figures became infected with the desire to revive Olympic traditions. At the same time, the French showed the greatest interest in the culture of sports competitions in Ancient Greece, although the archaeological discoveries belonged to the Germans. This can be easily explained.

In 1871, the French army suffered a defeat, which significantly undermined the patriotic spirit in society. Pierre de Coubertin believed that the reason was the poor physical training of the soldiers. He did not try to inspire his countrymen to fight Germany and other European powers. The French public figure spoke a lot about the need to improve physical culture, but also advocated for overcoming national egoism and establishing international understanding.

The first Olympic Games: modern times

In June 1894, a congress was held at the Sorbonne, at which Coubertin presented to the world community his thoughts on the need to revive ancient Greek traditions. His ideas were supported. On the last day of the congress, it was decided to hold the Olympic Games in two years. They were supposed to take place in Athens. The committee for holding international competitions was headed by Demetrius Vikelas. Pierre de Coubertin took over as secretary general.

The 1896 Olympic Games were the largest sporting event. Greek statesmen put forward a proposal to hold the Olympic Games exclusively in their homeland. However, the committee decided otherwise. The location of the Games changes every four years.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the Olympic movement was not widely popular. This is partly due to the fact that at that time the World Exhibition was being held in Paris. Some historians believe that the Olympic ideas were saved thanks to the intermediate games of 1906, held again in Athens.

Differences between modern Games and ancient Greek ones

The competitions were resumed on the model of ancient sports competitions. The modern Olympic Games unite athletes from all countries; discrimination against individuals on religious, racial or political grounds is not allowed. This, perhaps, is the main difference between the modern Games and the ancient Greek ones.

What did the modern Olympic Games borrow from the ancient Greek ones? First of all, the names themselves. The frequency of competitions was also borrowed. One of the purposes of the modern Olympic Games is to serve peace and establish mutual understanding between countries. This is consistent with the ideas of the ancient Greeks about a temporary truce during the days of the competition. The Olympic flame and torch are symbols of the Olympics, which arose, of course, in antiquity. Some terms and rules for conducting competitions were also borrowed from the ancient Greeks.

There are, of course, several significant differences between modern Games and ancient ones. The ancient Greeks held sports competitions exclusively in Olympia. Today the Games are organized each time in a different city. In Ancient Greece there was no such thing as the Winter Olympic Games. And the competitions were different. In antiquity in the Olympic Not only athletes, but also poets participated in the games.

Symbolism

Everyone knows what the symbol of the Olympic Games looks like. Five fastened rings of black, blue, red, yellow and green. However, few people know that these elements do not belong to any specific continent. sounds in Latin, translated into Russian means “faster, higher, stronger.” The flag is a white panel with the image of rings. It has been lifted at every Games since 1920.

Both the opening and closing of the Games are accompanied by a grandiose, colorful ceremony. The best organizers of mass events are involved in developing the scenario. Famous actors and singers strive to take part in this spectacle. The broadcast of this international event attracts tens of millions of viewers around the world to television screens.

If the ancient Greeks believed that in honor of the Olympic Games it was worth suspending any military action, then in the twentieth century the opposite happened. Sports competitions were canceled due to armed conflicts. The games were not held in 1916, 1940, 1944. The Olympics have been held in Russia twice. In 1980 in Moscow and in 2014 in Sochi.

» History of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece

History of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece

The history of the ancient Olympic Games is extremely rich. The Olympic Games appeared in the 9th century. BC e. In those days, the Greek states ruined each other in endless wars. Iphitus, king of Elis, arrived in Delphi to ask the oracle how he, the ruler of a small country, could protect his people from wars and robberies. The Delphic oracle - his predictions and advice were considered absolutely correct - answered Iphit:
- We need you to found Games pleasing to the gods!
Iphit immediately went to meet with the king of neighboring Sparta, the powerful Lycurgus. Obviously, Iphitus was a good diplomat, since Lycurgus decided (and all the other rulers agreed with him) that from now on Elis was a neutral state. Immediately, Iphitus, in order to prove his peace-loving aspirations and thank the gods, established the athletic Games: they were to be held in Olympia every four years. Hence their name - Olympic. It was 884 BC. e.

At first, athletes from two cities of Elis - Elisa and Pisa - took part in the Games. The first year in the chronicle of the Games was 776 BC. e. - the year of the first Pan-Greek Games. Only thanks to the ancient Greek tradition of carving the names of Olympians on marble columns installed along the banks of the Alpheus River, the name of the first winner came to us - Corebus, a cook from Elis.
With the approach of the Olympic Games, messengers (feors) dispersed from Elis in all directions, reporting on the day of festivities and declaring a “sacred truce.” They were greeted with triumph not only in Hellas itself, but also everywhere where the Greeks settled. The warriors put aside their weapons and went to Olympia. When the envoys of all the Greek states gathered together, they certainly felt their national community.
Then a unified calendar of the Olympic Games was established, which were decided to be held regularly every four years “between the harvest and the vintage.” The athletes' festival, which consisted of numerous religious ceremonies and sports competitions, lasted first one day, then five days, and later a whole month. In order to participate in the Games, one had to “be neither a slave nor a barbarian, not commit a crime, nor blasphemy, nor sacrilege.” (Barbarians were those who were not citizens of the Greek states.)

History of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece - the emergence of new spectacular competitions

At the first 13 Games, they competed only in stadodromos - a race over a distance of 1 stage. In 724 BC. e. a double run was added - diaulos (a distance of 384.54 m). Then, in 720 BC. e., at the 15th Olympics, the pentathlon appeared, or, as the Greeks called it, the pentathlon, which consisted of simple running, long jump, discus and javelin throwing, and wrestling. After another seven Olympics, in 688 BC. e., the program was enriched with fist fighting, 12 years later - with a chariot competition and, finally, at the 33rd Olympiad, in 648 BC. e., pankration, the most difficult and cruel type of competition.

When entering a fist fight, participants put a special bronze cap on their heads, and wrapped their fists in leather belts with metal bumps. When preparing to strike, the fighter took precautions: he protected his head with his hand; he tried to stand so that the enemy was blinded by the sun, and then with all his might he hit his ribs, face and torso with his fist, actually clad in iron. The fight continued until one of the two admitted defeat. Typically, athletes left the battlefield disfigured, maimed, and bleeding. They were often carried out of the stadium half-dead.
Pankration combined wrestling and fist fighting. It was forbidden to use teeth and twist or break the enemy’s fingers, and to put metal armlets on the hands. But any blows, grabs, kicks, painful holds were allowed; it was possible to knock the opponent to the ground and squeeze his throat.
Later, armed running was included in the Games program; the flight of trumpeters and heralds; competitions in driving chariots drawn by mules; competitions for children in wrestling, horse racing, pentathlon), and in 200 BC. e., at the 145th Olympics, even children's pankration appeared.
On the eve of the opening of the Olympics, spectators admired the marble statues of the winners of the previous Games, located between the stadium and the Alpheus River. The statues were made and installed at the expense of the cities where the new “demigods” were from: the first Olympian Ko-rab from Elis; “the strongest among the strong” Milo of Croton; Polites from Corina, the fastest athlete at the 212th Olympics; Lasfen from Te-beya, who ran 156 stages, competing with a horse; Nikola from Akria, who won five victories in running at two Olympics, and many other famous athletes.

The young men were also shown the statues of Zeus, towering near the Krona Hill. Each of these statues was commissioned and included with the fines imposed on those participants in the Games who cheated, tried to bribe an opponent, or injured him during the competition.

The Olympic festivities began with the rising of the full moon. The solemn procession headed towards the golden statue of Zeus. The procession was led by Hellanodics in purple vestments, followed by athletes and eminent citizens. Two huge bulls were sacrificed to Zeus, and the judges and participants in the competition took a solemn oath to be worthy of being awarded a laurel wreath and a palm branch. In the evening, after the drawing of lots, an arts festival was held. Long before it ended, the athletes went to bed, half-starved, having eaten a piece of cheese and drunk cold water.

So the great day was coming. From 40 thousand to 60 thousand spectators occupied seats on the embankment around the stadium. Trumpets greeted the approaching Hellanodics and honored guests. The athletes took turns walking into the middle of the arena to introduce themselves to the audience. The herald loudly announced the name and homeland of everyone and asked three times: “Do all of you, happy guests of Olympia, agree that this athlete is a free and worthy citizen?” Then the competition began.
On the first day there were competitions in all types of running, on the second - in pentathlon, and on the third - in wrestling, fist fighting and pankration. The fourth day was completely given over to the children. The running distances for them were two times shorter than for adults. On the fifth day there were chariot races drawn by four horses and horse racing in a circle at stages 8 and 73 (1538 and 14000 m).
The history of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece is very rich in intense and spectacular sports competitions.

A story about the Olympic Games will help you write essays and prepare for class.

History of the Olympic Games for junior schoolchildren

The oldest and most famous of sports competitions are the Olympic Games, which were held in honor of the god Zeus every 4 years in the sacred Greek city of Olympia.

The first games known to us took place in 776 BC. and at the same time the text of the agreement on the rules of the competition was written down on a bronze disk.

Only Greeks could take part in the Games; barbarians could only attend the Games as spectators. Married women, with the exception of priestess goddess Demeter , it was forbidden to appear at the holiday on pain of death.

With the start of the Games, a sacred truce began in all Greek states, lasting 2 months, during which all hostilities ceased; the area of ​​Olympia became a “sacred zone of the world” into which no one had the right to enter with weapons.

Athletes and their mentors came to Olympia a month before the start of the Games. 10 months were allotted for training. The Games themselves lasted 5 days. On the 1st day, they took an oath to comply with all the rules of the competition, and sacrifices were made to the gods. On the 2nd day, competitions were held in a group of boys, on the 3rd day - competitions for men, on the 4th - equestrian competitions, the 5th day ended with sacrifices and was dedicated to the solemn ceremony of presenting awards.

The first winner of the Olympic Games was consideredCoronbos (or Koreb)776 BC), who won the competition in a short race of 1 furlong (192.21 m).

From 720 BC athletes who had previously competed in loincloths competed naked. The Greeks highly valued the winners of the Olympics. The judges awarded the winner a palm branch. The name of the winner, the name of his father and fatherland were announced and carved on marble slabs exhibited in Olympia for public viewing. In addition, the athletes were awarded wreaths made from the branches of an olive tree, according to legend, planted by Hercules himself, and they were allowed to erect their own statue in Olympia.

In the 4th century BC. historian Timaeus proposed to conduct chronology according to the Olympics, from one Olympics to another.

Games were considered sacred and dedicated to pagan gods; therefore, when the Roman Empire, which included Greece, became a Christian country, they were banned. In April 1896, the First Olympics took place in Athens, marking the beginning of the modern Olympic movement. The initiator of the revival of the Olympic Games was Pierre de Coubertin.

Now you know how to tell children about the Olympic Games in order to convey only the main information.