The Olympics have a long history, from their origins in ancient Greece to the modern-day games held in host cities throughout the world. Today's Olympics represent a uniting of and professional competition among countries in a variety of sporting events. Summer and winter games are featured every four years, and each event has its star athletes and national teams.
Origins
The first Olympics were held in 776 B.C. in honor of the Olympian gods, according to Olympic.org, with all events taking place in Olympia, Greece. The first sports played in the ancient Olympics were running events, but the games later included chariot racing, horse riding, boxing and pankration, a form of martial arts. The pentathlon consisted of five sports: wrestling, running, jumping, javelin throwing and discus throwing. The games were judged by a Hellanodikis, or Greek judge, and winners were adorned with a palm branch, red ribbons and an olive tree wreath. In A.D. 393, Greek Emperor Theodosius banned the games along with other "pagan cults."
Development
The Olympics did not take place again until 1896 in Athens, Greece, and marked the beginning of the modern format, in which countries from around the world compete and a different country hosts the games every four years. The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, was founded to establish the rules and regulations of the modern Olympics. The Olympic Anthem was first performed during the 1896 games, but it wasn't officially adopted until 1956. The tradition of competing athletes marching in groups behind the flags of their nation began at the 1908 Olympics in London, England. The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, Holland, was especially significant because women were allowed to compete for the first time and countries from every continent except Antarctica were on the medals list. The creation of an Olympic Village as special housing for athletes was instituted at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, although it didn't house women at first.
Significance
Although the Olympic host site changes, a few cities have hosted the games twice. Paris, France, hosted the games in 1900 and 1924, Athens played host in 1896 and 2004, London held the games in 1908 and 1948, and Los Angeles was host in 1932 and 1984.
War has forced the cancellation of several Olympics: the 1916 games in Berlin, Germany, because of World War I, and the 1940 games in Tokyo, Japan, and 1944 games in London because of World War II. The 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, were overshadowed by the death of 18 people, including Olympic athletes, caused by terrorist actions stemming form the Palestine conflict between Israelis and Arabs . Boycotts of the 1976, 1980 and 1984 games also are notable. African countries boycotted the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, while the United States, Japan, West Germany and other Western countries boycotted the 1980 Games in Moscow after the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. In retaliation, the Soviet Union and 13 other politically allied countries boycotted the 1984 games in Los Angeles.
In 1960, the Paraolympics were first held in Rome, Italy, designed for athletes with a disability to compete in Olympic-style games, Olympic.org says. The first International Special Olympic Summer Games were held in Chicago, Illinois, in 1968, designed for athletes with intellectual and learning disabilities, Special Olympics notes. And the U.S. Olympic Committee gave its official approval of the Special Olympics in 1971.
Modern Day
Today, there are 33 Olympic sports and nearly every country in the world participates in the summer and winter games, according to Olympic.org. Both men and women compete in all events. The modern games are considered economically, socially and culturally significant on an international scale, says the Foundation of the Hellenic World. Despite controversy regarding performance-enhancing drugs among Olympic athletes since the 1990s, the games are televised and ardently followed throughout the world.
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