The Greeks were especially fond of strenuous physical athletic competition according to History for Kids. It states that the Ancient Greeks believed that their gods loved seeing strong, fit, and graceful bodies-of men and boys, and that the competitions, or agons, were done naked. It states that to be fit and win competitions was one way to win favor from the gods.The Greeks started the Olympics, which featured games such as throwing a discus and javelin, jumping, and running.
Boxing
Unlike its contemporary, ancient boxing had no rules about hitting your opponent when you felled him, according to The Perseus Project at Tufts University. The boxing was done, without stop, until you knocked your opponent down or until he admitted that he was beaten. Leather thongs, or himantes, were wrapped around the hands and wrists, leaving the fingers free, and opponents were chosen randomly; there were no classes or weight restrictions.
Chariot Racing
Due to the expense of feeding the horses and jockey as well as costs of training and equipment, Chariot Racing, another favorite Ancient Greek sport, was reserved for the wealthy. For this reason the owner of the winning chariot received the wreath. The race was 4.5 miles or six laps, and there were separate races for foals and full-grown horses. In these races, the jockeys did not wear stirrups.
Sprinting
A classic ancient Olympian game, sprinting, is a sport that you still see today. The stadion, the oldest event of the Games, according to Ancient Greece, demanded that the athletes run the length of the stadium or 1 stade, or 192 meters. It states that there was a long-distance 7-24 stade run and a 2-4 stade run in which the athletes wore full armor in preparation for building stamina and speed while serving in the military.
Less Active Games
The Greeks also played more physically passive games such as knucklebones, checkers, dice, and marbles. Though not every game was an Olympian feat, competition in every game was vitally important as losing signified that you had lost favor with or displeased the gods.
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