2. OLYMPIC GAMES
The Olympic Games is a major international
event featuring summer and winter sports, in
which thousands of athletes participate in a
variety of competitions. Are considered to be
the world's foremost sports competition and
more than 200 nations participate. The Games
are currently held biennially, with Summer and
Winter Olympic Games alternating, meaning
they each occur every four years.
3. OLYMPIC HISTORY
In 776 B.C. the early Olympic
Games began in ancient
Greece. The prize the winners
received included free food and
lodging for life. Winners were
mentioned in poems, their
figures set in sculpture, and
their achievements known
throughout Greece. To put it
simply, games made you a
hero.
4. Olympia was chosen as
sight of the Games
because it was
recognized as a neutral
area. Another factor was
that it possessed a
beautiful green valley and
was accessed by two
rivers. It was here, in
Olympia, that the wild
olive tree grew, and from
these came the infamous
the Crown, the most
coveted, and only, prize
won at Olympia.
5. Originally there
was only one
race, a sprint, and
the prize for the
winner was an
olive wreath.
Then, other races
and sports were
added, including
boxing and
wrestling.
