From Ancient Greece to Tokyo- The Olympic Games - Georgia Maneta

Nowadays, the biggest athletic event in the world takes place in Tokyo, Japan: The Olympic Games! Over 11.000 athletes from 206 countries will compete in different sports and try to gain the 3 medals: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Isn’t this a huge athletic competition?

Did you know that the Olympic Games started in Ancient Greece? Yes! It was an important athletic event back then, which also took place every 4 years, and athletes (ONLY men) would come from different

cities of Greece to compete. For their safe travel, ALL wars should stop during those days of the Games. The Games were dedicated to Zeus (The Father/ Leader of all Gods) and they were always based in Ancient Olympia, where the Olympic flame comes from even today (Photo 1). The athletic events were not that many. At first there was running, wrestling and then discus, chariot races and so on. The winners got not medals but olive wreaths (photo 2) and they were a great pride for their city. However, because of some historical events, the Olympic Games stopped after some period of time.

It was in 1894 when the French Baron Pierre De Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOL) and the first Modern Olympic Games took

place in Athens, Greece, in 1896 where both men and women took

part! De Coubertin also designed the Olympic Games symbol in 1913. The five rings represent the 5 continents from which the athletes come in this important event. (Photo 3) Every 4 years the modern Olympic Games take place in different countries around the world and the Olympic Flame comes from Ancient Olympia. There are lots of sports, both individual and team ones, where athletes can compete and the medals mean a lot of pride for them and their countries.

Try to enjoy these magic moments of the Olympic Games either on TV or on the Internet and put these athletes in your hearts and minds as they are good examples to follow.