Olympic GamesOlympic Games

The The Olympic GamesOlympic Games is an is an international international multi-sport eventmulti-sport event

established for both summer and established for both summer and winter games. There have been two winter games. There have been two

generations of the Olympic Games; the generations of the Olympic Games; the first were the first were the Ancient Olympic GamesAncient Olympic Games held at held at OlympiaOlympia, , GreeceGreece. The second, . The second, known as the Modern Olympic Games, known as the Modern Olympic Games,

were first revived by the Greek were first revived by the Greek philanthropist philanthropist Evangelis ZappasEvangelis Zappas in in

1859 in 1859 in AthensAthens, Greece. , Greece.

Olympic Games in the pastOlympic Games in the past The The

International Olympic ComInternational Olympic Committeemittee was founded in 1894 on was founded in 1894 on the initiative of a the initiative of a FrenchFrench nobleman, nobleman, Pierre Frédy, Baron de CouPierre Frédy, Baron de Coubertinbertin. The IOC has become the . The IOC has become the governing body of the governing body of the "Olympic Movement," a "Olympic Movement," a conglomeration of sporting conglomeration of sporting federations that are federations that are responsible for the responsible for the organization of the Gamesorganization of the Games

……Olympic Games in the pastOlympic Games in the past

The evolution of the Olympic The evolution of the Olympic Movement has forced the IOC Movement has forced the IOC to adapt in several ways.. The to adapt in several ways.. The modern Olympics feature the modern Olympics feature the Summer GamesSummer Games and and Winter GamesWinter Games. The . The ParalympicParalympic and and Youth Olympic GamesYouth Olympic Games are are variations on the modern variations on the modern Olympic movement. Olympic movement.

……Olympic Games in the pastOlympic Games in the past .. This growth has created numeros .. This growth has created numeros

challenges; including political challenges; including political boycottsboycotts, the use of , the use of performance enhancing drugsperformance enhancing drugs, , bribery of officialsbribery of officials, and , and terrorismterrorism. . While the Olympic Movement is While the Olympic Movement is forced to address issues never forced to address issues never before conceived by Coubertin, the before conceived by Coubertin, the Olympics continue to grow in the Olympics continue to grow in the face of these challenges.face of these challenges.

The Games encompass many rituals The Games encompass many rituals and symbols that were established and symbols that were established during their infancy in the late 19th during their infancy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. and early 20th centuries.

Olympic Games in the ancient seasonOlympic Games in the ancient season There are many myths surrounding There are many myths surrounding

the origin of the ancient Olympic the origin of the ancient Olympic Games; the most popular of which Games; the most popular of which identifies identifies HeraclesHeracles and his father and his father ZeusZeus as the progenitors of the as the progenitors of the GamesGames According to the legend, According to the legend, Zeus held sporting events in honor Zeus held sporting events in honor of his defeat of of his defeat of CronusCronus, and , and succession to the throne of succession to the throne of heaven. Heracles, being his eldest heaven. Heracles, being his eldest son, defeated his brothers in a son, defeated his brothers in a running race and was crowned running race and was crowned with a wreath of wild olive with a wreath of wild olive branchesbranches It is Heracles who first It is Heracles who first called the games Olympic, and called the games Olympic, and established the custom of holding established the custom of holding them every 4 yearsthem every 4 years

… … Olympic Games in the ancient Olympic Games in the ancient seasonseason

One popular story claims that One popular story claims that after Heracles completed his after Heracles completed his 12 labors12 labors, he went on to build the , he went on to build the Olympic stadium and surrounding Olympic stadium and surrounding buildings as an honor to Zeus. buildings as an honor to Zeus. After the stadium was complete, After the stadium was complete, he walked in a straight line for he walked in a straight line for 200 strides and called this 200 strides and called this distance a "distance a "stadionstadion" which later " which later also became a unit of distance. also became a unit of distance.

Modern Olympic Games…Modern Olympic Games… From the 241 participants From the 241 participants

representing 14 nations in 1896, the representing 14 nations in 1896, the Games have grown to Games have grown to 10,500 competitors from 10,500 competitors from 204 countries at the 2008 Summer 204 countries at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Olympics in BeijingBeijing.. The scope and The scope and scale of the Winter Olympics is much scale of the Winter Olympics is much smaller. For example, smaller. For example, TurinTurin, , ItalyItaly hosted 2,508 athletes from hosted 2,508 athletes from 80 countries competing in 84 events 80 countries competing in 84 events during the 2006 Winter Olympicsduring the 2006 Winter Olympics At At the Sydney Games in 2000, an the Sydney Games in 2000, an estimated 3.7 billion viewers watched estimated 3.7 billion viewers watched the games on television, and the the games on television, and the official website of the Sydney official website of the Sydney Olympics generated over 11.3 billion Olympics generated over 11.3 billion hitshits

……Modern Olympic gamesModern Olympic games The number of participating The number of participating

countries is noticeably countries is noticeably higher than the 193 higher than the 193 countries that currently countries that currently belong to the United belong to the United Nations. The International Nations. The International Olympic Committee allows Olympic Committee allows nations to compete that do nations to compete that do not meet the strict not meet the strict requirements for political requirements for political sovereignty that other sovereignty that other international organizations international organizations demand.. demand..

My opinion…My opinion…

I believe that Olympic Games are I believe that Olympic Games are important because contest the important because contest the athletes, entertain and bring athletes, entertain and bring together people from different together people from different countries.countries.

……My opinionMy opinion Olympic Games in ancient Olympic Games in ancient

years were more pure and years were more pure and honest than today because honest than today because athletes in this years with athletes in this years with wrong acts and taking wrong acts and taking different gists try to win.different gists try to win.

That’s all about Olympic That’s all about Olympic Games….Games….

ByByIoannis Ch.Ioannis Ch.