The History of the Olympics
Dating back to 776 BC, the Olympic Games were originally held in the Valley of Olympia in Greece, famous for its temples of the gods Zeus and Hera, as a religious festival. The Games featured a single event, a foot race held over about 190 metres, held once every 4 years. Competition was considered a noble pursuit that celebrated physical achievement and the unity of body, mind and soul. Athletes were male only and feted as heroes of the day.
By about 650 BC, the Ancient Games had expanded to include running, wrestling, the pentathlon, horse riding and chariot racing. Participants came to compete from all over the Greek world aiming for the ultimate prize - an olive wreath and a ‘heroic’ return to their home towns.
The Games were contested for some 1200 years until, in 393 AD, Roman Emperor Theodosius I decided to ban all pagan festivals (the Olympics celebrated the Greek god Zeus), stating that the Games placed an excessive public focus on athletic and spiritual matters.
The Modern Olympic Games
It was only 1500 years later, in 1894, that French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, initiated the revival of the Ancient Games on an international scale. The first ‘Modern Olympics’ were born, held two years later in Athens, Greece: 245 athletes (still all men) from 14 nations competed in 9 sports in the ancient Panathinaikon Stadium to large, passionate crowds. Winners were awarded a silver medal and an olive branch.
Since then the Olympic Games have continued to grow in terms of both sporting disciplines and public consciousness, presented to a global TV audience of around 4 billion people. Summer and Winter Olympics are held every 4 years in different countries, with the Summer Games typically featuring 10,000 athletes from 200 countries competing in 300 events. The Olympic Movement has survived wars, boycotts and terrorism to become a symbol of the ability of people from all nations to come together in peace and friendship. In 2004, the Games returned to their country of birth and the city of their revival, Athens, for the hosting of the XXVIII Modern Olympics. In 2008, the most dynamic nation in the world, China, will host the greatest show on earth: Beijing 2008 will be a Games without parallel.
Sportsworld and the Olympics
Sportsworld is proud of its respected position within the ‘Olympic Family’, appointed as the Official Ticket and Tour Operator for many National Olympic Committees across the world since the 1980s. Sportsworld provides sports fans access to official tickets and Olympic tour packages and offer cultural, historical and entertainment excursions to enhance the Olympic experience. Having opened offices in China in 2005, in partnership with local specialist operators, Sportsworld is well positioned to deliver memorable experiences for discerning travellers keen to enjoy a festival of sport in the nation of new horizons.