How Did The Olympics Start? | COLOSSAL QUESTIONS

Summary

The script delves into the origins of the Olympic Games, tracing back to 776 BCE in ancient Greece. It highlights the evolution from foot races and wrestling to a diverse range of sports, and the eventual decline under the Roman Empire in 393 CE. The revival of the Games in the modern era is credited to Pierre De Coubertin in 1892, leading to the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. The narrative progresses to the 1924 Olympics in Paris, introducing the Winter Olympics and the ever-growing scale of the Games, culminating in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with 339 events and the addition of new sports like surfing and skateboarding.

Takeaways

• 🏛 The first recorded Olympic Games took place in 776 BCE in the Greek city-state of Elis, and it is believed that they were already 500 years old by then.
• 🏃‍♂️ The early Olympic Games consisted mainly of foot races and wrestling, with additional events like boxing, discus, javelin, and chariot racing added over time.
• 🤼‍♂️ The pentathlon was a grueling event that combined a foot race, long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling.
• 🏟️ With the rise of the Roman Empire, the Olympics lost popularity and were eventually abolished by the Roman Emperor in 393 CE.
• 🎭 During the Renaissance, interest in ancient Greek culture, including the Olympics, was revived, influencing art and thought.
• 🇫🇷 In 1892, French historian and teacher Pierre De Coubertin proposed the revival of the Olympic Games as a modern international event.
• 🏅 The International Olympic Committee was formed in 1894, and the first modern Olympic Games were scheduled for 1896 in Athens, Greece.
• 🌍 By the 1924 Olympics in Paris, over 3,000 athletes from 44 countries competed, marking the inclusion of women and the introduction of the Winter Olympics.
• 🏵 The Olympic Games are now the world's premier international sports competition, featuring hundreds of events across various sports.
• 📅 The 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, despite being delayed, showcased 339 events in 33 sports, including the debut of new sports like surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and karate.
• 🆕 Baseball and softball returned to the Olympics in Tokyo for the first time since 2008, and new events such as three-on-three basketball and freestyle BMX were added.

Q & A

When were the first Olympic Games on record held?

The first Olympic Games on record were held in 776 BCE in a Greek city-state named Elis.

What is believed to be the age of the Olympic Games when they were first recorded in 776 BCE?

Most experts believe that the Olympic Games were already 500 years old by 776 BCE.

How frequently were the ancient Olympic Games held?

The ancient Olympic Games were held every four years, just like the modern ones.

What were the main events in the early Olympic Games?

Early Olympic Games mainly consisted of foot races and wrestling.

Which event combined multiple grueling contests into a larger competition?

The pentathlon was the event that bundled together a foot race, the long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling.

What led to the decline and eventual abolition of the ancient Olympic Games?

The rise of the Roman Empire and its preference for gladiatorial tournaments and other Roman competitions led to the decline of the Olympics. They were officially abolished in 393 CE by the Roman Emperor due to their non-religious nature in the Christian empire.

Who is credited with the idea of reviving the Olympic Games as a modern international competition?

Pierre De Coubertin, a French historian and teacher, is credited with proposing the revival of the Olympic Games in 1892.

When and where were the first modern Olympic Games held?

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896.

How many athletes and countries participated in the 1924 Olympics in Paris?

More than 3,000 athletes, including over 100 women, from 44 different countries competed in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

In which year were the Winter Olympic Games first introduced?

The Winter Olympic Games were first introduced in the year 1924.

What new sports and events were added for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo?

For the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, new sports like surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and karate were added. Additionally, baseball and softball returned to the Olympics for the first time since 2008, and new events such as three on three basketball and freestyle BMX were introduced.

Outlines

00:00

🏅 Origins of the Olympic Games

The script begins by setting the stage for the Summer Olympic Games, a global event that captivates the world every four years. It delves into the history of the Olympics, tracing their origins back to 776 BCE in the Greek city-state of Elis. The games were already a well-established tradition, potentially 500 years old at that time, making them one of the oldest athletic competitions known to humanity. The ancient Greeks gathered to compete in various events, initially consisting of foot races and wrestling, but later expanding to include boxing, discus, javelin, chariot racing, and even contests for heralds and trumpeters. The pentathlon, a multi-event competition, was also introduced. However, with the rise of the Roman Empire, the Olympics' significance waned, and in 393 CE, they were officially abolished by the Roman Emperor due to their non-religious nature in the Christian empire.

Keywords

💡Summer Olympic Games

The Summer Olympic Games are an international multi-sport event held every four years, featuring thousands of athletes from around the globe. They are a central theme of the video, illustrating the long-standing tradition and global appeal of the Olympics. The script mentions that the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo were delayed but will include 339 events across 33 sports.

💡Athletes

Athletes are individuals who compete in sports, showcasing their skills and dedication. In the context of the video, athletes are the central figures of the Olympic Games, striving for global glory. The script highlights how athletes from various city-states in ancient Greece participated in the early Olympic Games and how modern athletes train for the event.

💡Craft

In the video script, 'craft' refers to the skill and expertise athletes have developed in their respective sports. It is an essential aspect of the Olympic Games, as it is the mastery of this craft that allows athletes to perform at a high level and compete for honors. The script marvels at the 'dizzying displays by athletes, who've mastered the craft,' emphasizing the importance of skill in the Olympic context.

💡Ancient Olympics

The Ancient Olympics were the precursor to the modern Olympic Games, originating in 776 BCE in Elis, Greece. The video script discusses the history and evolution of these games, which initially included foot races and wrestling and later expanded to other events. The Ancient Olympics were a significant cultural event in ancient Greece and laid the foundation for the modern Games.

💡Pentathlon

The pentathlon is a multi-discipline event that was part of the Ancient Olympics and consists of a foot race, long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling. The script mentions the pentathlon as an example of how the more grueling events were bundled together to create larger contests, showcasing the diverse range of skills required by ancient athletes.

💡Roman Empire

The Roman Empire had a significant impact on the Olympic Games, as its rise led to a decline in the popularity and importance of the Olympics. The script explains that the Romans favored gladiatorial tournaments and other competitions, which contributed to the eventual abolition of the Olympics by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 393 CE.

💡Renaissance

The Renaissance was a period of cultural revival in Europe that sparked renewed interest in ancient Greek culture, including the Olympic Games. The script notes that during the Renaissance, people began to think about reviving the Olympics, which eventually led to the modern Games being proposed by Pierre De Coubertin.

💡Pierre De Coubertin

Pierre De Coubertin was a French historian and teacher who is credited with proposing the revival of the Olympic Games as a modern international competition. The script highlights his role in the establishment of the modern Olympics, with his idea being approved in 1894 and leading to the formation of the International Olympic Committee.

💡International Olympic Committee (IOC)

The International Olympic Committee is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, responsible for organizing the Olympic Games. The script mentions the formation of the IOC following the approval of Pierre De Coubertin's proposal, emphasizing its role in planning and overseeing the modern Olympic Games.

💡Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics are a separate set of Olympic Games held every four years, focusing on winter sports. The script notes that the Winter Olympics were first introduced in 1924, showcasing the expansion of the Olympic Games to include a variety of sports beyond those traditionally associated with the summer Games.

💡New Olympic Sports

The introduction of new sports to the Olympic Games is a way to modernize the event and attract a broader audience. The script mentions that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will debut surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and karate as Olympic sports, reflecting the Games' adaptability and inclusion of contemporary sports.

Highlights

The first Olympic Games on record date back to 776 BCE in a Greek city-state named Elis.

Experts believe the Olympics were already 500 years old by 776 BCE.

The ancient Olympics were held every four years, with athletes coming from across Greece.

Early Olympic games mainly consisted of foot races and wrestling.

Over time, the Greeks added other games like boxing, discus, javelin, and chariot racing.

The pentathlon was created, including a foot race, long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling.

With the rise of the Roman Empire, the Olympics' popularity diminished in favor of gladiatorial tournaments.

The Roman Emperor officially abolished the Olympics in 393 CE, declaring it non-religious for the Christian empire.

Interest in ancient Greek culture during the Renaissance led to a revival of the Olympics.

In 1892, French historian and teacher Pierre De Coubertin proposed reviving the Olympic Games as a modern international competition.

The International Olympic Committee was formed, and the first modern Olympic Games were scheduled for 1896 in Athens.

By the 1924 Olympics in Paris, over 3,000 athletes from 44 countries competed, including over 100 women.

The Winter Olympics were first introduced in 1924.

The Olympic Games are now considered the greatest international sports competition.

The 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo featured 339 events across 33 sports.

Five new Olympic sports debuted at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and karate.

Baseball and softball returned to the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

New events within existing sports were added, such as three on three basketball and freestyle BMX.

Transcripts

[music playing]

Every few years, the whole world sits down

to watch the Summer Olympic Games

and marvel at dizzying displays by athletes

who've mastered the craft competing for global glory.

But have you ever stopped and wondered how the Olympics got

started in the first place?

Let's find out on today's episode of Colossal Questions.

The very first Olympic games on record

date back thousands of years to 776 BCE in a Greek city-state

named Elis.

And that's just the first games we know about.

Most experts believe the Olympics were already

500 years old by then.

So needless to say, it's one of humanity's most ancient

athletic competitions.

Just like today, the ancient Olympics

were held every four years, and athletes came from city-states

across Greece to compete.

Early Olympic games consisted mainly

of foot races and wrestling.

But over the years, the Greeks added other games,

like boxing, discus, javelin, chariot racing,

and even competitions for herolds and trumpeters.

The more grueling events were often bundled together

to create larger contests, like the pentathlon, which

includes a foot race, the long jump, discus, javelin,

and wrestling.

With the rise of the Roman Empire,

the popularity and importance of the Olympics

diminished in favor of gladiatorial tournaments

and other Roman competitions.

Finally, in 393 CE, the Roman emperor

decided to officially abolish the Olympics,

declaring it far too non-religious for the newly

Christian empire.

Just like that, the mighty Olympic games

were gone for good or so it seemed.

Around the time of the Renaissance,

people began to get interested in ancient Greek culture.

It became a major influence in art,

and got people thinking about all their different customs,

including the Olympics.

In 1892, the ball truly got rolling

when a French historian and teacher named

Pierre De Coubertin made a serious proposal to revive

the Olympic Games as a modern international competition

every four years, bringing glory to the winners and their home

countries.

Two years later, Pierre's idea was approved,

and the modern Olympics finally got the go ahead

to start planning.

The International Olympic Committee was formed,

and the first games were scheduled

for 1896 in where else, but Athens, the capital of Greece.

By the 1924 Olympics in Paris, more than 3,000 people

competed, including more than 100 women

from 44 different countries.

That's also the year that the Winter Olympics

were first introduced.

Nowadays, the Olympic Games are considered the greatest

international sports competition.

Many of the world's best athletes

compete in hundreds of events, and spend

endless hours honing their skills in anticipation

of the games every four years.

The 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo may have been delayed,

but once it finally kicks off, there

will be 339 different events across 33 sports.

There will be five new Olympic sports too,

surfing, sport climbing, skateboarding, and karate

will debut.

And both baseball and softball will be back

in the Olympics for the first time since 2008.

They're also adding some new events

within sports that already compete, like three on three

basketball and freestyle BMX.

So get ready because it's going to be an epic show just

like it's always been.