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.