Introduction
The Olympic Games occupy a special, nearly sacred position due to the rich history and unparalleled status of the event. The concept of the Olympics originates from Ancient Greece, where it immediately became an occurrence of immense magnitude. From the first appearance in the Ancient Era, the Games signified more than a mere athletic competition.
For Ancient Greeks, the Olympics became a period of long-awaited peace when all disputes were put on pause to please both people and gods in a sacred tournament. This spirit of unity has persisted through centuries and re-emerged in the modernized idea of the Olympic movement as a bridge between people, nations, and continents. While the organizational concept has undergone major transformations across its history, the fundamental purpose of the Games has remained intact.
Olympic Competitions in Ancient Greece
The original incarnation of the Olympics comprised several athletic events. The first written records of the Games mention the Stade or a 192-meter footrace won by a simple cook named Coroebus (The Olympic Games, 2018). The subsequent Olympiads saw an introduction of other race types a 400-meter diaulos and a longer-distance dolichos. Next, one of the main events of the Games consisted of the Pentathlon. This format included five athletic competitions, as contestants wrestled, raced, jumped, and threw discuses and javelins. In the following Olympiads, Greeks added boxing and pankration to the competition mix. Thus, the structure of the ancient Games acquired an athletic diversity that would later become the foundation for the modern format.
Evolution of the Olympic Games
The Games provided regular citizens of Greece with an opportunity to make themselves known across the nation. Many contestants did not represent aristocracy and were judged only by their athletic performance. For example, the cook Coroebus left his name in global history as the first recorded winner of the Olympics. This way, the Games bridged the gaps between people and classes of Ancient Greece. Nevertheless, historical records show that patriarchy dominated this sacred movement, as no women’s competitions were ever held (The Olympic Games, 2018). Moreover, married women were strictly prohibited from attending the games, even as spectators. Ultimately, the general decline of Ancient Greece instigated the withering of its traditions. This tendency included the Olympic Games, which gradually lost their importance upon the conquest of Greece by the Roman Empire in the 2nd century B.C. (Watson, 2020).
Revival of the Olympic games
After 1,500 years of oblivion, the Olympic movement finally stepped on the path to revival in the late 19th century (Watson, 2020). This process is often associated with the French baron Pierre de Coubertin. He actively promoted physical health and well-being, and his education provided sufficient knowledge of the Olympic past. In 1892, de Coubertin proposed the idea of a global athletic competition that would be held every four years and eventually received the required funds to establish the International Olympic Committee (Segrave, 2019). Next, in 1896 the official revival of the Olympic movement took place, as the first modern games were held. The venue for this landmark event was chosen wisely to be Athens, the capital of Greece. By the 1924 Games in Paris the Olympiads acquired an international scale, and the subsequent events saw a stable increase in competition and athlete numbers.
Olympic Flame
The contemporary image of the Olympics possesses several prominent features, but the Olympic Flame is its most important symbol. According to the current traditions, all Games are preceded by the ceremonial lighting of the Flame at the archaeological site of ancient Olympia. This way, a strong link between the past and the present of the Olympic movements is formed (MacAloon, 2013). Next, this powerful symbol of the Games is delivered across the globe to the country that hosts the current Olympiad. As per the tradition, the torch travels across the nation, visiting numerous locations. This delivery ceremony becomes the center of public attention and allows many residents of the host country to feel a connection to an event of paramount importance. Ultimately, the Flame is delivered to the primary venue of the Games for the opening ceremony, marking the beginning of the world’s most venerated athletic event.
Olympic flag
The five interlaced Olympic Rings are a prominent image known to the majority of the global population. Introduced in the 1920s with the Olympic Flag, the Rings reflect the major cross-cultural function of the Games. In total, there are five of them, and each is painted a different color to symbolize the five populated continents: Asia, Africa, America, Europe, and Oceania (Wenn and Barney, 2020). Most importantly, the rings are interlaced with the Olympic Flag to symbolize the unity of the people. In other words, the Games unite the world in one place, promoting peace and healthy competition. The choice of shades is not random, either; the five rings with the white background represent the flag colors of all countries at the time of its introduction.
International Olympic Committee (IOC)
The modern incarnation of the Games is regulated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which remains in charge of all organizational matters and comprises representatives of all member states. The IOC (2021) refers to itself as the guardian of the millennia-old traditions of the Olympic Movement, promoting its values in the global arena and building a better world through athletic events. Today, the Games are divided into two major groups: Summer and Winter Olympics. Each category follows its separate four-year Olympiad schedule, making the gap between the subsequent Summer and Winter Games amount to two years. The organization is responsible for the choice of the venue, as well as the supervision of all preparation procedures.
Olympic values
The Games have become a matter of paramount importance for the whole world. Athletes dream of participating in the Olympics at the culmination of their careers, whereas spectators anticipate each event with immense pleasure. The IOC (2021b) uses this colossal influence to promote positive values within the multimillion audience, hoping to make the world a better place. The primary emphasis is laid on the principles of fair sportsmanship and the encouragement of healthy behavior. However, the Olympics often become the platform for positive political statements. The modern movement promotes equality and inclusiveness on all levels, creating a favorable environment in which people of all genders, nations, and classes can fulfill their talents. These people receive due recognition through the prism of the Olympic movement, becoming acknowledged by the global audience.
Olympic legacy
To accommodate the events, organizers allocate considerable resources to the development of local infrastructure. State-of-the-art athletic facilities and urban spaces are created for the Games, forming their legacy (Scheu et al., 2019). Once the event is over, these objects remain available to local communities, and people can experience the positive impact of the Olympics long after the end of the Games. Nevertheless, it falls upon local authorities to manipulate the colossal legacy of the Games in a correct manner (Reis et al., 2017). Despite its immense potential, the Olympic infrastructure often remains misused, virtually becoming abandoned sites. To avoid such a situation, the organizers are encouraged to have a clear understanding of the post-Olympic phase of development.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the history of the Olympics comprises a millennia-long journey full of the rise, decline, and eventual revival. For Greeks, the Olympiads became the ultimate manifestation of reconciliation and healthy competition between the poleis. Once the Games began, all military disputes were expected to be halted. Simultaneously, the games united various strata of society around one event of paramount importance. Based on the core principles of the Ancient Greek Olympics, the movement was modernized in accordance with the evolving standards and values. As a result, the Olympics were revived and became an integral component of international affairs across the 20th and 21st centuries. The core principles of the movement are embedded in its symbols that are universally known and promote positive values among billions of people living on Earth, making the Olympics a key cross-cultural event.
References
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