Olympic Games history - China 2008

Posted by bumeral

June 21, 2008

The Olympics are multidisciplinary sporting events involving athletes in various parts of the world being the largest and most prestigious competition of the entire planet, which takes place every four years (the period is called the Olympics). There are two kinds of Olympics: Olympic Summer Games and Winter Olympic Games, which take place two years intercalation since 1992. The organization responsible for conducting the Olympic Games is the (IOC). The Olympics were inspired by current events organized by the ancient Greeks in the city of Olympia, between the years 776 a. C. and 339 D. C. In the nineteenth century, the idea of conducting some events similar to those organized in antiquity, which was primarily concreto thanks to the efforts of French nobleman Pierre Frèdy, Baron de Coubertin. The first edition of the so-called Olympics of the modern era was held in Athens, the capital of Greece. Since that time, the Summer Olympic Games have been conducted every four years in various parts of the planet, the only exceptions being the editions of 1916, 1940 and 1944, due to the outbreak of the First and Second World War.

The Winter Olympics begin be contested for the first time in 1924, in the French town of Chamonix. Originally made as part of the summer’s event, the IOC considered as a separate event retroactively, and since then began to take place the same year that the original Games. Subsequently, in order to enhance the development of the winter events, the IOC decided to shift the realization of the Olympic Winter Games from Lillehammer 1994. Since then, the Winter Olympics are held in even-numbered years between two Summer Games. In 2007, the IOC decided to incorporate a new type of event, the Olympic Youth Games, which begin to take place from 2010 and 2012 editions in their summer and winter, respectively.

The ancient Olympic Games (known as a place in the city of Olympia) were religious festivals, cultural and sporting events held in ancient Greece (776 BC - 392 AD) in honor of the gods older. They were participating athletes, to be citizens, only men, who trained for years in gyms.

There are many legends about the origin of the ancient Olympics. One of them associated with the first Games of ancient Greece concept of ????????? (ekecheiria) or Olympic Truce. The date of commencement of the same serves as a reference to Greek calendar and is seen in the year 776 a. C., although the views of scholars put it in an interval between the year 884 a. C. and 704 A. C.

Since then, the Games quickly took greater significance in ancient Greece, reaching its zenith in the sixth and fifth centuries BC. The Olympics were essentially religious significance, with contests alternating with sacrifices and ceremonies in honor of Zeus (whose statue is alzaba majestically in Olympia) and Pelops, divine hero and legendary king of Olympia, famous for its legendary race cars, and whose honor were held. The number of events increased to twenty, and the celebrations lasted several days. The first competitions were based in foot races, and later were entering the fight, the pentathlon, several test events which included launching javelin, discus throw, long jump; pankration; racing cars, as artistic competitions music, poetry and dance.

In Olympia was reached to hold 293 Olympic Games, until the conquest of Greece by the Romans, the Roman Emperor Theodosius I abolished the year 393. As excuse said they were pagans. They were restored in its sports in 1896 by Baron de Coubertin, and until now still practised.

History

In 1829 the French government, and in 1875, the German government, made excavations to unearth Olympia. In 1881 discovered the ruins were completely, and there is no doubt that men of science, to discover, also did resurface in the light, spirit and the glory of the ancient Games, prompting a strong desire to revive.

Although it is always talking about the rebirth of the Olympic Games, the fact is attributed to France, and Baron de Coubertin which is called the father of the Modern Olympic Games, the truth is that the first attempt was done in Greece, thanks to enthusiasm of a Greek named Zappa, long before they think doing so in France. It was so in Greece were the first Modern Olympic Games on November 15, 1859, November 15, 1870, May 18, 1875 and May 18, 1889.

The attempt failed because the world was not yet ready for the return of the Games since Greece was a country not important enough to entusiasmar the rest of the world with the idea. Another important factor was that the sponsor did not have many ideas of organization, unlike the Baron de Coubertin, who sought the leaders of amateur athletics school and university in the world, who earned his help.
Turning the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City 2002
Turning the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City 2002

Excited about the splendor of ancient Greece and the beauty of the Olympic Games, Gospels Zappa, who lived in Romania, first contributed to the project and, after the first failure, to his death bequeathed his entire fortune for the rebirth of the Olympic Games in Greece.

Although the games were part of this first attempt did not succeed - we must remember that the first was done in 1859, thirty-seven years before the first modern Olympic Games officially - formed a link between past and future .

Baron Pierre de Coubertin wrote at the beginning of the twentieth century: “Olympia and the Olympics are symbols of a whole civilization, exceeding countries, cities, military heroes or ancestral religions.” Being a cadet at the Academy of Military St. Cyr, the noble Gallo resigned from her studies in political science and became interested in sociology and education. He traveled around the world and was impressed by the interest of the Anglo-Saxons (British and Americans) in sports. Attracted by the exploration work in Olympia, and the futile efforts to revive the Olympic Games in Greece made by Zappa, and with the belief that sports competition could produce international understanding, was devoted to the task of reviving himself , The Olympic Games, with the participation of all countries of the World.

Coubertin presented his project to the Union Sports and athletics in Paris in late 1892, after a careful public relations work.

Coubertin was a persistent man and soon had the opportunity to seek support from other countries, where the French Sports Union organized an international congress on amateur. The congress took place in 1894 and Coubertin was a surprising and strong backing from men change as prominent as the Duke of Sparta, Prince of Wales, the Crown Prince of Sweden, King of Belgium and the prime minister of Britain. The following were present, in addition, delegates from Greece, Russia, Italy and Spain. Also, there were official statements from Germany and Austria-Hungary, expressing interest in the project.

The enthusiastic delegates decided not to wait until 1900, the year that was deemed appropriate to begin to compute the Olympics, but the event scheduled for the year 1896, in Athens, near the headquarters of the ancient Olympics. It was agreed that the Games are held every four years, graduating headquarters to different major cities in the world and to be elected International Olympic Committee with full authority to govern the Games. The dream of Zappa, and subsequently de Coubertin, had come true. D. Vikela, a Greek who had been on the organization of the first attempts to revive the Olympic Games, was the first president of the International Olympic Committee.

For the subsequent history of the Modern Olympic Games, since the holding of the first Games in Athens until today, see the relevant articles on the Olympics that have been made since 1896 to date.

Comments

Comment by victor Bethapudy on June 21, 2008 @ 11:13 am

as long as the games are conducted to bring international understanding, religious, polictical and cultural differecnes should not be a criteria. and no nation no religion should try to dictate terms. it is to play and play should be the focus