Games of the 1st Olympiad. The history of the Olympic Games from ancient Greece to modern times

First Games

It is a little secret that the first Olympic Games were held in Greece back in 776 BC. The small village of Olympia was chosen as the location for the competition. At that time, competitions were held in only one discipline, which was running over a distance of 189 meters. Interesting feature, which distinguished the first Olympic Games in Greece, was that only men could take part in them. At the same time, they competed without shoes or any clothing on themselves. Among other things, only one woman, whose name was Demeter, received the right to observe the competition.

History of the Olympics

The first Olympic Games were a great success, so the tradition of holding them continued for another 1168 years. Already at that time it was decided to hold such competitions every four years. Confirmation of their great authority is the fact that during the competition between states that were at war, a temporary peace treaty was always concluded. Each new Olympics has received many changes compared to what the first Olympic Games were. First of all, we are talking about adding disciplines. At first it was running over other distances, and then long jumping, fist running, pentathlon, discus throwing, javelin throwing, dart throwing and many others were added to it. The winners were so highly respected that monuments were even erected to them in Greece. There were also difficulties. The most serious of them was the ban on the Games by Emperor Theodosius the First in 394 AD. The fact is that he considered this kind of competition to be pagan entertainment. And 128 years later, a very strong earthquake occurred in Greece, due to which the Games were for a long time forgot.

Renaissance

In the mid-eighteenth century, the first attempts to revive the Olympics began. They began to become a reality about a hundred years later thanks to the French scientist Pierre de Coubertin. With the help of his compatriot, archaeologist Ernst Curtius, he, in fact, wrote new rules for conducting such competitions. The first Olympic Games of modern times began on April 6, 1896 in the Greek capital. Representatives of 13 countries from all over the planet took part in them. Russia, in connection with financial problems, did not direct its athletes. The competitions took place in nine disciplines, including the following: gymnastics, shooting, track and field and weightlifting, wrestling, fencing, tennis, swimming and bicycle racing. Public interest in the Games was colossal, a clear confirmation of which is the presence at them, according to official data, of more than 90 thousand spectators. In 1924, it was decided to divide the Olympics into winter and summer.

Failed competitions

It happened that competitions were not held, despite the fact that they were planned. We are talking about the Berlin Games of 1916, the Helsinki Olympics of 1940, as well as the London competitions of 1944. The reason for this is one and the same - world wars. Now all Russians are looking forward to the first Olympic Games, which will be held on Russian territory. This will happen in Sochi in 2014.

IN ancient Greece A moratorium on combat operations was declared during the Olympic Games. Thus, from the very beginning of its existence, the Olympic Games were conceived for the peaceful unification of peoples. Energy and ambitions should have been directed towards achievements in the field of sports. Now we can only dream of such a moratorium. And yet, the enormous importance of the Olympics in preserving peace on Earth is beyond doubt.

IN late XIX V. The first modern sports associations were created, competitions began to be held with the participation of athletes from various countries. The idea arose of creating a center for the international sports movement. The initiator of the revival of the ancient Olympic Games was the French public figure Baron Pierre de Coubertin.

While studying at the Faculty of Philosophy at the Sorbonne, Coubertin became interested in studying history and pedagogy. A man of varied hobbies, the baron was involved in boxing, fencing, rowing, and horse riding. Studying the life and culture of Ancient Greece, he came to the conclusion that sport must be returned to the educational system. Coubertin traveled a lot, visiting a college in the city of Rugby, famous for its sports traditions, and in Greece, the Alfea Valley, where the ancient Olympics were held. In 1887, he initiated the creation of the Union of French Running Societies.

Thanks to his organizational talent and ability to prove that he was right, Coubertin managed to inspire many politicians and public figures with the idea of ​​reviving the Olympic Games, and gained supporters and followers in various countries peace.

On June 16–23, 1894, the International Athletic Congress was held at the Sorbonne, at which it was decided to revive the Olympic Games and hold the 1st Olympics in 1896 in Athens. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was elected, and Coubertin became its secretary general. Congress approved the Olympic Charter it developed. Subsequently, the baron became the author of the Olympic emblem, a number of rituals, the text of the Olympic Oath, and in 1896 he replaced the Greek Vikelas as president of the IOC.

The All-Athens Organizing Committee was formed to host the Games. At some point, the Greek Prime Minister officially notified the IOC that it was refusing to host the Games due to lack of funds. But Coubertin, having achieved a reception from the king, convinced him of the prestige of the Olympics for the authority of the country. A fundraiser was announced among the residents of Athens and other cities, as well as among the Greek diaspora abroad. Greek millionaire Averoff took on the costs of reconstructing the stadium in Athens.

April 6, 1896, at National holiday– The day of the liberation of Greece from the Turkish yoke – after a solemn service, King George I declared the first Olympic Games of our time open. Doves of peace flew into the sky. The Olympic anthem, written by order of Coubertin by the Greek composer Zamara, was played. Athletes dressed in white tunics entered the stadium field, symbolizing the acceptance of the relay from the ancient Hellenes. The grand opening was attended by 80 thousand spectators.

245 athletes from 14 countries took part in the competition: Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Italy, USA, France, Chile, Switzerland, Sweden. The largest team was the host team of the Olympics, numbering 200 people. The program of the 1st Olympics included competitions in 42 disciplines in 9 sports. Naturally, the classic sports that were invariably present in ancient Greek competitions were included: running, jumping, gymnastics, wrestling. At the same time, the program was expanded to include tennis, cycling, fencing, and shooting.

According to ancient tradition, the Games were started by track and field athletes. The first champion of the modern Olympic Games was Harvard University student D. Connolly, who won the triple jump competition. At home, the champion was awarded an honorary doctorate from Harvard, and later became famous journalist and a writer.

The French cyclist Massoy had the most victories, winning three races on the track. Athletes from Germany and Switzerland dominated in gymnastics. The Americans led in athletics. Marathon running, a discipline with legendary origins, aroused great interest among spectators. The winner, postman Spyridon Louis, became the national hero of Greece. The distance was very difficult, it must be said that two runners ahead of Louis lost consciousness.

The winners were awarded on the closing day of the Games - April 15. The awards were an olive branch from Olympia, a diploma and a silver medal. “I am deeply convinced that there was no better reward for the victors than to see the flag of their country raised,” wrote Coubertin. His brainchild was destined for a brilliant future; the Olympics continue to be held every 4 years and attract the attention of most of humanity.

When and where did the Olympic Games appear? And who is the founder of the Olympic Games, you will learn from this article.

Brief history of the Olympic Games

The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece, because the inherent athleticism of the Greeks became the reason for the emergence of sports games. The founder of the Olympic Games is King Oenomaus, who organized sport games for those who wanted to take his daughter Hippodamia as a wife. According to legend, he was predicted that the cause of death would be his son-in-law. Therefore, young people who won certain competitions died. Only the cunning Pelops overtook Oenomaus in chariots. So much so that the king broke his neck and died. The prediction came true, and Pelops, having become king, established the organization of the Olympic Games in Olympia every 4 years.

At Olympia, the site of the first Olympic Games, it is believed that the first competition took place in 776 BC. The name of the one who was the first winner of the games in Ancient Greece – Koreb from Elis, who won the race.

Olympic Games in ancient Greece sports

For the first 13 games, the only sport in which the participants competed was running. Afterwards there was the pentathlon. It included running, javelin throwing, long jump, discus throwing, and wrestling. A little later they added a chariot race and a fist fight.

The modern program of the Olympic Games includes 7 winter and 28 summer species sports, that is, 15 and 41 disciplines, respectively. It all depends on the season.

Once the Romans annexed Greece to Rome, the number of nationalities that could take part in the games increased. Gladiator fights were added to the competition program. But in 394 AD, Emperor Theodosius I, a fan of Christianity, canceled the Olympic Games, considering them entertainment for pagans.

The Olympic Games have sunk into oblivion for 15 centuries. The first to take a step towards revival forgotten competitions, was a Benedictine monk Bernard de Montfaucon. He was interested in the history and culture of Ancient Greece and insisted that excavations should be carried out in the place where the famous Olympia had once been.

In 1766, Richard Chandler found the ruins of unknown ancient structures near Mount Kronos. It was part of the temple wall. In 1824, Lord Stanhof, an archaeologist, began excavations on the banks of the Alpheus. In 1828, the baton of excavations at Olympia was picked up by the French, and in 1875 by the Germans.

Pierre de Coubertin, statesman France insisted that the Olympic Games must be resumed. And in 1896, the first revived Olympic Games were held in Athens, which are still popular today.

We hope that from this article you learned where and when the Olympic Games originated.

The first Olympic Games took place in Olympia in 776 BC. This date has survived to this day thanks to the custom of the ancient Greeks to engrave the names of Olympic champions (they were then called Olympians) on marble columns that were installed on the banks of the Alpheus River. The marble preserved not only the date, but also the name of the first winner. He was Korab, a cook from Elis. The first 13 games involved only one type of competition - running one stage. According to Greek myth, this distance was measured by Hercules himself, and it was equal to 192.27 m. This is where the well-known word “stadium” comes from. Initially, athletes from two cities took part in the games - Elisa and Pisa. But they soon gained enormous popularity, spreading to all Greek states. At the same time, another wonderful tradition arose: throughout the Olympic Games, the duration of which was constantly increasing, there was a “sacred truce” for all the fighting armies.

Not every athlete could become a participant in the games. The law prohibited slaves and barbarians from performing at the Olympics, i.e. to foreigners. Athletes from among free-born Greeks had to register with the judges a year before the opening of the competition. Immediately before the opening of the Olympic Games, they had to provide evidence that they had been preparing for the competition for at least ten months, keeping in shape with daily exercise. Only exceptions were made for the winners of previous Olympic Games. The announcement of the upcoming Olympic Games caused extraordinary excitement among the male population throughout Greece. People were heading to Olympia in droves. True, women were prohibited from attending the games under penalty of death.

Program of the ancient Olympics

Gradually, more and more new sports were added to the games program. In 724 BC. Diaul was added to the race of one stage (stadiodrome) - a race over a distance of 384.54 m, in 720 BC. – dolichodrome or 24-stage run. In 708 BC. The program of the Olympic Games included the pentathlon, consisting of running, long jump, wrestling, discus and javelin throwing. At the same time, the first wrestling competitions took place. In 688 BC. Fist fighting was included in the program of the Olympics, after two more Olympics - a chariot competition, and in 648 BC. - most cruel look competitions - pankration, which combined wrestling and fist fighting techniques.

The winners of the Olympic Games were revered as demigods. Throughout their lives, they were given all kinds of honors, and after their death, the Olympian was ranked among the host of “small gods.”

After the adoption of Christianity, the Olympic Games began to be perceived as one of the manifestations of paganism, and in 394 BC. Emperor Theodosius I banned them.

The Olympic movement was revived only at the end of the 19th century, thanks to the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin. And, of course, the first revived Olympic Games took place on Greek soil - in Athens, in 1896.

April 6 was the 114th anniversary of the opening of the first modern Olympic Games. The tradition, which existed in Ancient Greece, was revived thanks to the French public figure Pierre de Coubertin. The games took place for 12 days from April 6 to April 15, 1896 in Athens and became the largest international event...

Opening ceremony of the games in Athens, 1896. Hulton Archive, Getty Images

The Olympic Games of Ancient Greece represented a religious and sports festival, held in Olympia. The first documented celebration dates back to 776 BC. e., they were established by Hercules, although it is known that the games were held earlier. The Olympic Games significantly lost their importance with the arrival of the Romans. After Christianity became official religion, games began to be seen as a manifestation of paganism and in 394 AD. e. they were banned by Emperor Theodosius I.

Archaeological excavations at Olympia, which began in 1766, uncovered sports and temple structures. At that time, romantic-idealistic ideas about antiquity were in vogue in Europe. The desire to revive Olympic thinking and culture spread quite quickly throughout Europe. French Baron Pierre de Coubertin said then: “Germany has unearthed what remains of ancient Olympia. Why can't France restore its old greatness?

Baron Pierre de Coubertin

According to Coubertin, it was the weak physical condition of the French soldiers that was one of the reasons for the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. He sought to change the situation by improving physical culture French. At the same time, he wanted to overcome national egoism and contribute to the struggle for peace and international understanding. The “youth of the world” were supposed to measure their strength in sports competitions, and not on the battlefields. The revival of the Olympic Games seemed in his eyes the best solution to achieve both goals.


Members of the International Olympic Committee. Hulton Archive, Getty Images

At a congress held from June 16-23, 1894 at the Sorbonne University in Paris, he presented his thoughts and ideas to an international audience. On the last day of the congress, it was decided that the first Olympic Games of modern times should take place in 1896. Athens was unanimously chosen as the host because Ancient Greece was the birthplace of the Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded, the first president of which was the Greek Demetrius Vikelas, and general secretary- Baron Pierre de Coubertin.


Olympic medals from 1896. Getty Images

The first Games of our time were a great success. Despite the fact that only 241 athletes from 14 countries took part in the Games, the Games became the largest sporting event ever held since ancient Greece. Greek officials were so pleased that they put forward a proposal to “eternally” hold the Olympic Games in their homeland, Greece. But the IOC introduced rotation between different states so that every 4 years the Games change their location.


The Olympic Games in Athens were a great success, the stadium was full. London Stereoscopic Company, Getty Images

Initially, Coubertin wanted to make the Olympic Games an amateur competition, in which there was no place for professionals playing sports for money. It was believed that those paid to play sports had an unfair advantage over those who practiced sports as a hobby. Even coaches and those who received cash prizes for participation were not allowed in. In particular, Jim Thorpe was stripped of his medals in 1913 after it was discovered that he was a semi-professional baseball player. After the war, with the professionalization of European sports, the requirement for amateurism in most sports disappeared.

Olympic Stadium in Athens. FPG, Getty Images


At the start of a cycling competition. IOC, Olympic Museum/Allsport


French cyclist Leon Flament Paul Masson. Flament won gold in the 100 km race, while Masson won gold medals in the 2 km and 10 km distances. IOC, Olympic Museum/Allsport


Fencing competition. IOC, Olympic Museum/Allsport


Athletes training before the marathon. Burton Holmes, Henry Guttmann/Getty Images

Greek athlete Spyridon Spyridon Louis - winner of the first Olympic marathon. Allsport IOC, Allsport


At a tennis competition. IOC, Olympic Museum/Allsport

American athletes from Princeton University. IOC, Olympic Museum/Allsport


German gymnast Carl Schumann, who became Olympic champion. IOC, Olympic Museum/Allsport


Rivals Carl Schumann and Greek Giorgios Tsitas shake hands. Schumann won the gold and Tsitas the silver medal. IOC, Olympic Museum/Allsport

One type of gymnastics competition is rope. OC, Olympic Museum/Allsport

Disco thrower Robert Garrett, who won Olympic gold. Getty Images