The Olympics

The Olympics are tests of skill and endurance where athletes from all the countries in the world meet to compete against one another. These competitions take place every two years – winter games at one time and summer games at another, so that there is a gap of four years between the seasonal events. Cities all over the world apply ten years in advance to be the hosts of the upcoming games and put on major marketing campaigns in their quest to be chosen. The events are televised all over the world and fans tune in to cheer on the teams of their respective countries.

The Olympics originated in Greece, where the tests of skill were part of religious festivals. From as early as 776 B.C., the games were held every four years. Just like the modern Olympics, there were solemn opening and closing festivities. Athletes trained for years to compete, just as they do today.

The ancient Olympics included competitions such as foot races, wrestling, boxing, chariot races and the pentathlon and pankraton. Women were forbidden to be competitors at these events, whereas today, women compete in the same types of competitions as the men. However, they two genders do not compete against each other.

The goal of the Olympics is to foster friendship among all the nations of the world by educating youth through sport. Discrimination of any kind is prohibited in these events and they focus on fair play and solidarity.

The games that make up the Olympics have changed drastically through the centuries. They also change with the times and include such sports as hockey, basketball, volleyball, and beach volleyball. The winter games include cross-country and downhill skiing as well as snowboarding and figure skating The usual running races and sprints are a trademark of the games.

Prior to the start of the Olympics, each country holds competitions to choose the best teams to represent the country and in many sports, individuals from all over the country are pulled together to form a top team. As in ancient times, the Olympic torch travels from the country that hosted the last Olympic games to the location of the upcoming games. Torchbearers run through towns, villages and cities carrying the torch onward to its destination. The runner chosen to enter the stadium at the start of the games passes the torch to the person designated to light it and at the end of the event, the torch is extinguished for another two years.