Sports competition called " Olympic Games"were held in ancient Greece, in Olympia (a city in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese, which in the past was the most important religious and sports center in Greece).

The year of the beginning of the Olympic Games is 776 BC. BC, this date is carved on a plate found by archaeologists along with the name Olympic winner in the run of Koreba. The date is also confirmed by the ancient authors Paraballon, Hippias, Aristotle and others.The Greek historian Timaeus (about 352-256 BC) and the mathematician Eratosthenes (about 276-196 BC) developed the chronology from the first Games , according to which until 394 AD. BC, when the competition was banned by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, 293 Olympiads took place.

The idea of ​​reviving the Olympic Games was proposed at the end of the 19th century by the French public figure Pierre de Coubertin in connection with the public interest in archaeological discoveries in Olympia. De Coubertin outlined the project for the revival of the Olympic Games in his report on November 25, 1892 at the Sorbonne.

The principles, rules and regulations of the games were determined by the Olympic Charter, approved in June 1894 by the International Sports Congress in Paris. According to the charter, the Olympic Games unite amateur athletes from all countries in fair and equal competition; there is no discrimination against countries and individuals for racial, religious or political reasons. At the same congress, it was decided to hold the first Olympic Games of our time in 1896 in Athens. For this, the International Olympic Committee(IOC).

At the first Games in Athens on April 6-15, 1896, 43 sets of medals were played in 9 sports. 241 athletes from 14 countries took part in the competition. At these Games, such traditions were laid as the performance of the Olympic anthem, participation in the opening ceremony of the head of state hosting the games, and awarding of the winners on the last day of the competition. Athens Olympics became the largest sporting event of its time. Since international competitions, known as the Summer Olympics, are held every four years (with the exception of the First and Second World Wars). The venue of the Games is chosen by the IOC, and the right to organize them is given to the city, not the country.

Since 1900, women have participated in the Games.

In 1908 in London for the first time in the history of the Olympics were held qualifying competitions, and the tradition of the procession of the participating teams under the national flags was born. At the same time, the unofficial team classification became widespread - the determination of the place occupied by the teams, according to the number of medals received and points scored in the competition.

In 1912, a photo finish was used for the first time at the Stockholm Olympics.

In 1920 at the Olympics in Antwerp / Belgium / for the first time in the history of the games was raised olympic flag, and the participants in the competition took the Olympic oath.

Winter Olympics have been held since 1924. Before that, some winter views sports were included in the programs of the Summer Olympics. So, championship in figure skating skating in the framework of the Olympics was first played in London in 1908, and the first olympic tournament ice hockey took place in 1920 in Antwerp. Initially, the Winter Olympics were held in the same year as the summer ones; in 1992, their dates were shifted by two years. Winter Olympics have their own numbering.

During the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, the tradition of lighting a fire was established.

At the 1932 Games in Los Angeles, for the first time, an "Olympic Village" was built specifically for the participants.

Since 1936, the world has followed the Olympic torch relay.

In 1960, during the Summer Olympics in Rome, a cyclist from Denmark Knud Jensen died for the first time due to doping.

In 1960, at the Winter Games in the American Squaw Valley, the opening ceremony was for the first time accompanied by a large-scale theatrical performance (Walt Disney was responsible for its organization).

At the 1972 Munich Games, members of the Black September Palestinian terrorist organization took hostage the Israeli athletes and coaches. During the operation to free them, 11 members of the Israeli national team and one West German policeman were killed.

In 2004, during the Olympics in Athens, for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, the IOC insured itself (for $ 170 million) in case of cancellation of the competition due to the threat of terrorism or natural disasters

The longest were the Games of 1900 in Paris and 1904 in St. Louis (USA). They were combined with the World Exhibitions and lasted for several months (May-October 1900, July-November 1904). The St. Louis Olympics went down in history as "American": out of 625 participants, 533 were Americans, since many European athletes could not come to the competition because of the high cost of travel.

The largest Olympic team ever fielded by one country was the UK team at the 1908 London Olympics - 710 athletes.

Several times, certain countries did not participate in the Games for political reasons. Thus, Germany and its allies in the world wars were barred from participating in the games of 1920 and 1948. In 1920, athletes from Soviet Russia were not invited to the Olympics in Antwerp (Belgium). 65 countries boycotted summer Olympics 1980 in Moscow in connection with the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan in December 1979. In response to the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, teams from 13 countries of the socialist camp did not come. The official reason for the boycott was the refusal of the 84 Olympics organizers to provide security guarantees to athletes from the USSR and other Warsaw Pact countries.

In the history of the Games, there have been several cases when competitions in some sports were held both before the opening of the games and after they closed. So, the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp were officially held on August 14-29, but the competitions of figure skaters and hockey players took place in April, yachtsmen and shooters - in July, football players - in August and September. In 1956, at the Games in Melbourne, equestrian competitions, due to quarantine rules, were held not only six months earlier than the Olympics itself, but also in another country and on another continent - in Stockholm.

The Olympics first appeared on television screens at the Games in Berlin in 1936. To ensure that the athletes' competition could be seen by as many people as possible, screens were installed throughout the city. The games were first broadcast on home televisions to Londoners in 1948. In 1956, the Olympic Games were already broadcast to all European countries, and since 1964 to all continents. / TASS- DOSSIER /

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

The history of the Olympic Games in brief

The Olympic Games were born in ancient Greece, because the athleticism inherent in the Greeks became the reason for the appearance sports games... The founder of the Olympic Games is King Enomai, who organized sports games for those who wanted to marry his daughter Hippodamia. 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 Enomai in chariots. So much so that the king broke his neck and died. The prediction came true, and Pelops, having become king, established every 4 years to organize the Olympic Games in Olympia.

It is believed that in Olympia, the site where the first Olympic Games were held, the first competitions 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 in running.

Olympic Games in ancient Greece sports

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

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

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

The Olympic Games have sunk into oblivion for 15 centuries. The first to take a step towards the revival of forgotten competitions was the 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 once was.

In 1766, Richard Chandler found 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 shores of the Alpheus. In 1828, the French took up the torch to dig Olympia, and in 1875, the Germans.

Pierre de Coubertin, a French statesman, insisted that the Olympic Games should 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 have learned where and when the Olympic Games originated.

First Games

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

History of the Olympics

The first Olympic Games were a great success, so the tradition of holding them was preserved 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 the states that were in a state of war, a temporary peace treaty was always concluded. Each new Olympics received many changes from what the first Olympic Games were. First of all, we are talking about adding disciplines. At first it was running at other distances, and then long jumping, fist running, pentathlon, discus throwing, javelin, dart throw and many others were added to it. The winners were so respected that monuments were even erected to them on the territory of Greece. There were also difficulties. The most serious of these 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 happened in Greece, due to which the Games were forgotten for a long time.

Revival

In the middle of the eighteenth century, the first attempts were made to revive the Olympics. They began to be embodied in reality after about a hundred years thanks to the French scientist Pierre de Coubertin. With the help of his compatriot, the archaeologist Ernst Curtius, he, in fact, wrote new rules for holding such competitions. The first Olympic Games of our time began on April 6, 1896 in the Greek capital. Representatives of 13 countries from all over the world took part in them. Russia, due to financial problems, did not send its athletes. Competitions were held in nine disciplines, among which were the following: gymnastics, bullet shooting, athletics and weightlifting, wrestling, fencing, tennis, swimming and cycling. The public interest in the Games was colossal, a vivid confirmation of which is the presence of more than 90 thousand spectators, according to official data. In 1924, it was decided to divide the Olympics into winter and summer.

Failed competitions

It happened that the competition was not held, despite the fact that it was planned. We are talking about the Berlin Games in 1916, the Olympics in Helsinki in 1940, as well as the London competitions in 1944. The reason for this is the same - in the world wars. Now all Russians are eagerly awaiting the first Olympic Games, which will be held in Russia. This will happen in Sochi in 2014.

The history of the Olympic Games

Once every four years, the Olympic Games are held - this is the name of sports competitions in which the best athletes from different countries the world. Each of them dreams of becoming an Olympic champion and receiving a medal as a reward - gold, silver or bronze. Almost 11 thousand athletes from more than 200 countries of the world came to the 2016 Olympic competitions in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro.

Although mostly adults participate in these sports, some sports, as well as the history of the Olympic Games for children, can also be very exciting. And, probably, both children and adults would be interested to know when the Olympic Games appeared, how they got such a name, and also what types sports exercise were at the very first competitions. In addition, we will find out how the modern Olympic Games are held, and what their emblem means - five multi-colored rings.

The birthplace of the Olympic Games is Ancient Greece... The earliest historical records of the ancient Olympics were found on Greek marble columns engraved with the date 776 BC. However, it is known that sports in Greece took place much earlier than this date. Therefore, the history of the Olympics is already about 2800 years old, and this, you see, is quite a lot.

Do you know who, according to history, became one of the first Olympic champions? - it was ordinary chef Koribos from the city of Elis whose name is still engraved on one of those marble columns.

The history of the Olympic Games is rooted in ancient city- Olympia, whence the name of this sports event... This settlement is in a very beautiful place- near Mount Kronos and on the banks of the Alpheus River, and it is here from ancient times to the present day that the ceremony of lighting the torch with the Olympic flame takes place, which is then passed on by relay to the city of the Olympic Games.

You can try to find this place on the world map or in the atlas and at the same time check yourself - can I find Greece first, and then Olympia?

How were the Olympic Games in antiquity?

At first, only locals, but then everyone liked it so much that people began to come here from all over Greece and its subordinate cities, right from the Black Sea itself. People got there as best they could - someone was riding a horse, someone had a carriage, but most of the people went to the holiday on foot. The stadiums have always been overcrowded with spectators - everyone really wanted to see sports competitions with their own eyes.

It is also interesting that in those days when Olympic competitions were going to be held in Ancient Greece, an armistice was declared in all cities and all wars ceased for about a month. For ordinary people, it was a calm, peaceful time when they could take a break from everyday activities and have fun.

For 10 months, the athletes trained at home, and then another month in Olympia, where experienced coaches helped them prepare for the competition as best as possible. At the beginning of sports games, everyone took oaths, the participants - that they would compete fairly, and the judges - to judge fairly. Then the competition itself began, which lasted 5 days. The start of the Olympic Games was announced with a silver trumpet, which was trumpeted several times, inviting everyone to gather at the stadium.

What kinds of sports were at the Olympics in ancient times?

These were:

• running competitions;
• wrestling;
• long jump;
• javelin and disc throwing;
• hand-to-hand combat;
• chariot racing.

The best athletes were presented with an award - a laurel wreath or an olive branch, the champions solemnly returned to hometown and until the end of their lives were considered respected people. Banquets were held in their honor, and sculptors made marble statues for them.

Unfortunately, in 394 AD, the Olympic Games were banned by the Roman emperor, who did not like such competitions very much.

Olympics today

The first Olympic Games of our time took place in 1896 in the country that was the ancestor of these games - Greece. You can even count how long the break was - from 394 to 1896 (it turns out 1502). And now, after so many years, in our time, the birth of the Olympic Games became possible thanks to one famous French baron, his name was Pierre de Coubertin.

Pierre de Coubertin- the founder of the modern Olympic Games.

This man really wanted as many people as possible to go in for sports and suggested that the Olympic Games be resumed again. Since then, sports games have been held every four years, with the maximum preservation of the traditions of ancient times. But now the Olympic Games began to be divided into winter and summer, which alternate with each other.

Traditions and symbols of the Olympic Games

Olympic rings

Probably each of us has seen the emblem of the Olympics - intertwined colored rings. They were chosen for a reason - each of the five rings means one of the continents:

• the blue ring is a symbol of Europe,
• black - African,
• red - America,
• yellow - Asia,
• the green ring is the symbol of Australia.

And the fact that the rings are intertwined means the unity and friendship of people on all these continents, despite the different skin color.

Olympic flag

The white flag with the Olympic emblem was chosen as the official flag of the Olympic Games. White is a symbol of peace during the Olympic competition, just as it was during the days of Ancient Greece. At each Olympics, the flag is used at the opening and closing of sports games, and then transferred to the city in which the next Olympics will take place four years later.

Olympic flame

Even in ancient times, a tradition arose to light a fire during the Olympic Games, and it has survived to this day. It is very interesting to watch the ceremony of lighting the Olympic flame, it resembles an ancient Greek theatrical performance.

It all starts in Olympia a few months before the start of the competition. For example, the fire for the Brazilian Olympics was lit in Greece back in April this year.

In Greek Olympia, eleven girls gather, dressed in long white dresses, which were earlier in Ancient Greece, then one of them takes a mirror and, using the sun's rays, lights a specially prepared torch. This is the fire that will burn throughout the entire period of the Olympic competition.

After the torch is lit, it is handed over to one of the the best athletes, which will carry it further, first through the cities of Greece, and then deliver it to the country in which the Olympic Games will be held. Then the torch relay passes through the cities of the country and, finally, arrives at the place where sports competitions will be held.

A large bowl is installed at the stadium and a fire is lit in it with the torch that came from distant Greece. The fire in the bowl will burn until all sports are over, then it goes out, and this symbolizes the end of the Olympic Games.

Opening and Closing Ceremony of the Olympiad

It is always a bright and colorful show. Each country that hosts the Olympic Games tries to surpass the previous one in this component, sparing no effort or money for the presentation. The latest achievements of science and technology are used for staging, innovative technologies and development. In addition, a large number of people are involved - volunteers. The most famous people countries: artists, composers, athletes, etc.

Awarding of winners and prize-winners

When the first Olympic Games took place, the winners received a laurel wreath as a reward. but modern champions are no longer awarded with laurel wreaths, but with medals: first place - gold medal, second place - silver, and third - bronze.

It's fun to watch the competition, but it's even more fun to see how champions are awarded. The winners go to a special pedestal with three steps, according to the places they have taken, they are awarded medals and raised the flags of those countries where these athletes came from.

That's the whole history of the Olympic Games, for children, I think, the above information will be interesting and useful

Young people of today devote little time to sports, not only at the professional level, but also at the amateur level. An extensive network of competitions operates to popularize sports. Today we will consider in which country were born Olympic competition when they were carried out, the situation is today.

In contact with

Ancient sports

The date of the first Olympic Games (hereinafter OG) is unknown, but preserved them - Ancient Greece... The heyday of Hellenic statehood led to the formation of a religious and cultural holiday, which for a time united the layers of an egoistic society.

The worship of the beauty of the human body was actively cultivated, enlightened people strove to achieve perfection of forms. It is not for nothing that most marble statues from the Greek period depict the beautiful men and women of that time.

Olympia is considered the first "sports" city of Hellas, here the winners of the championships were revered as full participants fighting. In 776 BC. the celebration was revived.

The reason for the decline of the Olympic Games is the Roman expansion into the Balkans. With the spread of the Christian faith, such holidays began to be considered pagan. In 394, Emperor Theodosius I banned sports competitions.

Attention! Sports competitions provided for several weeks of neutrality - it was forbidden to declare or wage wars. Every day was considered sacred, dedicated to the gods. It is not surprising that the Olympic Games originated in the territory of Hellas.

Prerequisites for the revival of OI

The ideas of world championships never died completely, England held tournaments and sports competitions of a local nature. The history of the Olympic Games in the 19th century is characterized by the hosting of the Olympia, the forerunner of modern competitions. The idea belongs to the Greeks: Sutsos and public figure Zappas. They made the first Olympic Games of our time possible.

Archaeologists have discovered in the country of origin sporting events accumulations of ancient monumental structures of unknown purpose. of those years he was very interested in Antiquity.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin considered it inappropriate physical fitness soldier. In his opinion, this was the reason for the defeat in the last war with the Germans (Franco-Prussian confrontation of 1870-1871). He strove to instill in the French the desire for self-development. He believed that young people should "break spears" on sports arenas rather than through military conflicts.

Attention! Excavations in Greece were carried out by a German expedition, so Coubertin succumbed to revanchist sentiments. His expression “The German people have found the remains of Olympia. Why shouldn't France restore the fragments of its former power? ”, Often serves as a fair proof.

Baron with a great heart

is the founder modern Olympic Games. Let's devote a few words to his biography.

Little Pierre was born on January 1, 1863 in the capital of the French Empire. Youth passed through the prism of self-education, attended a number of prestigious colleges in England and America, considered sports an integral part of the development of a person as a person. He was engaged in rugby, was a judge of the first final of the French championship.

The history of the famous competitions was of interest to the then society, so Coubertin decided to hold a world-wide competition. November 1892 will be remembered for his lecture at the Sorbonne University. It was dedicated to revival Olympic movement... Russian General Butovsky was imbued with Pierre's ideas, as he adhered to the same views.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) appointed de Coubertin as Secretary General, subsequently - president of the organization... The work went hand in hand with a quick marriage. In 1895, Marie Rotan became a baroness. The marriage brought two children: first-born Jacques and daughter René suffered from diseases nervous system... The Coubertins family was interrupted after the death of Marie at the age of 101. She lived with the knowledge that her husband had revived the Olympics and was in a prominent position.

With the beginning, Pierre went to the front, leaving public activities. Both of his nephews died en route to victory.

As head of the IOC, Coubertin faced frequent criticism. The public was outraged by the “wrong” interpretation of the first Olympic Games, excessive professionalism. Many have argued that he abused his power in resolving issues of various kinds.

Great public figure died September 2, 1937 years in Geneva (Switzerland). His heart became part of a monument near the ruins of Greek Olympia.

Important! The Pierre de Coubertin Medal has been awarded by the IOC since the death of the Honorary President. Worthy athletes are honored with this honor for their generosity and the spirit of Fair Play.

Revival of OI

The French baron revived the Olympic Games, but the bureaucratic machine delayed the championship. Two years later, the French Congress made a historic decision: the first Olympic Games of our time will take place on Greek soil. Among the reasons for this decision are:

• the desire to “wipe your nose” with your German neighbor;
• make a good impression on civilized countries;
• primacy in the undeveloped area;
• growing influence of France as a cultural and sports center Of the Old World.

The first Olympic Games of our time were held in the Greek city of Antiquity - Athens (1896). Sports were crowned with success, 241 athletes expressed a desire to participate. The Greek side was so pleased with the attention from the world states that they offered to hold the competition “forever” in their historical homeland. The IOC decided to rotate between countries in order to change the host country every 4 years.

The first achievements were replaced by a crisis. The stream of spectators quickly dried up, as the competition was held for several months. The first Olympiad in 1906 (Athens) saved the plight.

Attention! The national team of the Russian Empire came to the capital of France for the first time, women were allowed to participate in the competition.

Olympian of Irish descent

James Connolly James Connolly - first Olympic champion the world. Working hard from an early age, he was fond of contact sports.

He studied at Harvard University, without demand went on a cargo ship to the shores of Greece. Subsequently he was expelled, but the first Olympiad succumbed to him.

With a score of 13 m and 71 cm, the Irishman was the strongest in the triple athletics jump. A day later he won bronze in long jump and silver in high jump.

At home, he was awaited by the restored student title, popularity and general recognition as the first modern champion of the famous competitions.

He was awarded the title of Doctor of Science in Literature (1949). He died at the age of 88 (January 20, 1957).

Important! The Olympic Games are held under the supervision of a unique symbol - five fastened rings. They symbolize the unity of all in the movement of sports improvement. Above are blue, black and red, below are yellow and green.

Situation today

Modern competitions are the founders of the culture of health and sports. Their popularity and demand is beyond doubt, and the number of participants and spectators of the competition is growing every year.

The IOC is trying to keep up with the times, has established many traditions that have taken root over time. Sports competitions are now full of atmosphere"Ancient" traditions:

1. Great performances at the opening and closing ceremonies. Everyone tries to carry them out on a grand scale, who overdo it.
2. The ceremonial passage of the athletes of each participating country. The Greek national team always goes first, the rest according to the alphabetical order.
3. An outstanding host athlete must swear an oath of fair play for everyone.
4. Lighting of a symbolic torch in the Temple of Apollo (Greece). It runs through the participating countries. Each athlete must overcome his part of the relay.
5. The presentation of medals is filled with centuries-old traditions, the winner goes up to the podium, over which the national flag is raised, the national anthem is played.
6. A prerequisite is the "first Olympiad" symbol. The host is developing a stylized symbol of the sports event, which would reflect the national flavor.

Attention! The production of souvenirs can cover the costs of the event. Many European countries will share their experience on how to gain without losing anything.

Many are interested in when the Olympic Games will be, we hasten to satisfy the interest of our readers.

The ceremony of lighting a symbolic torch in the temple

What year is the new championship

First Olympiad 2018 will take place on the territory South Korea... Climatic features and rapid development made it an ideal contender for the Winter Games.

Summer is hosted by Japan. The country of high technologies will provide safety and comfortable conditions for athletes from all over the world.

Football confrontation will be on the fields Russian Federation... Most of the sports facilities have now been completed; work is underway to equip hotel complexes. Improving infrastructure is a priority for the Russian government.

2018 Olympics in South Korea

Perspectives

Modern ways of developing these competitions suggest:

1. An increase in the number of sports disciplines.
2. Propaganda healthy way life, social and charitable events.
3. Implementation of advanced technologies for the convenience of holding festivals, enhancing the safety and comfort of the athletes participating.
4. Maximum distance from foreign policy intrigues.

First Olympic Games

Olympic Games 1896

Output

Pierre de Coubertin is the founder of the modern Olympic Games. His obsession has helped save millions of lives as countries fight openly in the sporting arena. Keeping peace was a priority at the end of the 19th century, and it remains so today.