"Winning the Olympics is not about the medal. It is about how you feel, deep inside, at the moment of victory…it is about the unbelievable attraction of history."
Matthew Pinsent: - Olympic Gold Medal Winner (Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000)
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Read the article and then do a comprehension activity. Finally, do some writing yourself.
The Olympics for most athletes is the ultimate goal. It is the peak of a sporting career, where you test your skills and strength against the ‘best of the best.’ For a few days every four years a select group of athletes from across the world have the chance to make their mark in history – to be remembered as modern sporting ‘Gods.’
The Gods themselves were the focus of the original Olympics, in Greece. They were held to honour Zeus – the most important God in Greek mythology. The name ‘Olympic’ comes from the city Olympia, in southern Greece, where the games were held. Olympia was named after Mount Olympus – the home of the Greek Gods.
Some people believe that the Olympics were originally funeral celebrations, held by King Pelops in honour of the previous King in Olympia. Athletics competitions at funerals were common, Homer’s Illiad mentions one event like this happening after the death of a soldier during the Trojan war.
From 776 BC onwards, every 4 years, athletes gathered to compete against each other on the track and on the field. The Stadion, a 200 metre running race, was the first Olympic event. Other events were added in following years, including: jumping, chariot racing, wrestling, discus throwing, and horseracing.
Any Greek man who was not a slave could compete. Female athletes unfortunately were not allowed; in fact, married women were not even allowed to watch the games. This may have been a good idea, as athletes at the time did not wear clothes!
As the Games had a strong non-Christian religious element, and took place around a temple, the Christian Emperor of Rome banned them in 394 AD, after 1170 years of competitions. It would take another 15 centuries before they were held again.
Pierre de Coubertin, a French Baron, believed passionately in the Olympic ideal that even enemies could be united in a sporting competition. He believed that an event such as the Olympics could be used to bring countries closer together to promote peace. He helped create the International Olympic Committee and worked very hard to promote his idea to other countries. Eventually in 1896, the games returned to Greece – Athens, as they did again 108 years later.
There are now almost 30 official sports in the Summer Olympics, many more than the ancient games. It seems more are added every year such as Softball in 1996 or Taekwondo in 2000; at least the tug of war and golf are no longer in the modern Games. Although most games do remain from the ancient games, chariot racing probably wouldn’t be very popular today!
Pierre de Coubertin believed that the Olympics were only for men, so in 1896 there were no female athletes. This changed in 1900, and today women athletes are as common as men are.
Another two large Olympic events are also now held every four years. Firstly, the Winter Olympics, originally held in the same year and the same country as the Summer games, this competition now happens two years after the Summer games. Secondly, the Paralympics - Games for athletes with a disability. These are held immediately after both the summer and winter games
The Olympics is a great opportunity for nations to come together in peace, but there have been difficult periods. The USA did not participate in the 1980 Moscow games due to political differences and the USSR returned the favour in 1984 by not going to Los Angeles. In Munich in 1972, 11 athletes were killed by terrorists, and a bomb attack killed two people in Atlanta in 1996.
The ideal of fair competition is also under attack, with some athletes cheating by using drugs to improve their performance. Runner, Ben Johnson, lost his Olympic Gold medal in 1988 because he used steroids.
Despite some problems, the Olympics is usually an example of great competition at the highest possible level. The athletes who win here can truly be considered world-class. Famous examples include:
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Nadia Comaneci – a Romanian gymnast who received perfect 10’s in Gymnastics in 1976. She went on to win three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal |
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Steve Redgrave – a British rower who won Gold medals in five consecutive Olympic Games |
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Larissa Latynina – a Soviet gymnast who won a total of 18 medals, including 9 gold, in 3 Olympics |
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Ian Thorpe – an Australian swimmer who at the age of 17 won three gold, and one silver medal at the Sydney Olympics. |
Many people say that sponsorship and money has no place in the Olympics, and that people today are competing for their sponsor and not their team. It is interesting to find that in the ancient Olympics, the ideals were not so important for athletes – it was the valuable prizes that people were really competing for!
Do you believe that the Olympic Ideal is working? If so, why? If not, why not? Do you think there are too many events in the modern Olympics? What do you think should be the criteria by which an event should or should not be part of the Games?
What do you think of this article? Do you agree with what it says? Send us your opinions.
Wikipedia: ancient Olympic games
Wikipedia: modern Olympic games
International Olympic Committee: official site
Olympic history: all the games since 1896
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