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 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. – the most brutal type of competition is pankration, which combines 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.
Olympic Games
3.1 Summer Olympic Games medalists in the team event
3.2 Winners of the Winter Olympic Games in the team event
3.3 Amateur spirit
3.4 Funding
3.5 Olympic venues
1 Ancient Olympic Games
2 Revival of the Olympic Games
3 Modern Olympic Games
Olympic Games- largest international complex sports competitions, which are held every four years. A tradition that existed in Ancient Greece, was revived at the end 19th century French public figure Pierre de Coubertin. Olympic Games, also known as Summer Olympics, were carried out every four years, starting from 1896 , with the exception of years falling on world wars. IN 1924 were established Winter Olympics, which were originally held in the same year as the summer ones. However, starting from 1994, the timing of the Winter Olympic Games has been shifted by two years relative to the timing of the Summer Games.
In the same venues of the Olympic Games, two weeks later, Paralympic Games for people with disabilities.
Ancient Olympic Games
Olympic Games Ancient Greece were religious and sports festival, held in Olympia. Information about the origin of the games has been lost, but several myths have survived that describe this event. From history, many documents, buildings and sculptures of that period have come to us. If you look closely, we will notice that all the statues of that period show human bodies and not just any bodies, but beautiful ones. During that period of history, the cult of beautiful forms for buildings and the cult of beautiful bodies were widespread. “A healthy mind in a healthy body,” this is how one of the ideas and reasons for the appearance of such beautiful sculptures can be described. Sports and sports competitions began already in this ancient period. The winners of the competitions were revered as heroes in war. The first documented celebration dates back to 776 BC. They were established by Hercules, although it is known that games were held earlier. During the games, a sacred truce (έκεχειρία ), at this time it was impossible to wage war, although this was repeatedly violated. The Olympic Games significantly lost their importance with the arrival of the Romans. After Christianity became the official religion, games began to be seen as a manifestation of paganism, and in 394 AD. e. they were banned by the emperor Theodosius I.
Revival of the Olympic Games
Baron Pierre de Coubertin
Even after the ban on ancient competitions, the Olympic idea did not disappear forever. For example, in England for 17th century“Olympic” competitions and competitions were held repeatedly. Later, similar competitions were organized in France And Greece. However, these were small events, best case scenario, regional character. The first true predecessors of the modern Olympic Games are the Olympias, which were held regularly during the period 1859 -1888. The idea of reviving the Olympic Games in Greece belonged to the poet Panagiotis Soutsos, brought it to life by a public figure Evangelis Zappas.
In 1766, as a result archaeological excavations in Olympia, sports and temple structures were discovered. In 1875, archaeological research and excavations continued under German leadership. 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 ( fr. Pierre de Coubertin), later reflecting on the contribution of France, said: “Germany unearthed what remained of ancient Olympia. Why can't France restore its old greatness?
According to Coubertin, it was the weak physical condition of the French soldiers that became one of the reasons for the defeat of the French in Franco-Prussian War 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. Reviving the Olympic Games seemed in his eyes the best solution to achieve both goals.
At the congress held June 16-23, 1894 in Sorbonne(University of Paris), he presented his thoughts and ideas to an international audience. On the last day of the congress it was decided that first modern Olympic Games should take place in 1896 in Athens, in the parent country of the Games - Greece. To organize the Games, it was founded International Olympic Committee(IOC). The first president of the Committee was a Greek Demetrius Vikelas, who was president until graduation I Olympic Games 1896. Secretary General became Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
Poster for the first Olympic Games
The first Games of our time were a great success. Despite the fact that only 241 athletes (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 hold the Olympic Games “forever” in their homeland, Greece. But the IOC introduced rotation between different states so that every 4 years the Games change their location.
After the first success, the Olympic movement experienced its first crisis. II Olympic Games 1900 V Paris (France) And III Olympic Games 1904 V St. Louis (Missouri, USA) were combined with World exhibitions. Sports competitions dragged on for months and attracted almost no interest from spectators. At the 1900 Olympics in Paris, women and a team participated for the first time Russian Empire. Almost only American athletes participated in the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, since Europe getting across the ocean in those years was very difficult for technical reasons.
On Extraordinary Olympic Games 1906 In Athens (Greece), sporting competitions and achievements once again took first place. Although the IOC initially recognized and supported the holding of these "interim Games" (just two years after the previous ones), these Games are now not recognized as Olympic Games. Some sports historians consider the 1906 Games to be the salvation of the Olympic idea, as they prevented the games from becoming “meaningless and unnecessary.”
Modern Olympic Games
The principles, rules and regulations of the Olympic Games are defined Olympic Charter, the fundamentals of which have been approved International Sports Congress V Paris V 1894 , who accepted at the suggestion of a French teacher and public figure Pierre de Coubertin the decision to organize the Games on the model of the ancient ones and to create International Olympic Committee(IOC). According to the charter, the Olympic Games “... unite amateur athletes from all countries in fair and equal competition. There shall be no discrimination against countries or individuals on racial, religious or political grounds...” Besides olympic sports, the organizing committee has the right to choose to include in the program exhibition competitions in 1-2 sports not recognized by the IOC.
Games of the Olympics, also known as Summer Olympics, are held in the first year of the 4-year (Olympic) cycle. The Olympiads are counted from 1896 when the first Olympic Games took place (I Olympiad - 1896-99). The Olympiad also receives its number in cases where the games are not held (for example, VI - in 1916-19, XII - 1940-43, XIII - 1944-47). The term "Olympiad" officially means a four-year cycle, but unofficially it is often used instead of the name "Olympic Games" . In the same years as the Olympic Games, with 1924 were carried out Winter Olympics, which have their own numbering. In the numbering of the Winter Olympic Games, missed games are not taken into account (behind the IV games 1936 followed by V games 1948 ). Since 1994, the dates of the Winter Olympic Games have been shifted by 2 years relative to the summer ones.
The location of the Olympics is chosen by the IOC; the right to organize them is granted to the city, not the country. The duration of the Games is on average 16-18 days. Taking into account the climatic characteristics of different countries, the Summer Games can be held not only in the “summer months”. So XXVII Summer Olympic Games 2000 V Sydney (Australia), due to Australia’s location in the Southern Hemisphere, where summer begins in December, were held in September, that is, in the fall.
Symbol of the Olympic Games- five fastened rings, symbolizing the unification of the five parts of the world in the Olympic movement, i.e. the Olympic rings. The colors of the rings in the top row are blue, black and red. In the bottom row - yellow and green. The Olympic Movement has its own emblem and flag, approved by the IOC upon proposal Coubertin V 1913 . The emblem is the Olympic rings. Motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius (lat. "faster, higher, stronger"). Flag- a white banner with the Olympic rings, raised at all Games, starting with VII Olympic Games 1920 V Antwerp (Belgium), where it also began to be given for the first time olympic oath. The parade of national teams under the flags at the opening of the Games is held from IV Olympic Games 1908 V London (United Kingdom). WITH Olympics-1936 V Berlin (Germany) relay race is held olympic flame. Olympic mascots first appeared at the 1968 Summer and Winter Games unofficially, and have been approved since the 1972 Olympics.
Among the traditional rituals of the Games (in the order in which they are held):
grandiose and colorful opening and closing ceremonies of the Games. From year to year, the best of the best from all over the world are involved in the development of scripts for these spectacles: screenwriters, organizers of mass shows, special effects specialists, etc. Many famous singers, actors and other very eminent people are eager to take part in this spectacle. Broadcasts of these events break records of viewership every time. Each country organizing the Olympics strives to surpass all previous ones in the scope and beauty of these ceremonies. Ceremony scripts are kept in the strictest confidence until they begin. The ceremonies take place in central stadiums with a large capacity, where competitions are held. athletics(exception: 2016 Summer Olympics, where central stadium, will host football finals, without athletics).
opening and closing begin with a theatrical performance, which should present to the audience the appearance of the country and city, acquaint them with their history and culture.
ceremonial passage of athletes and members of delegations through the central stadium. Athletes from each country go in a separate group. Traditionally, the delegation of athletes from Greece, the parent country of the Games, goes first. Other groups are in order corresponding to the alphabetical order of the names of countries in the language of the host country of the Games. (Or in the official IOC language - French or English). At the front of each group is a representative of the host country, carrying a sign with the name of the respective country in the language of the host country of the Games and in the official languages of the IOC. Behind him at the head of the group is a standard bearer - usually an athlete participating in the games, carrying the flag of his country. The right to carry the flag is highly honorable for athletes. As a rule, this right is trusted to the most titled and respected athletes.
delivering welcoming speeches by the IOC President (mandatory), the head or official representative of the state in which the Games are taking place, sometimes the mayor of the city or the Chairman of the Organizing Committee. The latter, at the end of the speech, must utter the words: “(serial number of games) Summer (Winter) Olympic Games I declare open.” After which, as a rule, a gun salvo and many volleys of fireworks and fireworks are fired.
raising the flag of Greece as the parent country of the Games with the performance of its national anthem.
Raising the flag of the host country of the Games and singing its national anthem.
uttered by one of the outstanding athletes of the country in which the Olympics are taking place, olympic oath on behalf of all participants in the games about fair competition in accordance with the rules and principles of sport and the Olympic spirit ( recent years words are also certainly spoken about the non-use of prohibited drugs - doping);
the pronouncement by several judges on behalf of all judges of an oath of impartial judging;
raising the Olympic flag with the playing of the official Olympic anthem.
sometimes - raising the flag of Peace (a blue banner on which is depicted a white dove holding in its beak olive branch- two traditional symbol of peace), symbolizing the tradition of stopping all armed conflicts for the duration of the Games.
crowns the opening ceremony with lighting olympic flame. The fire is lit by the sun's rays Olympia(Greece) in the Temple pagan greek god Apollo(in Ancient Greece Apollo considered the patron of the Games). "High Priestess" Hera says a prayer with the following content: “ Apollo, god of the sun and the idea of light, send your rays and light the sacred torch for the hospitable city ... (name of the city)" . “The Olympic torch relay took place all over the world until 2007. Now, for the purposes of the anti-terrorism campaign, the torch is carried only in the country in which the games are taking place. From country to country, the torch is delivered by plane, and in each country an athlete or other figure from that country runs his part The relay is of great interest in all the countries through which the Olympic flame passes. The first part of the relay passes through the cities of the host country of the Games. to the host city. The athletes of this country deliver the torch to the central stadium at the very end of the ceremony. At the stadium, the torch is carried around the circle several times, passing from hand to hand, until it is given to the athlete who is entrusted with the right to light the Olympic flame. This right is the most honorable. The fire is lit in a special bowl, the design of which is unique for each Olympics. Also, the organizers always try to come up with original and interesting way ignition. The bowl is located high above the stadium. The fire must burn throughout the Olympics and is extinguished at the end of the closing ceremony.
presentation to winners and runners-up of competitions medals on a special podium with a lift national flags and execution of national anthem in honor of the winners.
During the closing ceremony there is also a theatrical performance - farewell to the Olympics, the passage of participants, a speech by the IOC President and a representative of the host country. However, the closure of the Olympics is already announced by the IOC President. This is followed by the singing of the national anthem, the Olympic anthem, while the flags are lowered. A representative of the host country solemnly hands over the Olympic flag to the IOC President, who in turn hands it over to a representative of the Organizing Committee of the next Olympiad. This is followed by a short introduction to the next city hosting the Games. At the end of the ceremony, the Olympic flame slowly goes out to lyrical music.
WITH 1932 the host city is building " olympic village» - a complex of residential premises for game participants.
The organizers of the Games are developing the symbols of the Olympics: the official emblem and mascot of the Games. The emblem usually has a unique design, stylized according to the characteristics of the country. The emblem and mascot of the Games are an integral part souvenir products, produced in large quantities ahead of the Games. Revenue from sales of souvenirs can make up a significant part of the income from the Olympics, but they do not always cover expenses.
According to the charter, the Games are a competition between individual athletes and not between national teams. However, with 1908 the so-called unofficial team standings - determining the place occupied by teams based on the number of medals received and points scored in competitions (points are awarded for the first 6 places according to the system: 1st place - 7 points, 2nd - 5, 3rd - 4, 4 -e - 3, 5th - 2, 6th - 1).
Summer Olympic Games medalists in the team event
|
ROI number |
Year |
1st place |
2nd place |
3rd place |
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Greece |
Germany |
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France |
United Kingdom |
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Germany |
Cuba |
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United Kingdom |
Sweden |
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Sweden |
United Kingdom |
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did not take place due to World War 1 | ||||
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Sweden |
United Kingdom |
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Finland |
France |
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Germany |
Finland |
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Italy |
France |
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Germany |
Hungary |
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did not take place due to World War 2 | ||||
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Sweden |
France |
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USSR |
Hungary |
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USSR |
Australia |
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USSR |
Italy |
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USSR |
Japan |
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USSR |
Japan |
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USSR | ||||
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USSR | ||||
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USSR |
Bulgaria |
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Romania | ||||
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USSR | ||||
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United team |
Germany |
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Russia |
Germany |
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Russia |
China |
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China |
Russia |
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China |
Russia |
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China |
United Kingdom |
Winners of the Winter Olympic Games in the team event
|
ROI number |
Year |
1st place |
2nd place |
3rd place |
|
Norway |
Finland |
Austria |
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Norway |
Sweden |
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Norway |
Sweden |
|||
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Norway |
Germany |
Sweden |
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did not take place due to World War 2 | ||||
|
did not take place due to World War 2 | ||||
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Norway |
Sweden |
Switzerland |
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Norway |
Finland |
|||
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USSR |
Austria |
Finland |
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USSR |
Germany | |||
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USSR |
Austria |
Norway |
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Norway |
USSR |
France |
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USSR |
Switzerland |
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USSR | ||||
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USSR | ||||
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USSR | ||||
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USSR |
Switzerland |
|||
|
Germany |
United team |
Norway |
||
|
Russia |
Norway |
Germany |
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|
Germany |
Norway |
Russia |
||
|
Norway |
Germany | |||
|
Germany |
Austria |
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Canada |
Germany |
Rank Olympic champion is the most honorable and desirable in a career athlete in those sports for which the Olympics are held tournaments. Cm. Olympic sports. The exceptions are football, baseball, etc. game types sports taking place in open areas, since either youth teams (football - up to 23 years old) take part in them, or because of the busy game schedule, not the strongest players come.
USSR participated in summer games starting from 1952 Olympics V Helsinki, in winter - from 1956 Olympics V Cortina d'Ampezzo. After collapse of the USSR on 1992 Summer Olympics V Barcelona athletes of the countries CIS, including Russia, participated in a united team under a common flag, and starting from Winter Olympics 1994 V Lillehammer- in separate teams under their own flags.
A number of Games took place from Boycott the Olympics for political and other protest reasons. The boycott of the summer was especially widespread. 1980 Olympics V Moscow(from Western countries) and 1984 Olympics V Los Angeles(from the countries of the socialist camp).
amateur spirit
Coubertin originally wanted to make the Olympic Games amateur a competition in which there is no place for professionals who play sports for money. It was believed that those paid to play sports had an unfair advantage over those who practiced sports as hobby. They didn't even allow trainers and those who received cash prizes for participation. In particular, Jim Thorpe V 1913 was stripped of his medals - it was discovered that he played semi-professionally baseball.
After the war, with the professionalization of European sports and the emergence of state-subsidized Soviet “amateurs” on the international stage, the requirement for amateurism in most sports was no longer required. At the moment, the Olympic Games are amateur boxing(fights follow the rules of amateur boxing) and football(youth team competitions - all players except three must be under 23 years old).
Financing
The financing of the Olympic Games (as well as their direct organization) is carried out by the Organizing Committee created in the country where the games are held. The bulk of commercial income from the Games (primarily funds from the largest sponsors of the IOC marketing program and income from television broadcasts) goes to the International Olympic Committee. In turn, the IOC allocates half of these funds to the organizing committees, and uses half for its own needs and the development of the Olympic movement. The organizing committee also receives 95% of the proceeds from ticket sales. But the bulk of the funding is last decades As a rule, it falls on government sources, and the main costs are not for hosting the games, but for developing infrastructure. Thus, the bulk of the costs of the Olympic Games in London in 2012 fell on the reconstruction of areas adjacent to the Olympic Park.
Over its many years history of the olympic games have undergone many changes. The rules are constantly being tightened, new records are being set, sports are being improved and new ones are appearing. The sports that are familiar to everyone today, which are considered traditional, were not at all such a few decades ago. They replaced the previous groups, which for certain reasons became irrelevant.
For the present generation, the old varieties of Olympic competitions are somewhat outlandish. Some of them were only demonstrations, but there were also those in which records were set and medals were awarded. For interest and general development, it will not be superfluous to plunge into history and remember the most unusual games of the Olympic competitions.
Long-distance diving
This event was preceded by scuba diving, which almost immediately proved uninteresting and boring for spectators. Therefore, in 1904, the organizers decided to make adjustments - now it became long-distance diving. According to the rules, the athletes simultaneously jumped into the water and froze for a while so that the judges could assess the distance of the jump. True, there were not many athletes - only five people, and all of them were from the USA. According to the archives, the best result was shown by a swimmer named William Dickey. He jumped 19 meters. History of the first Olympic Games
Hot air balloon flights
This sport was of a demonstration nature. Hot air balloon racing was added to the unofficial list of the Olympic Games in 1900. Undoubtedly, the scale, grandeur and “airiness” of this spectacle did not leave any spectator indifferent. But serious disputes began to arise over the evaluation criteria. Without reaching a unanimous opinion, this competition was excluded from the competitive games.
Swimming hurdles
This is truly one of the most difficult, intricate and by no means safe types of sports. The first trial competitions took place at the Olympics in 1896. The second time, in 1900, they took place on the Seine River in Paris. The swim was 200 meters, surrounded by bizarre obstacles. These included wooden poles on which swimmers climbed and dived into the water again, and boats under which they swam along with the fruit. That's right, that's it historical fact. The fruit had to be squeezed anywhere; some athletes even tried to push it forward with the tip of their nose during the swim.
Where and when did the first modern Olympic Games take place?
One of the barriers went 60 meters deep, and the poor swimmers were forced to dive to such a depth. Another inconvenience was the sailor suits, in which we sailed the entire distance. Another unpleasant moment was the fact that the Olympians had to swim through muddy and dirty water. After all, in those years it was thrown into the Seine huge amount waste and slops. There were also few participants in the swim - 12 athletes from five countries. Of course, there was a champion. It turned out to be Frederick Lane from Australia. That year was the last for steeplechase swimming. 
Pigeon shooting
This species has broken all records for bloodthirstiness. This is another unpleasant and extremely cruel sport that distinguished the 1900 Olympics. In addition to the mocking swims, there were days at those competitions when innocent animals and birds were deliberately killed. For example, the pigeons that the participants shot at. According to historical data, a total of three hundred pigeons died in that competition. The most accurate athlete was Leon de Lunden from Belgium. His victory alone cost the lives of 21 pigeons. Fortunately, this competition was soon modified, and instead of pigeons, they began to throw plates into the air as targets. This sport is now known as skeet shooting.
These are not all the strange types of competitions at past Olympics. The competitions also stood out when two teams had to play tug of war. Yes, once upon a time this entertainment was seriously assessed by justices of the peace. There were also pistol duels. Fortunately, the participants did not shoot at each other, but at dummies with targets on their chests. This type of gymnastic performance, such as exercises with pins, also took place.
Current sports are somewhat vaguely reminiscent of previous ones, some are an adjusted model with new rules and evaluation criteria, some are completely new and are only gaining momentum. But this only makes the Olympics more interesting and spectacular. This means that the world of sports, like any other area, does not stand still, but develops new directions and conquers new heights.
Today, the Olympics no longer resemble at all what they were a hundred, or even fifty years ago. As at all times, this is the most important public event, the main goal of which is to unite all the peoples of the world.
DIPLOMA THESIS
HISTORY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES
CONTENT.
2. Excavations of Olympia.
3. Revival of the modern Olympic Games.
4. Olympic Charter.
4.1. Olympic symbol.
4.2. Olympic motto.
4.3. Olympic flag.
4.4. Olympic flame.
4.5. Olympic Oath.
4.6. Olympic emblem.
4.7. Olympic awards.
4.8. Olympic anthem.
5. Olympism, Olympic movement, Olympic Games, Olympics.
6.International Olympic Committee (IOC).
6.1. IOC Presidents.
6.2. Representatives of the IOC in our country.
7. Olympic committees in our country.
Olympic Games program.
Winter Olympic Games.
Russia at the origins of the modern Olympic movement.
Games of the first three modern Olympics.
Russia at the Games of the IV and V Olympiads.
Russian Olympics.
Games without us.
Games of the XV Olympiad (Helsinki, 1952).
16. Games of the XXII Olympiad (Moscow, 1980).
17.The Olympic Games are 100 years old.
18.Outstanding achievements of domestic athletes at the Summer and Winter Olympic Games of the 20th century.
19. Stavropol athletes - participants in the Olympic Games.
20. Representatives of the Stavropol region at the Olympics.
21. Ode to sport.
Literature.
1. Ancient Greek Olympic Games.
In Ancient Greece, there were two methods of application physical exercise: gymnastics, or general physical education, and agonistics - special training and participation in competitions. Agonistics broke up into gymnastic games and competitions and music competitions (in the field of music, dance, poetry).
Of the gymnastic agons (agon - competition, tournament, holiday), the Nemean Games (in Argolis), the Isthmian Games (on the Isthmus of Corinth), the Pythian Games (in Delphi), and the Panathenaic Games (in Athens) were very popular. However, of all the games played in Ancient Greece, highest value had the Olympic Games.
The problems of the origin and development of the ancient Greek Olympic Games have long been of interest to scientists from different countries.
The origin and development of the Olympic Games is determined by the economic, political, military and cultural prerequisites that were formed in Ancient Greece, during the period of the collapse of clan relations and the maturation of class slave society.
With the development of slave relations, changes occurred in cultural life Greece. Closer ties were established between tribes and, later, cities. Gradually, myths and legends arose about Zeus, Hercules, Hermes and other deities who, according to legend, lived on the top of Olympus. But public games appeared long before myths and legends about pagan deities began to take shape. For many years, ancient agons were also held in places where competitions later became known as the Olympic ones. There is no exact data available about the first Olympic Games. The first reliable mention of them dates back to 776 BC, when the name of the first Olympic winner, Corebus, a cook from Elis, was engraved on one of the marble columns installed along the banks of the Alpheus River.
Some authors note that in 776 BC. The XXVIII Games have already taken place. The venue for the Games was Olympia, located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, in the valley of the Alpheus River, at the foot of Mount Kronos. In Olympia, in addition to temples, there was a gymnasium, palaestra, stadium and hippodrome. The Olympic festival, in which at first only the athletes of the two cities of Elis - Pisa and Elis participated, was celebrated in " holy month", beginning with the first full moon after summer solstice every 1417 days, i.e. The Olympic Games were held once every four years. The periods between the Games were called Olympiads; The Greeks used them for some time to calculate chronology.
The program of the Olympic Games, at first consisting only of running one stage (192 m 27 cm), subsequently expanded to include competitions in pentathlon, running with weapons (sword and shield), pankration, fist fighting, chariot competitions and horse riding.
In the period from the 7th to the 2nd centuries. BC Only free-born Greeks could participate in the Olympic Games. Slaves and people of non-Greek origin (“barbarians,” as the Greeks called them), as well as women, were not allowed to participate in the Games. Each participant had to prepare for the Games for 10 months at home, and then for a month in Olympia. Only the wealthiest slave owners who had enough free time could afford this.
The Olympic Games were held extremely solemnly. The Games were supervised by referee-managers (helanodics). IN early period The games took place on one day, during the heyday (VI-IV centuries BC) - on five days. Before the start of the Games, all participants swore an oath that they had prepared honestly and would compete with dignity, and also made sacrifices to the gods. The winners of the Games (Olympians) enjoyed great fame, respect, and honor. Odes of praise were composed in their honor, hymns were sung, and monuments were erected. The Olympian's prize was a wreath cut from an olive bush marked by an oracle. This was followed by gifts from those hosting the Olympic Games and from spectators. The Olympian received a substantial monetary reward from his hometown.
But much more important were the honors to the hero. The winner was brought to hometown on four white horses, through a gap made in the fortress wall of the city, they were exempt from taxes, fed for life at the expense of the city, erected monuments, and minted coins with his image. And sometimes, after death, some were deified and temples were built for them. The memory of Olympians was surrounded by legends to make the victory more attractive to posterity.
Up to 45 - 50 thousand spectators gathered at the Olympic festivities, among whom were famous philosophers, historians, and poets. History has preserved for us the names of outstanding representatives ancient world, which most closely matched modern term"harmonious person" Pythagoras, whose theorem is taught in school to this day, was a powerful fist fighter and became an Olympic champion. The father of medicine, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, achieved significant success in wrestling and chariot racing. Recipients of various awards for sporting valor were also famous philosophers Plato and Socrates, tragic poets Sophocles and Euripides.
The games were repeatedly visited by Aristotle and the historian Herodotus. The poet Lucian, having visited the Games many times, described them in his writings.
During the Games, Olympia turned into the center of economic, political and cultural life in Greece. At this time, there was brisk trade here, trade deals were concluded, guests got acquainted with representatives of other countries, with the development of crafts and agriculture, with various customs and religious rituals, listened to philosophers, historians, poets, musicians and ministers of religious worship. In the socio-political and cultural life of Greece during its heyday, the Olympic holidays played a very important role. They contributed to the unification of the policies (city-states). A month before the Games, a sacred truce (ekehiriya) was declared throughout Greece, all feuds between the policies ceased, and no one had the right to enter the land of Olympia with weapons in their hands. Along with philosophical systems, theater, music, fine arts The Olympic Games played an important role in “out-of-school” education and upbringing of the population.
The Olympics were not interrupted even after 146 BC. Greek lands were subjugated to Rome. True, the conquerors destroyed the sacred tradition according to which only residents of Greece could participate in the Olympic Games.
The Romans included it in the Olympic Games circus performances- fights of gladiators who fought to the death. Gladiator fights with lions, tigers, and bulls aroused fierce interest among the jaded public. But all this, of course, no longer had anything to do with sports and those Olympic ideals that were affirmed by the Greeks earlier.
Athletic competitions were held regularly at Olympia for 1,168 years. In 394 AD Emperor of the East and West Theodosius I, who forcibly propagated Christianity, considered the Olympic Games a pagan rite, declared them wicked and prohibited their further holding by a special decree.
Olympia was subsequently destroyed by river flooding after two strongest earthquakes and found herself under a layer of sand and mud.
After the cessation of the ancient Olympic Games, the idea of comprehensive human development embedded in them was consigned to oblivion for one and a half millennia. In many countries, sports themselves were banned.
2.Excavations of Olympia.
As for the excavations of Olympia, this dream has been nurtured for centuries. The French paleographer Bernard Montfaucon (1655-1741) wrote in 1723: “Undoubtedly, the Olympic land is saturated with countless monuments. And no one has excavated this area.” The famous German scientist Johann Winckelmann (1717-1768), one of the largest specialists in ancient art in world historiography, dreamed of excavating Olympia. His tragic death connected with an attempt to get to Olympia and begin its excavations.
In 1766, English archaeologists discovered the ruins of Olympia buildings, and in 1829, French archaeologists. Only the German archaeologist Ernst Curtius (1814-1896) managed to fulfill the dream of more than one generation of scientists about excavations in Olympia. Like his famous compatriot, Heinrich Schliemann, who dreamed of finding and excavating Troy since childhood, Curtius walked towards his goal long and persistently. Having visited Olympia at the age of 23, he began to dream of discovering the secrets of this glorious city. His report “Olympia”, read in 1852. in Berlin, he ended with a call to bring to light the treasures hidden under the silt of Alpheus. However, another 23 years passed before Curtius could begin to realize his dream. In October 1875, the first blows of archaeological hammers were heard on the land of ancient Olympia. The excavations lasted six years and exceeded all expectations. Curtius had by that time become a university teacher. In 1887 E. Curtius and his co-authors published a 3-volume work devoted to the results of the excavations, and the world learned about hitherto unknown details of the Olympics. Undoubtedly, this played a certain role in increasing interest in the ancient Olympic Games and in popularizing the Olympic idea.
The Olympic Games, Olympic Games are the largest international complex sports competitions of our time, which are held every four years. A tradition that existed in ancient Greece, in late XIX century was revived by a French public figure Pierre de Coubertin. The Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics, have been held every four years since 1896, with the exception of years following the World Wars. In 1924, the Winter Olympic Games were established and were originally held in the same year as the Summer Olympics. However, since 1994, the timing of the Winter Olympic Games has been shifted by two years relative to the timing of the Summer Games.
Ancient Olympic Games
The Olympic Games of Ancient Greece were a religious and sports festival held in Olympia. Information about the origin of the games has been lost, but several legends describing this event have survived. The first documented celebration dates back to 776 BC. e., although it is known that games were held earlier. During the games, a sacred truce was declared; during this time it was forbidden to wage war, although this was repeatedly violated.
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 the emperor Theodosius I.
Revival of the Olympic Idea
Even after the ban on ancient competitions, the Olympic idea did not disappear forever. For example, in England during the 17th century “Olympic” competitions and competitions were repeatedly held. Later, similar competitions were organized in France and Greece. However, these were small events that were, at best, regional in nature. The first true predecessors to the modern Olympic Games are the Olympias, which were held regularly between 1859 and 1888. The idea of reviving the Olympic Games in Greece belonged to the poet Panagiotis Soutsos, brought it to life by a public figure Evangelis Zappas.
In 1766, as a result of archaeological excavations in Olympia, sports and temple buildings were discovered. In 1875, archaeological research and excavations continued under German leadership. 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 (French: Pierre de Coubertin) said then: “Germany has excavated 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 became one of the reasons for the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. He seeks to change this by improving the physical culture of the 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. Reviving the Olympic Games seemed in his eyes the best solution to achieve both goals.
At a congress held June 16-23, 1894 at the Sorbonne (University of Paris), he presented his thoughts and ideas to an international audience. On the last day of the congress (June 23), it was decided that the first Olympic Games of our time should be held in 1896 in Athens, in the ancestral country of the Games - Greece. To organize the Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded. The first president of the Committee was a Greek Demetrius Vikelas, who was president until the end of the First Olympic Games in 1896. Baron became General Secretary Pierre de Coubertin.
The first Games of our time were truly a great success. Despite the fact that only 241 athletes (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 hold the Olympic Games “forever” in their homeland, Greece. But the IOC introduced rotation between different states so that every 4 years the Games change their location.
After the first success, the Olympic movement experienced the first crisis in its history. The 1900 Games in Paris (France) and the 1904 Games in St. Louis (Missouri, USA) were combined with the World Exhibitions. Sports competitions dragged on for months and attracted almost no interest from spectators. Almost only American athletes participated in the Games in St. Louis, since getting from Europe across the ocean in those years was very difficult for technical reasons.
At the 1906 Olympic Games in Athens (Greece), sports competitions and results again came first. Although the IOC initially recognized and supported the holding of these "interim Games" (just two years after the previous ones), these Games are now not recognized as Olympic Games. Some sports historians consider the 1906 Games to be the salvation of the Olympic idea, as they prevented the games from becoming “meaningless and unnecessary.”
Modern Olympic Games
The principles, rules and regulations of the Olympic Games are determined by the Olympic Charter, the foundations of which were approved by the International Sports Congress in Paris in 1894, which, at the suggestion of the French educator and public figure Pierre de Coubertin, decided to organize the Games on the model of the ancient ones and to create the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
According to the charter of the Games, the Olympics “... unite amateur athletes from all countries in fair and equal competitions. There shall be no discrimination against countries or individuals on racial, religious or political grounds...” The games are held in the first year of the Olympiad (4-year period between games). The Olympiads have been counted since 1896, when the first Olympic Games took place (I Olympiad - 1896-99). The Olympiad also receives its number in cases where the games are not held (for example, VI - in 1916-19, XII - 1940-43, XIII - 1944-47). The symbol of the Olympic Games is five fastened rings, symbolizing the unification of the five parts of the world in the Olympic movement, the so-called. Olympic rings. The color of the rings in the top row is blue for Europe, black for Africa, red for America, in the bottom row - yellow for Asia, green for Australia. In addition to Olympic sports, the organizing committee has the right to choose to include in the program exhibition competitions in 1-2 sports that are not recognized by the IOC. In the same year as the Olympics, the Winter Olympic Games have been held since 1924, which have their own numbering. Since 1994, the dates of the Winter Olympic Games have been shifted by 2 years relative to the summer ones. The location of the Olympics is chosen by the IOC; the right to organize them is granted to the city, not the country. Duration no more than 15 days ( winter games- no more than 10).
The Olympic movement has its own emblem and flag, approved by the IOC at the suggestion of Coubertin in 1913. The emblem is the Olympic rings. The motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger). The flag is a white cloth with the Olympic rings, and has been flown at all Games since 1920.
Among the traditional rituals of the Games:
* lighting of the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony (the flame is lit from the sun's rays in Olympia and delivered by a torch relay of athletes to the host city of the Games);
* pronouncement of the Olympic oath by one of the outstanding athletes of the country in which the Olympics are taking place on behalf of all participants in the games;
* taking an oath of impartial judging on behalf of the judges;
* presentation of medals to winners and prize-winners of competitions;
* raising the national flag and singing the national anthem in honor of the winners.
Since 1932, the host city has been building an “Olympic village” - a complex of residential premises for the participants of the games. According to the charter, the Games are a competition between individual athletes and not between national teams. However, since 1908 the so-called unofficial team standings - determining the place occupied by teams based on the number of medals received and points scored in competitions (points are awarded for the first 6 places according to the system: 1st place - 7 points, 2nd - 5, 3rd - 4, 4 -e - 3, 5th - 2, 6th - 1). The title of Olympic champion is the most honorable and coveted title in the career of an athlete in those sports in which Olympic tournaments are held. The exception is football, since the title of world champion in this sport is much more prestigious.