2000 Years of Olympics…
The Olympics: A Blend of Sports and Politics
This year’s Olympics were the biggest ever, with 3 billion people watching from around the world. Athletes from 207 countries took part, but one major country was missing: Russia. Russia was banned because of its actions in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Israel had its best Olympics ever, winning one gold medal and seven silver medals.
This makes us wonder: Is Russia the only country being criticized while others, like Israel, aren’t? The truth is, the Olympics have always been about more than just sports—they’re also connected to world politics.
The Olympics started 2,800 years ago in ancient Greece as part of a religious ceremony to honor Zeus, the most powerful god in Greek religion. The games were held in a temple built for Zeus in Olympia, and the first Olympic stadium was also built there. The word “stadium” actually comes from the Greek word “Stadion.”
At that time, the Olympics were more about religion than sports. People would worship Zeus first and then light a large fire that burned during the games. This tradition continues today. Before every Olympics, 11 women light a torch in front of the temple in Olympia, and this flame is carried to the city hosting the Olympics.
In the beginning, there were only a few events like running, wrestling, and javelin throw. Over time, more sports were added, including boxing. The tough competition helped Greek warriors become some of the strongest in the world, especially the Spartans.
Five hundred years later, Greek warriors were powerful but often fought among themselves. This changed when King Philip united Greece, allowing his son, Alexander the Great, to build a vast empire that stretched from Greece to India. However, after Alexander died at 32, his empire broke apart, and Greece’s influence began to fade.
As Greece weakened, Rome became more powerful and eventually took over Greece. But instead of destroying Greek culture, the Romans embraced it, even continuing the Olympic Games. The Romans added more brutal events like gladiator fights, which became very popular.
During the height of the Roman Empire, Christianity began to spread. At first, Christians were persecuted, but eventually, the Roman Empire adopted Christianity as its official religion. This led to the end of many old traditions, including the Olympics, which were seen as pagan because they honored Zeus.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Olympics disappeared for many years. They were finally brought back in 1896 and quickly grew into the world’s biggest sports event, supported by powerful countries like the United States and Europe.
In the last century, the Olympics have become a way for countries to show their strength. Nations that dominated the Olympics, like Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, were often the world’s superpowers at the time. Today, the competition between China and the United States is also reflected in the Olympics.
In the 2024 Olympics, both China and the USA won 40 gold medals, showing their ongoing rivalry. Over the last 100 years, the Olympics have changed from just a sports event into a way for countries to display their global power.
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