History of the Olympic Games

“Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind,” states the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the Olympic Charter, outlining the fundamental principles of the Olympic Games.

The IOC continued, “Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”

A history reaching across many centuries precedes the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

While the ancient and modern games may have commenced for varying purposes, the motivation of the athletes has largely remained the same: to carry further the struggle for greatness.

Likely a proponent of this struggle was the world’s first Olympian, a Greek cook known as Coroebus; he won the first and only event of the inaugural Olympics, 192-meter race.

When the first Olympic Games began in 776 B.C., it was religiously affiliated.

Of the competition’s origin, the IOC’s website explains, “Olympia functioned as a meeting place for worship and other religious and political practices as early as the 10th century B.C. The central part of Olympia was dominated by the majestic temple of Zeus, with the temple of Hera parallel to it.”

Logically it follows that the first Olympic Games “were dedicated to the Olympian gods and were staged on the ancient plains of Olympia.”

It is debated, however, who was the true founder of the Olympics. The IOC reports that Pelops, a character of Greek mythology, founded the games.

Further, they claim that he is the namesake for Peloponnese peninsula, where Olympia currently resides today.

In contrast, history.com explains, “Legend has it that Heracles (the Roman Hercules), son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, founded the Games.”

By either means of foundation, the Olympics gained popularity by sixth century B.C. The IOC continues, “They continued for nearly 12 centuries, until [Roman] Emperor Theodosius decreed in 393 A.D. that all such ‘pagan cults’ be banned.”

Pierre de Coubertin, a French advocate of physical education, led the movement in the late nineteenth century to reinstate a modern version of the Olympics.

With the foundation of the IOC in 1894, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896.

These first modern Olympics featured 280 male athletes (women athletes participated in the second modern Olympics) from 14 nations. They competed in 43 events, of which the first gold medalist was American James Connolly in triple jump.

Since their reinstatement 120 years ago, the Olympics continue to grow in size and popularity. History.com explains, “The Olympics truly took off as an international sporting event after 1924, when the VIII Games were held in Paris. Some 3,000 athletes (with more than 100 women among them) from 44 nations competed that year, and for the first time the Games featured a closing ceremony.”

By comparison, 11,488 athletes from 204 countries, along with one refugee team, are competing in 42 events this month in Rio de Janeiro.

Of the many participants of the Olympic Games, ancient or modern, the most decorated Olympian of all time is American swimmer Michael Phelps.

If only individual medals are considered, however, Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina tops the list with 14 medals.

Since the introduction of the winter Olympics in 1924, Norwegian cross country skier Ole Einar Bjørndalen is the most decorated winter Olympian in the world with a total of 13 medals.

The IOC’s unifying concept of Olympism has helped to establish a stage for athletes around the world, throughout history and into the future.

“There’s a sense of purity that we don’t see as often anymore, a glimpse into a life that is dedicated, with a central purpose—and that is to love a particular sport and to compete within it,” writes Apolo Ohno, former short track speed skater and most decorated American winter Olympian, in his autobiography.

He adds, “At an Olympics, we come together on one stage. We come together and compete in fair play and with goodwill. You see people from countries all over the world, in one place, together—a unity of ethnicities and languages.

“It’s what we look for. It’s what we all really want. It’s what we want to see. And it’s really cool.”