All about the first Olympiad. Olympic Games. History of the Olympic Games
Olympic Games - the most significant in the world sport competitions. They are held every four years. Every athlete dreams of winning these competitions. The origin of the Olympic Games dates back to ancient times. They were held as early as the seventh century BC. Why were the ancient Olympic Games called holidays of peace? In which country were they first held?
The myth of the origin of the Olympic Games
In ancient times, these were the greatest national festivals. Who is the founder of the ancient Olympic Games is unknown. Myths and legends played a significant role in the social and cultural life of the ancient Greeks. The Greeks believed that the birth of the Olympic Games dates back to the time of Kronos, the son of the first god Uranus. In a competition between mythical heroes, Hercules won on the run, for which he was awarded an olive wreath. Subsequently, the winner insisted that a sporting event be held every five years. Such is the legend. Of course, there are other legends about the origin of the Olympic Games.
To historical sources confirming the holding of these festivities in Ancient Greece, refers to the "Iliad" by Homer. This book mentions a chariot race organized by the inhabitants of Elis, the area in the Peloponnese where Olympia was located.
Holy Truce
A mere mortal who played a significant role in the development of the ancient Greek Olympic Games was King Ifit. During his reign, the interval between the competitions was already four years. Resuming the Olympic Games, Ifit declared a sacred truce. That is, during these festivities it was impossible to wage war. And not only in Elis, but also in other parts of Hellas.
Elis was considered a sacred place. It was impossible to wage war with her. True, later the Eleans themselves invaded neighboring areas more than once. Why were the ancient Olympic Games called holidays of peace? Firstly, the holding of these competitions was associated with the names of the gods highly revered by the ancient Greeks. Secondly, the aforementioned truce was announced for a month, which had a special name - ἱερομηνία.
About the sports in the Olympic Games held by the Hellenes, scientists still have not come to a consensus. There is an opinion that initially athletes competed only in running. Later, wrestling and chariot racing were added to the sports in the Olympic Games.
Members
Among the citizens in ancient Greece were those who were subjected to public dishonor and contempt by others, i.e. atymia. They could not become participants in competitions. Only respected Hellenes. Of course, the barbarians, who could only be spectators, did not take part in the ancient Olympic Games either. An exception was made only in favor of the Romans. At the ancient Greek Olympic Games, a woman did not even have the right to be present if she was not a priestess of the goddess Demeter.
The number of spectators and participants was huge. If at the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (776 BC) competitions were held only in running, then later other sports appeared. And over time, poets and artists got the opportunity to compete in their skills. During the festivities, even deputies competed with each other in the abundance of offerings to mythical deities.
It is known from the history of the Olympic Games that these events had a rather important social and cultural significance. Deals were made between merchants, artists and poets introduced the public to their creations.
Competitions were held on the first full moon after the summer solstice. It went on for five days. A certain part of the time was devoted to rituals with sacrifices and a public feast.
Types of competitions
The history of the Olympic Games, as already mentioned, is full of stories and legends. However, there is reliable information regarding the types of competitions. At the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, athletes competed in running. This sport was represented by the following varieties:
- Distance running.
- Double run.
- Long run.
- Running in full armor.
The first fist fight took place at the 23rd Olympiad. Later, the ancient Greeks added martial arts such as pankration, wrestling. It was said above that women did not have the right to take part in competitions. However, in 688 BC, special competitions were created for the most purposeful inhabitants in ancient Greece. the only sport in which they could compete, there were horse races.
In the fourth century BC, a competition between trumpeters and heralds was added to the program of the Olympic Games - the Hellenes believed that aesthetic pleasure and sport had a logical connection. Artists exhibited their works on the market square. Poets and writers, as mentioned above, read their writings. Sculptors were sometimes ordered statues of winners after the end of the Games, lyrics in honor of the strongest and most dexterous composed laudatory songs.
Ellanodons
What were the names of the judges who watched the course of the competition and awarded awards to the winners. Ellanodons were appointed by lot. The judges not only presented the award, but also managed the organization of the entire event. At the first Olympic Games there were only two, then nine, and later ten. Beginning in 368 BC, there were twelve Hellanodons. True, later the number of judges decreased. The Ellanodons wore a special purple robe.
How did the competition start? Athletes proved to spectators and judges that the previous months were devoted exclusively to preliminary preparation. They took an oath in front of the statue of the main ancient Greek god - Zeus. Relatives of those wishing to compete - fathers and brothers - also took an oath. A month before the competition, the athletes demonstrated their skills in front of the judges at the Olympic Gymnasium.
The order of the competition was determined by drawing lots. Then the herald publicly announced the name of the contestant. Where were the Olympic Games held?
Sanctuary of Ancient Greece
Where the Olympic Games were held is already clear from the name. Olympia is located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. This was once located temple-cultural complex and sacred grove of Zeus. On the territory of the ancient Greek sanctuary there were religious buildings, monuments, sports facilities and houses in which the participants and guests lived. This place was the center of Greek art until the fourth century BC. Later they were burned by order of Theodosius II.
The Olympic Stadium was built gradually. He became the first in ancient Greece. In the fifth century BC, this stadium received about forty thousand spectators. For training, a gymnasium was used - a structure, Treadmill which was equal in length to the one that was in the stadium itself. Another platform for preliminary preparations - palestra. It was a square building with a courtyard. Mostly athletes who competed in wrestling and fisticuffs trained here.
Leonidoyon, which served as a function, was built in the fifth century BC according to the project of a well-known architect in Ancient Greece. The huge building consisted of a courtyard surrounded by columns and included many rooms. The Olympic Games played an important role in the religious life of the Hellenes. That is why here the locals erected several temples and shrines. The buildings fell into disrepair after an earthquake that occurred in the sixth century. The hippodrome was finally destroyed during the flood.
The last Olympic Games in Ancient Greece took place in 394. Banned by Emperor Theodosius. In the Christian era, these events were regarded as pagan. The revival of the Olympic Games occurred after two millennia. Although already in the 17th century, competitions reminiscent of the Olympic ones were held repeatedly in England, France and Greece.
Revival of ancient Greek traditions
The forerunners of the modern Olympic Games were the Olympia, held in the middle of the 19th century. But they, of course, were not so large-scale and had little in common with the competitions, which in our time take place every four years. French Pierre de Coubertin played a significant role in the revival of the Olympic Games. Why did the Europeans suddenly remember the traditions of the ancient Greeks?
In the middle of the 17th century, archaeological research was carried out in Olympia, as a result of which scientists discovered the remains of temple structures. The work continued for more than ten years. At that time, everything related to Antiquity was popular in Europe. Many public and cultural figures became infected with the desire to revive the Olympic traditions. At the same time, the French showed the greatest interest in the culture of holding sports competitions in Ancient Greece, although the archaeological discoveries belonged to the Germans. This can be easily explained.
In 1871, the French army was defeated, which significantly undermined the patriotic spirit in society. Pierre de Coubertin believed that the reason was the poor physical preparation of the soldiers. He did not try to inspire his compatriots to fight against Germany and other European powers. The French public figure spoke a lot about the need to improve physical education, but also advocated overcoming national selfishness and establishing international understanding.
First Olympic Games: new time
In June 1894, a congress was held at the Sorbonne, at which Coubertin presented to the world community his thoughts on the need to revive the ancient Greek traditions. His ideas were supported. On the last day of the congress, it was decided to hold the Olympic Games in two years. They were supposed to take place in Athens. The International Competitions Committee was headed by Demetrius Vikelas. Pierre de Coubertin took over as general secretary.
The 1896 Olympic Games were the biggest sporting event ever. Greek statesmen put forward a proposal to hold the Olympic Games exclusively in their homeland. However, the committee decided otherwise. The venue for the Games changes every four years.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Olympic movement was not widely popular. This is partly due to the fact that at that time the World Exhibition was held in Paris. Some historians believe that the Olympic ideas were saved thanks to the intermediate games of 1906, held again in Athens.
Differences between modern Games and ancient Greek
Competitions were resumed on the model of ancient sports competitions. The modern Olympic Games unite athletes from all states; discrimination against individuals on religious, racial, political grounds is not allowed. This, perhaps, is the main difference between the modern Games and the ancient Greek ones.
What did the modern Olympic Games borrow from the ancient Greek? First of all, the names themselves. The frequency of the competitions was also borrowed. One of the purposes of the modern Olympic Games is to serve the world, to establish mutual understanding between countries. This is in tune with the ideas of the ancient Greeks about a temporary truce during the days of the competition. olympic fire and the torch are the symbols of the Olympics, which arose, of course, in antiquity. Some terms and rules for holding competitions were also borrowed from the ancient Greeks.
There are, of course, several significant differences between the modern Games and the ancient ones. The ancient Greeks held sports events exclusively in Olympia. Today the Games are organized each time in a different city. In ancient Greece, there was no such thing as the Winter Olympics. Yes, the competition was different. In antiquity in the Olympic Games were attended not only by athletes, but also by poets.
Symbolism
Everyone knows what the symbol of the Olympic Games looks like. Five fastened rings in black, blue, red, yellow and green. However, few people know that these elements do not belong to any particular continent. sounds in Latin, translated into Russian means "faster, higher, stronger". The flag is a white cloth with rings. It has been raised at every Games since 1920.
Both the opening and closing of the Games are accompanied by a grandiose, colorful ceremony. The best organizers are involved in the development of the script mass events. Famous actors and singers strive to participate in this spectacle. The broadcast of this international event attracts tens of millions of viewers around the world to television screens.
If the ancient Greeks believed that in honor of the Olympic Games it was worth suspending any hostilities, then in the twentieth century the opposite was true. Sports competitions were canceled due to armed conflicts. The games were not held in 1916, 1940, 1944. Russia has hosted the Olympics twice. In 1980 in Moscow and in 2014 in Sochi.
GRADUATE WORK
HISTORY OF OLYMPIC GAMES
CONTENT.
2. Excavations of Olympia.
3. The revival of the modern Olympic Games.
4. Olympic Charter.
4.1. Olympic symbol.
4.2. Olympic motto.
4.3. Olympic flag.
4.4. Olympic fire.
4.5. Olympic oath.
4.6. Olympic emblem.
4.7. Olympic awards.
4.8. Olympic anthem.
5. Olympism, the Olympic movement, the Olympic Games, the 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 Olympics.
Russia at the origins of the modern Olympic movement.
Games of the first three Olympiads of our time.
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. Olympic Games - 100 years.
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 Stavropol at the Olympics.
21. Ode to sports.
Literature.
1. Ancient Greek Olympic Games.
In ancient Greece, there were two methods of applying physical exercises: gymnastics, or general physical education, and agonistics - special training and participation in competitions. Agonistics broke up into gymnastic games and competitions and musical 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), the Panathenaic Games (in Athens) were very popular. However, of all the games held 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 different countries.
The origin and development of the Olympic Games is due to the economic, political, military and cultural prerequisites that were formed in Ancient Greece, during the collapse of tribal relations and the maturation of a class slave society.
With the development of slaveholding relations, changes took place in the cultural life of 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 social games appeared long before myths and legends about pagan deities began to take shape. For many years, ancient agons were also held where competitions later became organized, which were called Olympic. There is no exact data about the first Olympic Games. The first reliable mention of them dates back to 776 BC, when one of the marble columns installed along the banks of the Alpheus River was engraved with the name of the first Olympic winner - Koreb, a cook from Elis.
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 were a gymnasium, a palestra, a stadium and a hippodrome. The Olympic holiday, in which at first only the athletes of the two cities of Elis, Pisa and Elis, participated, was celebrated in the "holy month", which began from the first full moon after the summer solstice every 1417 days, i.e. The Olympic Games were held once every four years. The periods between the Games were called the Olympics; for some time the Greeks used them to calculate the chronology.
The program of the Olympic Games, which at first consisted only of running one stage (192 m 27 cm), later expanded to include competitions in pentathlon, running with weapons (sword and shield), pankration, fisticuffs, chariot competitions and horseback riding.
In the period from the 7th to the 2nd c. 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 the Games. Each participant had to prepare for the Games at home for 10 months, and then for a month in Olympia. Only the wealthiest slave owners, who had enough free time, could afford it.
The Olympic Games were held extremely solemnly. The games were managed by referees-managers (ellanodics). In the early period, the Games were held on one day, in the heyday (VI-IV centuries BC) - in 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 (Olympics) enjoyed great fame, respect and honors. Laudatory odes were composed in their honor, hymns were sung, monuments were erected. The olympionik's prize was a wreath cut from an olive bush marked by an oracle. This was followed by gifts from the hosts of the Olympic Games and from the audience. From his native city, the olympionist received a solid monetary reward.
But much more important were honors to the hero. The winner was brought to his hometown on four white horses through a gap made in the fortress wall of the city, exempted from taxes, fed all his life at the expense of the city, erected monuments, minted coins with his image. And sometimes, after death, some were deified and temples were built for them. The memory of the Olympians was surrounded by legends to make the victory more attractive to posterity.
Up to 45 - 50 thousand spectators gathered for the Olympic festivities, among which were famous philosophers, historians, poets. History has preserved for us the names of prominent representatives of the ancient world, who most closely corresponded to the modern term "harmonious person". Pythagoras, whose theorem is taught in school to this day, was a powerful fist fighter, became an Olympic champion. The father of medicine, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, achieved significant success in wrestling and chariot racing. The recipients of various awards for sporting prowess 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 days of the Games, Olympia turned into the center of the economic, political and cultural life of Greece. At that time, there was a brisk trade, trade deals were concluded, guests got acquainted with representatives of other countries, with the development of crafts and agriculture, with various customs and religious rites, listened to philosophers, historians, poets, musicians and religious ministers. 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 policies (city-states). A month before the Games, a sacred truce (ekekhiria) was declared throughout Greece, all strife between the policies ceased, 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 the "out-of-school" education and upbringing of the population.
The Olympics were not interrupted even after in 146 BC. Greek lands were subject 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 circus performances in the Games of the Olympiad - fights of gladiators who fought to the death. The fierce interest of the satiated public was caused by the fights of gladiators with lions, tigers, bulls. But all this, of course, no longer had anything to do with sports and those Olympic ideals that the Greeks had previously affirmed.
Athletic competitions in Olympia were held regularly for 1168 years. In 394 AD The emperor of the East and West Theodosius I, who forcibly planted Christianity, considered the Olympic Games a pagan rite, declared them unholy and forbade their further holding by a special decree.
Subsequently, Olympia was destroyed as a result of the flood of rivers after two strong earthquakes and was under a layer of sand and mud.
After the cessation of the ancient Olympic Games, the idea embodied in them comprehensive development man was consigned to oblivion for a millennium and a half. 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 full of countless monuments. And no one dug up this area.” The famous German scientist Johann Winckelmann (1717-1768), one of the world's largest experts in ancient art, dreamed of excavating Olympia. His tragic death associated with an attempt to get to Olympia and begin excavations.
In 1766, the ruins of Olympia were discovered by English archaeologists, in 1829 by 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 went to his goal long and hard. Having visited Olympia at the age of 23, he had a dream to discover 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 then become a university lecturer. In 1887 E. Curtius with co-authors published a 3-volume work devoted to the results of 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, in popularizing the Olympic idea.
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Domodedovo branch of a non-state educational institution
"Russian New University"
in the discipline "Physical culture"
Topic: "Modern Olympic Games"
Performed:
1st year student
distance learning
Faculty of Law
groups SW-10
Mamleeva Nadezhda Igorevna
Supervisor:
teacher M.V. Slesarev
Introduction
1. Prerequisites for the revival of the Olympic Games
2. Pierre de Coubertin - the initiator of the revival of the Olympic Games
3. Olympic Congress and its role in the Olympic movement. Creation of the IOC and its Charter
4. Russia's entry into the Olympic Movement
5 Modern Olympic Games
6. Traditional rituals of the Games (in the order in which they are held)
7. Venues for the Olympic Games. Chronology and heroes of the Summer Olympics
Conclusion
Bibliography
Introduction
The Olympics are the largest international complex sports competitions that are held every four years. The tradition that existed in ancient Greece was revived at the end of the 19th century by the French public figure Pierre de Coubertin. The Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics, have been held every 4 years since 1896, except during the World Wars. In 1924, the Winter Olympic Games were established, which were originally held in the same year as the summer ones. However, since 1994, the timing of the Winter Olympics has shifted by two years from that of the Summer Games.
Greek civilization is one of the most ancient in the world. It is still admired by its philosophers, poets, mathematicians, sculptures, architects and, of course, athletes. The Greeks were one of the first nations to have exercise and sports as part of their daily lives.
The first reliable historical data on the holding of the Olympic Games date back to 776 BC. It is this year that is engraved on the found marble slab, on which the name of the Olympic winner in the race of the Hellenic cook Koroibos is carved.
The origin of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece coincided with the time when history was made by myths and legends. According to the works of ancient Greek historians, philosophers and poets that have come down to us, we learn that the Ancient Olympic Games are associated with the names of the folk hero Hercules, the legendary king Pelops, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus and the Hellenic king Ifit.
Some researchers argue that the Olympic Games were held in honor of the harvest festival. Therefore, the winners were awarded with an olive branch and a wreath. The time of the Games - August-September, as it were, confirms this version.
The glory of Olympia in the ancient world was very great. She was glorified by poets, historians, philosophers and orators spoke about her, myths and legends were composed about her. Olympia was located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnese, 20 km from the Ionian Sea, 275 km from Athens and 127 km from Sparta; on the south side it was washed by the river Alpheus, on the west - by the river Kladei, and on the north was Mount Kronos. In the east, a lowland stretched, flooded with the waters of Alpheus during the flood. The choice for the Olympic stadium near Mount Kronos is explained by the fact that the slopes served as a natural platform for spectators, which housed 40 thousand people.
So, the program of the ancient Olympic Games included the following types - running at stages 1, 2 and 24; fight; pentathlon (pentathlon); fist fights; chariot races drawn by two and four horses; pankration, running in military gear, horse racing.
All those wishing to take part in the Games were entered into special lists a year after their opening. They took an oath that they would prepare for the upcoming competitions for at least ten months. The preparation took place in special schools, where the participant himself paid for the stay. Then, 30 days before the opening of the Games, all potential participants arrived in Olympia for a centralized collection. They were placed in rooms adjacent to the gymnasium. Athletes who arrived at the competitions started training under the supervision of special judges ("hellanodics"), who then dealt with the admission of athletes to the Games.
Initially, only the inhabitants of the Peloponnese took part in the Olympics. Then representatives of neighboring states - Corinth, Sparta, etc. - began to participate in them. Initially, only free-born Greeks could participate in the Olympic Games. Slaves and people of non-Greek origin, as well as women, were not allowed to the Games. Women not only did not participate in the Olympic Games, but they were forbidden to watch them.
The victory at the Olympic Games was considered by the Greeks as a sign of the good disposition of the gods to the athlete, as well as to the city where he was from. Among the ancient Olympionists, the greatest success was achieved by Leonidas from Rhodes, who kept 12 victories (164-152 BC) in the stadium, diaulos and running in equipment, Hermogenes from Xaif - 0 victories (81-89 BC). BC) and Astilos from Croton - 7 victories (488-476 BC) in the same types of running, Chionis from Laconia - 6 victories (664-656 BC). e.) - in running and jumping, Milo from Croton - 6 victories (540-516 BC) and Hippisthenes from Sparta - 5 victories (624-608 BC) - fight.
In 394, the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who forcibly planted Christianity and saw a pagan rite in the games, banned the Olympics. At the same time, as many historians note, he only fulfilled the verdict of time - the goals of society and the values of the Olympic Games became incompatible.
During 1168 years, 293 Olympiads were held. Soon after the prohibition of the Olympic Games (394 AD), the facilities for the Games were destroyed, and in 522 and 551. n. e. strong earthquakes finally destroyed Olympia.
The ancient Olympic Games performed important cultural, pedagogical, economic, military-applied and political functions. The degree of their popularity is evidenced at least by the fact that the ancient Greek historian Timaeus based the chronology on the account of time according to the Olympics. At the same time, the Olympic Games existed almost in parallel with the slave system and were a reflection of its problems and contradictions. The development of Olympism was hampered by the anti-democratic restriction of participation in competitions, professionalization, rude individualism and the beginning of moral degradation.
1 . Prerequisites forrevivalOlympic Games
Historians name many attempts to revive the ancient Olympic Games that took place in the 16th-19th centuries. These were sports holidays, festivals, but not the Olympics.
The following prerequisites contributed to the revival of the Olympic Games:
First, the first Olympic Games, with the exception of the Middle Ages, were never forgotten.
Secondly, during this period of time, different countries were already developing their own systems of physical education.
Thirdly, in 1960-1880. wide sports contacts begin, national and first international sports associations appear.
Fourthly, with the entry of sports into the international arena, it became necessary to hold major complex competitions.
The idea of the revival of the Olympic Games at the end of the nineteenth century. hovered in the air. This idea was brought to life by the French educator Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937).
2 . pierre de Coubertin - the initiator of the revivalOlympic Games
Pierre de Coubertin was born on January 1, 1863 in Paris in the family of a painter from the ancient family of Fred de Coubertin. As a child, he loved to ride, fencing, and rowing. At the age of 12, he came across the book "Tom Brown's School Years", translated from English. She inspired in him an interest in physical education. As a child, he traveled with his parents. As a young man, he visited England several times. He was greatly influenced by the philosophy of Thomas Arnold, one of the propagandists of the English school of physical education from 1828 to 1842. After graduating from the Lyceum in Paris, he entered the University of Paris and after graduation he became a bachelor of art, science and law. He then continued his education at the Free School of Political Science in Paris. He was greatly influenced by Father Karon, professor of humanistic sciences and rhetoric, who taught him Greek language, the history of the Roman Empire and talked a lot about the ancient Olympic Games.
P. Coubertin devoted himself to the educational reform in France and the study of various systems of physical education. In 1886-1887. According to Coubertin himself, his campaign for the revival of the Olympic Games began on August 30, 1887 after the publication of an article in which he drew the attention of the French to the need for more versatile physical training of children in schools and announced the creation of the League of Physical Education. In 1888, Coubertin published the book "Education in England", and a year later "English Education in France", in which he already shares his ideas with readers.
In the spring of 1893, he was the official representative of France at the World Exhibition in Chicago, during which the International Congress on Physical Education was held. He took part in it, and also visited a number of American universities. On his way home in December 1893, he spent several days in London and met with the secretary of the amateur sports association, G. Herbert. On August 1, 1893, at a meeting of his club, Coubertin included an additional item on the agenda regarding the possibility of reviving the Olympic Games.
3 . Olympic Congressand its role in the Olympicmovement.Creation of the IOC and its Charter
In January 1894, P. Coubertin sent out invitations and a congress program to many foreign clubs.
On June 23, 1894, in Paris, in the Great Hall of the Sorbonne, a commission for the revival of the Olympic Games met. Pierre de Coubertin became its general secretary. Then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took shape, which included the most authoritative and independent citizens of different countries. At the last moment, "Olympic Revival Congress" was written on the invitation cards.
The congress was attended by 79 delegates from 49 sports organizations from 12 countries, including the USA, Italy, Spain, Russia, Hungary, Argentina, New Zealand, Belgium, Sweden, Bohemia.
On the eve of the congress, on June 15, Coubertin published an article in the "Revue de Paris" entitled "Revival of the Olympic Games". Therefore, the discussion of the principles of "Olympism" was reduced mainly to those points that Coubertin outlined in his article, namely:
1. Like the ancient festivals, the modern Olympic Games should be held every 4 years.
2. The revived Games (unlike the ancient Olympics) will be modern and international. They will include those sports that were cultivated in the nineteenth century.
3. Games will be held for adults.
4. Strict definitions of "amateur" will be introduced. The money will be used only for organizing, building facilities and holding celebrations.
5. Modern Olympic Games should be "mobile", i.e. carried out in different countries.
The most important part of the work of the second section was the creation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), whose members should promote the principles of modern "Olympism" and represent the IOC in their countries.
The creation of the IOC at the Congress should be considered one of the main steps in the revival of the Olympic Games. A list of its members was prepared by Coubertin. They were 15 people. their 12 countries, including Ernest Kallet from France, General Butovsky from Russia, Captain Victor Balck from Sweden, Professor William Sloan from the USA, lawyer Gut Yarkovsky from Bohemia, Ferenc Kemeny from Hungary, Charles Herbert and Lord Ampthill from England, Dr. José Benjamin Subnar from Argentina, Leonard Cuff from New Zealand, Count Lucchesi Palli and Duke Andrew Carafi from Italy, Count Maxime de Buene from Belgium. Coubertin was elected Secretary General of the IOC, and D. Vikelas was elected President of the IOC.
The Olympic Charter was adopted at the First Olympic Congress. The main provisions of the Charter were developed by Pierre de Coubertin. The Charter contains the goals of the IOC task, its organization, structure, the basic principles of the Olympic Movement. Coubertin, above all, made sure that the IOC turned out to be truly international. It is no coincidence that its name first contains "International", and then "Olympic".
It was decided to hold the 1st Olympic Games in April 1896 in Athens. The King of Greece sent a telegram to Coubertin on June 21, thanking the members of Congress for the revival of the Olympic Games.
The process of the revival of the Olympic Games and the creation of the IOC was facilitated by a number of factors, among which should be mentioned the rapid development of communications and transport, which facilitated the exchange of material and spiritual values between peoples, the holding of world industrial and trade fairs, conferences, the emergence of international organizations, including sports ones.
Coubertin used ancient customs as a source of inspiration in order to better serve the modern world. He developed the organization and procedure for the Olympic Games, adding elements that he believed were necessary for modern humanity.
Pierre de Coubertin drew attention to the fact that at the Ancient Olympic Games, athletes took an oath of honesty and a fair fight for victory. The idea of developing an athlete's oath was supported by the IOC leadership. The words of this oath were first spoken at the 1920 Games by the Belgian fencer V. Buen.
At the initiative of Coubertin, the Latin saying "Faster, Higher, Stronger", flaunted at the entrance to the Dominican Lyceum in Paris, becomes the Olympic motto.
From 1901 to 1914 Coubertin published the monthly magazine Revue Olympique, which reflected the activities of the IOC and everything related to "Olympism" and the Olympic Games. During this period, many of his famous works were written: "Psychology of Sports", "New Forms of Physical Education", "Nudity and Sports", "Why I Revived the Olympic Games", "Sports Pedagogy", "Essays on Sports Psychology", "World history" (4 volumes). In 1931 he published "Olympic Memoirs".
Pierre de Coubertin died in 1937 and is buried in Lausanne. The heart, at the request of Coubertin himself, is buried in Olympia.
Pierre de Coubertin was a supporter liberal democracy and carried the humanistic charge of the Renaissance. He tried by means of pedagogy, and primarily through physical education and sports, to reform interpersonal and international relations.
4 . Introse Russia to the Olympic Movement
The ancient Olympic Games aroused interest among representatives of the Russian public.
At the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy was created in Russia, in which the Greek language, philosophy and literature were studied. In the literature on academic disciplines there are references to the ancient Olympic holidays. Holding such holidays in Russia became a reality when Catherine II in 1766 arranged a kind of tournament, consisting of horse riding competitions and a demonstration of costumes. The tournament was held in St. Petersburg on June 16 and July 11, 1766 and was called the court carousel. The winners of the tournaments were awarded with special gold and silver medals with the inscription: "From the Alpheus to the Neva banks." It is known that the ancient Olympic Games were held in the valley of the Alfey River, therefore, we can talk about the existence of a direct connection between the ancient Olympic Games and tournaments in St. Petersburg.
In addition to theoretical issues in Russia, since the middle of the 19th century, such sports as tennis, sailing, speed skating, cycling, and athletics have been rapidly developing. Prominent statesmen and public figures of Russia hosted Active participation in the Olympic Movement.
At the I Olympic Congress in 1894, A.D. was elected a member of the IOC for Russia. Butovsky (1894-1900), who was the author of many works on the theory and methodology of physical training in the army and educational institutions. A teacher, a general of the Russian army, as a member of the IOC, he made a significant contribution to the organization and holding of the Games of the 1st Olympiad in Athens.
The question of Russia's participation in the Olympic Games arose in 1896, when its representatives A.D. Butovsky and N. Ritter visited the Games of the First Olympiad. Repeated attempts were made to get the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Movement, but the lack of government support and funds, the weakness and disunity of sports organizations, as well as the mistrust of many skeptics who did not believe in the success of the Olympic Games and their real existence, was the reason for the absence of Russian representatives in the sports arenas of the first three Olympics.
Only in 1908. At the initiative of sports clubs and societies, Russian athletes went to the Games in London for the first time. The delegation consisted of 8 people. The figure skater N. Panin-Kolomenkin became the first Russian champion. Wrestlers A. Petrov and N. Orlov were awarded silver medals. The successful debut of Russian athletes caused a wide resonance among the Russian sports community. Participation in the subsequent Games at the Olympics in 1912, as well as interest in the further success of Russian sports at the Olympic Games, contributed to the creation in 1911 of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC). It was headed by the chairman of the St. Petersburg Society of Skating Fans V.I. Sreznevsky, and G.A. was elected secretary. Duperron.
After the formation of the ROK, its branches in the field begin to be created. So in that period of time, the St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Odessa and Baltic Olympic Committees were created.
For the first time, Russia officially took part in the Games of the 5th Olympiad in 1912. The Russian team consisted of 170 athletes who competed in all sections of the Olympic program. The results were modest: 2 silver and 2 bronze medals and the penultimate place in the unofficial team standings was regarded as a defeat.
For more purposeful preparation for the Games of the VI Olympiad in 1916, as well as for further development sports movement, in Russia are held in 1913 and 1914. All-Russian Olympics, the program of which was in many respects similar to the Olympic. However, with the outbreak of World War I, the Games of the VI Olympiad in 1916 were not held. After its completion, Russia, due to internal and external reasons, did not take part in the Olympic Games until 1952.
5 . Modern Olympic Games
The 1st Olympic Games were held in April 1896 in Athens, the capital of Greece.
The energy of Coubertin and the enthusiasm of the Greeks overcame many obstacles and made it possible to carry out the planned program of the first games of our time. Spectators enthusiastically accepted the colorful opening and closing ceremonies of the revived sports festival, awarding the winners of the competitions. The interest in the competition was so great that 80 thousand spectators could fit in the marble stands of the Panathini Stadium, designed for 70,000 seats. The success of the revival of the Olympic Games was confirmed by the public and the press of many countries, who welcomed the initiative.
However, even at the beginning of the preparations for the Games in Athens, difficulties related to the economic weakness of Greece were revealed. Prime Minister Trikonis immediately told Coubertin that Athens was not in a position to carry out such a major international event, associated with large expenditures of funds and volumes of work for the reconstruction of the city and sports facilities. Only the support of the population helped to overcome this obstacle. Prominent Greek public figures formed an Organizing Committee and raised funds. The fund for the preparation of the games received private contributions, which formed large sums. Postage stamps were issued in honor of the Olympic Games. The proceeds from their sale went to the training fund. The energetic measures of the organizing committee and the participation of the entire population of Greece brought the desired results.
And yet, the obvious unpreparedness of Greece for serious events of this magnitude affected, first of all, the sports results of the competition, which were not high even according to the estimates of that time. There was only one reason for this - the lack of properly equipped facilities.
The famous Panathenaic stadium was dressed in white marble, but its capacity was clearly insufficient. The sports arena did not withstand any criticism. Too narrow, having a slope at one edge, it turned out to be ill-suited for athletics competitions. The soft cinder track to the finish line had an increase, and the turns were too steep. Swimmers competed on the high seas, where the start and finish lines were marked with ropes stretched between the floats. In such conditions, one could not even dream of high achievements. It became clear that athletes cannot achieve high results in the primitive arena of the stadium. In addition, the unprecedented influx of tourists who rushed to Athens revealed the need to adapt the city economy to receive and serve them.
Currently, the Marble Stadium in Athens is not used for competitions, remaining a monument to the first games. Naturally, the organization of the modern Olympic Games is only possible for economically developed countries, whose cities have the necessary sports facilities and are well-equipped enough to properly receive the required number of guests. When deciding on the next games of 1900-1904 in Paris in St. Louis, the IOC proceeded from the fact that world exhibitions were held in these cities at the same time. The calculation was simple - selected cities in France and the United States already had the minimum necessary sports facilities, and preparations for world exhibitions provided conditions for servicing tourists and participants in the games. To the famous Parisian ensembles, the preparation for the games of the Olympics has not added anything essentially new.
After the first success, the Olympic movement experienced the first crisis. The II Olympic Games of 1900 in Paris (France) and the III Olympic Games of 1904 in St. Louis (Missouri, USA) were combined with the World Exhibitions. Sports competitions dragged on for months and almost did not enjoy the interest of the audience. Almost only American athletes participated in the Games in St. Louis, since it was very difficult to get from Europe across the ocean in those years for technical reasons.
Quite good results were shown at the competitions of the Games of the II Olympiad in Paris. However, the hopes for the use of existing facilities and the combination of the Games with the World's Fair did not justify themselves. They attracted few spectators and were poorly reflected in the press.
Even less effective were the Games of the III Olympiad in St. Louis. They were also timed to coincide with the 1904 World's Fair. The vast majority of participants were Americans themselves.
The organizers of the Games of the IV Olympiad in London took into account the mistakes of their predecessors. In the British capital, the White-city stadium with a grandstand for 100,000 seats was built in a short time. The Olympic Games in London marked the beginning of the construction of special sports complexes for their holding.
The popularity of the modern Olympic movement was reinforced by the Games of the V Olympiad in Stockholm. Their clear organization, and most importantly, a specially built royal stadium brought the games a well-deserved success. All subsequent games left an indelible mark on the history of the Olympic movement not only in the form of high sports achievements, but also in the form of unique works of architecture equipped with progressive technical devices contributing to the high achievements of athletes, improving the structure of the cities - the capitals of the Olympic Games.
Games of the VII Olympiad 1920 in Antwerp (Belgium). The Olympic Stadium was designed as an urban building. At the Olympic Stadium, during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, a white flag with five interlaced rings was raised, symbolizing the unity of athletes from all continents, and the Olympic oath was recited.
In 1924, the thirtieth anniversary of the Olympic movement was celebrated. The honor of organizing the Games of the VIII Olympiad was given to Paris. This time, Paris was carefully preparing for the Olympic Games. To this end, an architectural competition was announced for the best design of the Olympic Stadium. On the outskirts of Paris, the Colombe Stadium was built with stands for 40,000 seats, meeting the requirements of that time, but not distinguished by its particular beauty and convenience for spectators.
The Games of the IX Olympiad (1928) were held in Amsterdam, a major economic and cultural center of the Netherlands.
The Games of the X Olympiad in Los Angeles (1932) marked the beginning of the formation of the city's Olympic complex, which included a stadium, a swimming pool, and the Olympic Village. The Coliseum Stadium (1923), built in the antique style, was reconstructed for the Olympics, its stands began to accommodate over 100,000 spectators.
In 1932, the Games of the XI Olympiad in Berlin. In 1933, the Nazis came to power in Germany, they began to use the preparations for the Olympics for their own propaganda purposes. For the Games in Berlin, a complex was erected, which was distinguished by excessive splendor. The project of the architect Werner March was awarded a gold medal at the games.
The Games of the XIV Olympiad, held in 1948 in London, showed with their own eyes how great is the desire of people for peace and mutual cooperation. Organized under the conditions of a brutal post-war austerity regime, they nevertheless attracted a record number of participating countries for that time (59) and many tourists. No new sports facilities were built for the games. But the very fact of holding a world holiday of physical culture shortly after the end of World War II became a confirmation of the life of the Olympic movement.
The Games of the XV Olympiad in 1952 in Helsinki turned out to be even more representative. It was there that athletes entered the Olympic arena among 69 national teams for the first time. Soviet Union. Debutants, contrary to forecasts, have achieved amazing success. In the unofficial standings, they shared first and second places on points with generally recognized favorites - US athletes
1956 marked a new stage in the development of the Olympic movement. The Games of the XVI Olympiad were first held on the Australian continent in Melbourne. High sports achivments shown by envoys from different countries, became the best assessment of the organizing committee's activities. Preparations for the games of the XVI Olympiad became an outstanding event for the architects of Australia and largely determined the nature of the further development of architecture on the continent.
The Games of the XVII Olympiad in 1960 in Rome can rightfully be considered the beginning of a new direction in organizing the preparation of subsequent Olympiads. For the first time, an attempt was made to cover the entire range of issues to be resolved by the organizing committee. Along with the preparation and construction of sports complexes and individual facilities, much attention was paid to improving the infrastructure of the Olympic capital - Rome. New modern highways were laid through the ancient city, a number of old buildings and structures were demolished. Symbolizing the connection of the current games with the Ancient Greek ones, some of the oldest architectural monuments of Rome were converted to host competitions in individual sports. Topped the list of the main Olympic stadium "Stadium Olimpico" with a capacity of 100,000 spectators. The Games of the Roman Olympiad are also notable for the fact that television programs were broadcast from them to some European countries. Although the transmissions went on radio relay and cable lines, but this was already a sign of the scientific and technological revolution entering the sports arenas.
Games of the XVIII Olympiad in Tokyo in 1964. The organizers of the first Olympic Games on the Asian continent have prepared more than 110 different facilities for competitions and training of athletes. The huge capital of Japan has changed. There are new metro lines and a monorail city Railway. Dilapidated buildings were demolished and streets widened. To solve the transport problem of the city, high-speed highways were laid through it. Street junctions were built by building overpasses and bridges. The hotel industry of the Japanese capital has significantly replenished. The indoor facilities - sports halls in Yoyogi Park - became the true center of the Tokyo Olympics. Their architectural appearance was borrowed from nature. Olympic construction largely predetermined the future direction of urban development in Japan. characteristic feature Tokyo Games was the sovereign entry of electronics into the Olympic arena. Its use in sports refereeing has greatly increased its accuracy and efficiency. A new stage in the development of the mass media was opened by television broadcasts through space, which crossed the borders of the continents and attached an unthinkable number of viewers to what was happening in the Olympic arenas. The opportunity to see the Olympic Games to any person on earth immeasurably increased the popularity of the Olympic movement.
In 1968, the XIX Olympic Games were held for the first time in Latin America. The city of Mexico honorably fulfilled the honorary duty of the host of the Games of the XIX Olympiad.
The organizers of the Games of the XX Olympiad in Munich took into account the experience of Rome, Tokyo and Mexico City and did everything possible to surpass the achievements of their predecessors. First of all, the infrastructure of the capital of the Olympiad was improved.
Starting preparations for the 1980 Olympics, its organizers thoroughly studied the experience of their predecessors and the traditions of the Olympic movement. The main arena of the Games of the XXII Olympiad in Moscow was the stadium in Luzhniki.
The modern Olympic Games continue to be held to this day. It is held in the first year of the 4-year (Olympic) cycle. The Olympiads have been counted since 1896, when the first Olympic Games took place (I Olympiad - 1896-99). The Summer Olympiad also receives its number in cases where games are not held (for example, VI - in 1916-19, XII-1940-43, XIII - 1944-47). In the numbering of the Winter Olympics, missed games are not taken into account (the IV games of 1936 were followed by the V games of 1948). 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 include demonstration competitions in 1-2 sports that are not recognized by the IOC. In the same year as the Olympics, since 1924 the Winter Olympic Games have been held, which have their own numbering. Since 1994, the dates for the Winter Olympic Games have been shifted by 2 years relative to the summer ones. The venue 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 features of different countries, the Summer Games can be held not only in the "summer months". So XXVII Summer Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney (Australia), due to the location of Australia in the Southern Hemisphere, where summer begins in winter, were held in September, that is, in the spring. 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 (lat. "faster, higher, stronger"). III
6 . traditional ritualsGames (in order)
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 scenarios for these spectacles: screenwriters, organizers of mass shows, special effects specialists, etc. Many famous singers, actors and other important people strive to take part in this spectacle. Broadcasts of these events break records of viewer interest every time. Each host country of the Olympics strives to surpass all previous ones in scope and beauty of these ceremonies. Scenarios of ceremonies are kept in the strictest confidence until they begin. The ceremonies are held at the central stadiums with a large capacity, in the same place where athletics competitions are held;
opening and closing begins with a theatrical performance, which should present the audience with the appearance of the country and the city, acquaint them with their history and culture;
solemn passage of athletes and members of delegations through the central stadium. Athletes from each country go in a separate group. Traditionally, the first is the delegation of athletes from Greece - the "ancestral" country of the Games. The other groups go in order corresponding to alphabetical order country names in the language of the host country of the Games. (Or in the official language of the IOC - French or English). Each group is preceded by a representative of the host country, carrying a sign with the name of the respective country in the language of the host country and in the official languages of the IOC. Behind him at the head of the group is the standard bearer - usually an athlete participating in the games, carrying the flag of his country. The right to carry the flag is very honorable for athletes. As a rule, this right is entrusted to the most titled and respected athletes;
delivery of welcoming speeches by the President of the IOC (obligatory), the head or official representative of the state in which the Games are held, sometimes the mayor of the city or the chairman of the Organizing Committee. The latter at the end of the speech should say the words: "(the serial number of the games) I declare the summer (winter) Olympic Games open." After which, as a rule, a cannon volley and many volleys of salute and fireworks are fired;
hoisting 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 with the performance of its national anthem;
one of the outstanding athletes of the country in which the Olympics takes place, the Olympic oath on behalf of all participants in the games about a fair fight in accordance with the rules and principles of sports and the Olympic spirit (in recent years, words about the non-use of prohibited drugs - doping) have also been uttered without fail;
oath of impartial refereeing by several judges on behalf of all judges;
hoisting the Olympic flag while playing the official Olympic anthem;
sometimes - raising the flag of Peace (a blue cloth, which depicts a white dove holding an olive branch in its beak - two traditional symbols of Peace), symbolizing the tradition to stop all armed conflicts for the duration of the Games;
The opening ceremony is crowned by the lighting of the Olympic flame. The fire is lit from sun rays in Olympia (Greece) in the Temple of the pagan Greek god Apollo (in ancient Greece, Apollo was considered the patron saint of the Games). The “High Priestess” of Hera utters a prayer of the following content: “Apollo, the god of the sun and the ideas of light, send your rays and light the sacred torch for the hospitable city ... (name of the city).” The Olympic torch relay was held until 2007 around the world. Now, for the purpose of the anti-terrorist campaign, the torch is carried only in the country in which the games are held. From country to country, fire is delivered by plane, and in each country, an athlete or other leader of this country runs his part of the relay race to pass the fire on. Carrying the torch is considered a great honor. The first part of the relay passes through the cities of Greece. The last for the cities of the host country of the Games. On the opening day of the Games, the torch is delivered to the host city. Athletes from this country deliver the torch to the central stadium at the very end of the ceremony. At the stadium, the torch is swept in a circle, passing from hand to hand several times, 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 must burn throughout the Olympics and is extinguished at the end of the closing ceremony;
presentation of medals to the winners and prize-winners of the competitions on a special podium with the raising of state flags and the performance of the national anthem in honor of the winners;
During the closing ceremony also take place: a theatrical performance - farewell to the Olympics, the passage of participants, a speech by the President of the IOC and a representative of the host country. However, the closing of the Olympics is announced by the President of the IOC. This is followed by the performance of the country's anthem, the Olympic anthem, while the flags are lowered. The representative of the host country solemnly conveys olympic flag to the President of the IOC, who in turn passes it on to the representative of the Organizing Committee of the next Olympiad. At the end of the ceremony, the Olympic flame is slowly extinguished to lyrical music.
Since 1932, the host city has been building an "Olympic village" - a residential complex for participants in the games.
The organizers of the Games are developing the symbolism of the Olympics - the official emblem and mascot of the Games. The emblem and mascot of the Games are an integral part of the souvenirs produced on the eve of the Games in in large numbers. Souvenir sales can make up a large portion of Olympic revenue, but they don't always cover costs.
According to the charter, the Games are competitions between individual athletes and not between national teams. However, since 1908 the so-called. unofficial team standings - determining the place occupied by teams by 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, 4th - 3, 5th - 2, 6th - 1). The title of Olympic champion is the most honorable and desirable in the career of an athlete, in those sports in which Olympic tournaments are held.
7 . Venues for the Olympic Games.Chronology and heroes of the Summer Olympics
coubertin olympic game ritual summer
The city where the next Olympic Games will be held is determined at a special session of the IOC 7 years before the date of the respective Games. The city is selected from several candidate cities that have submitted official applications for this. The determination takes place by direct secret ballot by the members of the IOC, except for the representatives of the candidate countries and the president of the IOC. As a rule, at the time of the final vote, no more than five cities remain on the list of candidates, the list of which is determined by a rating vote of IOC members held a year earlier. The winner must receive more than half of the votes. If it is not possible to determine the winner in the first round, the second and subsequent rounds are held. At the same time, after each round, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated from the competition. Then the IOC members from this country are already taking part in the next rounds. The right to host the Games is very prestigious and honorable. To do this, each candidate city presents to the IOC members the so-called. "Application Book", which sets out all the details of the project of the Games in this city, and is also preparing special presentation of your application. Applications for hosting the Games begin 10 years before the date of their holding, end 9 years in advance, the list of finalists is determined 8 years in advance, and finally, the venue is determined 7 years in advance.
The largest number of times the Olympic Games were held in the USA - 8 times (4 times - summer and 4 times - winter). France 5 times (2L/33), Great Britain 3 times (3/0), Germany 3 times (2/1), Japan, Italy, Canada 3 times (1/2), Australia hosted the Summer Games twice, Austria, Switzerland and Norway have hosted the Winter Games twice. Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, the USSR, Mexico, South Korea, Spain and China once hosted the Summer Games. Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina) hosted the Winter Games once. A total of 21 countries received the right to host the Olympics. At the same time, summer were held in 18 countries, winter in 11. Among the cities, London holds the lead in the number of Olympics - 3 times. Twice the Games were held in Los Angeles, Paris, Athens - summer, in St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Lake Placid - winter. In total, 41 cities hosted the Olympics (summer 22, winter 19).
I Olympiad
Athens (Greece), April 6-15, 1896. 311 athletes from 13 countries (Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, USA, France, Chile, Switzerland, Sweden) took part in the first Olympics. There were no competitions among women. The first Olympic champion was the American athlete J. Connolly, who won the triple jump competition (13 m 71 cm). The marathon run (42 km 195 m, 17 participants from 5 countries) aroused the greatest interest, in which the postal employee Spiridon Louis won, becoming national hero Greece. Among numerous prizes, he received 10 centners of chocolate, 10 cows and 30 rams, as well as a lifetime right to free services of a tailor and hairdresser. The swimmers competed in the open sea at a water temperature of 13°C. The hero of the swimming competition was the "Hungarian dolphin" (as journalists called him) Alfred Hajos, who won two gold medals (100 m, 1200 m) in freestyle swimming. All winners were awarded on the last day of the competition. According to ancient tradition, the head of the champion was crowned with a laurel wreath, he was awarded an olive branch cut in the "sacred grove of Olympia", a medal and a diploma. Since the first Olympics, the tradition of raising the state flags to the national anthem in honor of the winner has been established.
II Olympiad
Paris (France), May 20 - October 28, 1900. More than 1,300 athletes from 21 countries participated (including Asia was represented for the first time by India). The Olympics was timed to coincide with the World Expo, which stretched the timing of its holding too long. Women participated for the first time (in tennis and golf competitions). First Olympic champion was the Englishwoman Sheila Cooper, who won the tennis competition. In total, 88 gold medals were played, of which 26 went to athletes from France, 20 from the USA and 17 from the UK. The heroes of the competition were American athletes: Raymond Urey, the winner of the competition in long jump (3 m 21 cm), height (1 m 65 cm) and triple jump (10 m 58 cm), who received the nickname "rubber man", and Alvin Krenzlein is the winner of four events of the program, two with an Olympic record in the 110 m hurdles (15.4 s) and 200 m hurdles (25.4 s) and two with a world record in the 60 m run and long jump (7 m 18 cm).
III Olympiad
St. Louis (USA), July 1 - November 23, 1904. St. 600 athletes from 12 countries. These games were also timed to coincide with the World Expo. Due to the high cost of tickets, only 39 athletes came from Europe (the US team had over 500 participants). The brilliant Cuban fencer Ramon Fonst achieved great success, winning three gold medals in foil and epee competitions. Once again, the American place jumper R. Urey was out of competition, as he won three gold awards four years ago, but only in the long jump surpassed his Parisian result (3 m 48 cm). In total, American athletes won 70 gold (out of 89), 75 silver and 65 bronze medals.
IV Olympiad
London (Great Britain), April 27 October 31, 1908. St. 2 thousand athletes from 22 countries. Among the debutants are the teams of Russia, Turkey, Australasia (the combined team of New Zealand and Australia). The program for the first time included the winter sport of figure skating, in which the representative of Russia N. Panin-Kolomenkin successfully performed, having won the first gold medal in the Olympic history of his country. It was during the London Olympics that the Bishop of Pennsylvania, during a sermon in St. Paul's Cathedral on July 19, 1908, uttered the famous words: "At the Olympics, the main thing is not victory, but participation."
V Olympiad
Stockholm (Sweden), May 5 - July 22, 1912. Participated approx. 3 thousand athletes from 28 countries. Among the debutant countries are Japan, Egypt, Portugal. Outstanding success was achieved by an American athlete, an Indian by origin, Jim Thorpe, who won the pentathlon and decathlon competitions. His results in the decathlon turned out to be one of the longest in Olympic history, and even after 44 years at the 1956 Olympics, he could have entered the eight winners with them. Shortly after the Olympics, Thorpe was accused by the US NOC of violating his amateur athlete status by working part-time playing baseball as a young man. As a result, a talented athlete was disqualified. In Stockholm, on the initiative of Coubertin, the first Art Competition was held in the sections of architecture, painting, literature, music and sculpture. His goal was to restore the links between art and sport, characteristic of the ancient Olympic Games. In the "literature" section, the first place was awarded to the famous "Ode of Sports" (authored by Coubertin, who performed under the double pseudonym J. Horode and M. Eshbach). Art competitions were held in 1912-48.
VI Olympiad
Berlin (Germany), 1916. Did not take place due to the First World War.
VII Olympiad
Antwerp (Belgium), April 20 - September 12, 1920. St. 2600 athletes from 29 countries. Among the debutant countries are Argentina, Brazil, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia. By special decision of the IOC, Germany and its allies in the war were excluded from participation in the games, were not invited and Soviet Russia. For the first time, the Olympic flag was raised at the Games, and the participants of the competitions took the Olympic oath. Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi was recognized as the best athlete, who won three gold medals (cross-country 8000 m in the individual and team championship and 10000 m run) and one silver medal in the 5000 m run.
VIII Olympiad
Paris (France), May 4 - July 27, 1924. More than 3 thousand athletes from 44 countries participated. Among the debutant countries are Mexico, Poland, Romania, Uruguay, Philippines. Athletes from Germany are again not allowed to compete. Competitions were held in 19 sports. The heroes of the games were the Finnish stayer P. Nurmi (5 gold medals) and the American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller (3 gold medals), the future famous performer of the role of Tarzan. American athletes have won 45 gold medals out of 126.
IX Olympiad
Amsterdam (Netherlands), May 17 - August 12, 1928. More than 3 thousand athletes from 46 countries participated. For the first time, athletes from Malta, Panama, Rhodesia and, after a 16-year break, Germany participated. For the first time, doves were released as a symbol of peace at the opening ceremony; for the first time, women competed in gymnastics (team all-around) and in athletics, where world records were set in all five types of the program. Nurmi won his last Olympic gold medal in the 10,000m.
X Olympiad
Los Angeles (USA), July 30 - August 14, 1932. More than 1400 athletes from 37 countries participated. Debutant countries China and Colombia. For the first time, an Olympic village was built specifically for the participants. It went down in history as the Olympics of Records. 41 Olympic and 18 world records were set. The sensation was the performance of Japanese swimmers who won five of the six types of the program.
XI Olympiad
Berlin (Germany), August 1-16, 1936. More than 4 thousand athletes from 49 countries participated. Among the debutant countries are Afghanistan, Bermuda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Liechtenstein, Peru. The hero of the Games was the Negro athlete J. Owens, who set four Olympic records in the 100 m, 200 m, 4x100 m relay and the first in history athletics overcame the 8 m line in the long jump (8 m 06 cm). For the first time in the unofficial team standings, German athletes took the lead with 33 gold medals, 26 silver, 30 bronze. For the first time, a torch lit from the rays of the sun in Greek Olympia was delivered by relay to the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
XII Olympiad
Helsinki (Finland), 1940. Did not take place due to World War II.
XIII Olympiad
London (Great Britain), 1944. Did not take place due to World War II.
XIV Olympiad
London (Great Britain), July 29 - August 14, 1948. Over 4 thousand athletes from 59 countries participated. Among the debutant countries are Burma, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Ceylon, South Korea, Jamaica. Germany and Japan were not allowed to compete. The Flying Dutchwoman Francine Blankers-Kun was recognized as the heroine of the Games. She excelled in all four types of athletics running program for women (100 m, 200 m, 80 m hurdles and 4x100 m relay). 22-year-old Hungarian boxer Laszlo Papp became the middleweight champion, he had no equal in the first middleweight and at the next two Olympics (1952 and 1956). In the national team standings, athletes from the USA and Sweden were out of competition.
XV Olympiad
Helsinki (Finland), July 19 - August 3, 1952. About 5 thousand athletes from 69 countries participated. For the first time, teams from the USSR (about 300 people) participated, a number of African countries, Israel, Indonesia, a separate team of Germany. The heroes of the games were the Czechoslovak runner Emil Zatopek, who won the 5,000 m and 10,000 m stayer distances and the marathon (everywhere with an Olympic record), and the Soviet gymnast Viktor Chukarin (4 gold and 2 silver awards). Unexpectedly for the sports world, the USSR athletes shared the team championship with the US team in the unofficial standings.
XVI Olympiad
Melbourne (Australia), November 22 - December 8, 1956. More than 3 thousand athletes from 68 countries participated. In connection with the Australian Union law on a six-month quarantine for imported animals, an equestrian competition was held in Stockholm (June 11-17, 1956). Among the debutant countries are Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Fiji. German athletes competed as part of the United German Team (GDR and FRG). Soviet athlete Vladimir Kuts won the 5,000 m and 10,000 m distances (with an Olympic record) and was recognized as the best athlete. Soviet athletes won the largest number of gold (37), silver (29) and bronze (32) medals.
XVII Olympiad
Rome (Italy), August 25 - September 11, 1960. More than 5 thousand athletes from 84 countries participated. Among the debutant countries are Morocco, the United Arab Republic (UAR), San Marino, Tunisia. The Rome Olympics became the Olympiad of surprises and records (76 Olympic, including 30 world). Soviet heavyweight Yuri Vlasov, American runner Wilma Rudolph (three gold medals), Ethiopian marathon runner Abebe Bikila were recognized as the best athletes of the games. For the first time at the Olympic Games, an athlete died due to doping (a cyclist from Denmark, K. E. Jensen). Once again, the USSR team overtook the US team in the unofficial team standings.
XVIII Olympiad
Tokyo (Japan), October 10-24, 1964. Over 5 thousand athletes participated. Among the debutant countries are the former colonies of Algeria, Cameroon, Congo, Senegal and others, as well as Libya, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal. First Olympic Games in Asia. 35 world records were set. Abebe Bikila became the first athlete in Olympic history to win the marathon twice. Soviet rower Vyacheslav Ivanov won the gold medal at the third Olympics in a row. Valery Popenchenko (2nd middleweight) was recognized as the most technical boxer of the Games. For the first time, TV broadcasting was carried out from the Olympic arenas to other continents, and over 1 billion people were able to follow the course of the competition.
XIX Olympiad
Mexico City (Mexico), October 12-27, 1968. More than 5.5 thousand athletes from 112 countries participated. Among the debutant countries are a number of African and Asian states, as well as Paraguay, El Salvador, and others. The number of program issues increased to 172 (from 163 in 1964). "Jump into the 21st century" was made by the American athlete Bob Beamon (8 m 90 cm), and his compatriot Richard Fosbury, the winner of the competition in the high jump, laid the foundation for new school jump. Such outstanding athletes as gymnast Vera Chaslavska (Czechoslovakia, 4 gold medals), athlete Viktor Saneev (USSR, world record in triple jump, 17 m 39 cm), swimmer Roland Matthes (GDR, 2 gold medals in 100m and 200m backstroke), etc. The most gold medals were won by athletes from the USA (45).
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Olympic Games(Olympics) - the largest modern international complex sports competitions, held every four years. The Summer Olympic Games have been held since 1896 (only during the World Wars, these competitions were not held). The Winter Olympic Games, established in 1924, were originally held in the same year as the summer ones. But in 1994, it was decided to move the time of the Winter Olympics by two years relative to the time of the Summer Olympics.
According to Greek myths, the Olympics were established by Hercules after the successful completion of one of the glorious deeds-feats: cleansing Augean stables. According to another version, these competitions marked the successful return of the Argonauts, who, at the insistence of Hercules, swore to each other in eternal friendship. In order to adequately celebrate this event, a place was chosen above the Alpheus River, where a temple was later erected to the god Zeus. There are also legends that Olympia was founded by an oracle named Yam or by the mythical hero Pelops (son of Tantalus and ancestor of Hercules, king of Elis), who won the chariot race of Enomaus, king of the city of Pisa.
Modern archaeologists believe that competitions similar to the Olympic ones were held in Olympia (western Peloponnese) around the 9th - 10th centuries. BC. And the most ancient document, which describes the Olympic Games dedicated to the god Zeus, is dated 776 BC. According to historians, the reason for such a high popularity of sports competitions in ancient Greece is extremely simple - the country at that time was divided into small city-states that were constantly at war with each other. Under such conditions, in order to defend their independence and win the battle, both soldiers and free citizens were forced to devote a lot of time to training, the purpose of which was to develop strength, agility, endurance, etc.
The list of Olympic sports initially consisted of only one discipline - sprinting - 1 stage (190 meters). The runners lined up at the starting line at full height, stretching their right hand forward, and waited for the signal of the judge (ellanodic). If one of the athletes was ahead of the starting signal (i.e., there was a false start), he was punished - the judge beat the offending athlete with a heavy stick reserved for this purpose. Somewhat later, competitions appeared in long-distance running - in stages 7 and 24, as well as running in full combat weapons and running after a horse.
In 708 B.C. javelin throwing (the length of the wooden javelin was equal to the height of the athlete) and wrestling appeared in the program of the Olympic Games. This sport was distinguished by rather cruel rules (for example, tripping, grabbing the opponent by the nose, lip or ear, etc. were allowed) and was extremely popular. The winner was declared the wrestler who managed to knock the opponent to the ground three times.
In 688 B.C. fisticuffs were included in the list of Olympic sports, and in 676 BC. added a chariot race drawn by four or two horses (or mules). At first, the owner of the team himself was obliged to manage the animals, later it was allowed to hire an experienced driver for this purpose (regardless of this, the owner of the chariot received the wreath of the winner).
A little later, at the Olympics, competitions in long jumps began to be held, and after a short run, the athlete had to push off with both legs and sharply throw his arms forward (in each hand, the jumper held a kettlebell, which were supposed to carry him along). Also, the list of Olympic competitions included competitions of musicians (harpists, heralds and trumpeters), poets, orators, actors and playwrights. At first, the festival lasted one day, later - 5 days. However, there were times when the celebrations dragged on for a whole month.
To ensure the safety of the participants in the Olympiads, three kings: Cleosthenes (from Pisa), Ifit (from Elis) and Lycurgus (from Sparta) concluded an agreement according to which any hostilities ceased for the duration of the games - messengers were sent from the city of Ellis announcing a truce ( to revive this tradition already today, in 1992, the IOC tried to call on all the peoples of the world to refrain from hostilities for the duration of the Olympics. official closure of the Games". The corresponding resolution was approved in 2003 General Assembly UN, and in 2005 the above-mentioned call was included in the Millennium Declaration, signed by the leaders of many countries of the world).
Even when Greece, having lost its independence, became part of the Roman Empire, the Olympic Games continued to exist, until 394 AD, when Emperor Theodosius I banned this species competitions, because he believed that a festival dedicated to the pagan god Zeus could not be held in an empire whose official religion was Christianity.
The revival of the Olympics began about a hundred years ago, when in 1894 in Paris, at the initiative of the French teacher and public figure Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the International Sports Congress approved the foundations of the Olympic Charter. It is this charter that is the main constitutional instrument that formulates the fundamental rules and main values of Olympism. The organizers of the first revived Olympics, who wanted to give the competitions a "spirit of antiquity", experienced many difficulties in choosing sports that could be considered Olympic. For example, football, after long and heated debates, was excluded from the list of competitions of the 1st Olympiad (1896, Athens), as the IOC members argued that this team game was very different from ancient competitions - after all, in ancient times, athletes competed exclusively in individual competitions.
Sometimes quite exotic types of competitions were ranked as Olympic. For example, at the II Olympiad (1900, Paris), competitions were held in swimming under water and swimming with obstacles (athletes overcame a distance of 200 meters, diving under anchored boats and bending around logs submerged in water). At the VII Olympiad (1920, Antwerp) they competed in javelin throwing with both hands, as well as in club throwing. And at the V Olympiad (1912, Stockholm), athletes competed in long jumps, high jumps and triple jumps from a place. Also, for a long time, tug-of-war and cobblestone pushing competitions were considered an Olympic sport (which was replaced only in 1920 by the core, which is still used today).
The judges also had many problems - after all, in each country at that time there were different competition regulations. Since it was impossible to draw up uniform requirements for all participants in a short time, the athletes were allowed to compete in accordance with the rules to which they were accustomed. For example, runners at the start could stand in any way (assuming a high start position, with the right arm extended forward, etc.). The “low start” position, generally accepted today, was taken by only one athlete at the first Olympics - the American Thomas Bark.
The modern Olympic movement has a motto - "Citius, Altius, Fortius" ("Faster, Higher, Stronger") and its emblem - five intersecting rings (this sign was found by Coubertin on one of the Delphic altars). The Olympic rings are a symbol of the unification of the five continents (blue symbolizes Europe, black - Africa, red - America, yellow - Asia, green - Australia). Also, the Olympic Games have their own flag - a white flag with Olympic rings. Moreover, the colors of the rings and the flag are chosen so that at least one of them is found on the national flag of any country in the world. Both the emblem and the flag were adopted and approved by the IOC at the initiative of Baron Coubertin in 1913.
Baron Pierre Coubertin was the first to propose the revival of the Olympic Games. Indeed, thanks to the efforts of this man, the Olympics has become one of the largest sports competitions in the world. However, the idea of reviving this type of competition and bringing them to the world stage was expressed somewhat earlier by two more people. Back in 1859, the Greek Evangelis Zapas organized the Olympics in Athens with his own money, and the Englishman William Penny Brooks in 1881 suggested that the Greek government hold competitions simultaneously in Greece and England. He also became the organizer of the games called "Olympic Memory" in the town of Much Wenlock, and in 1887 - the initiator of the nationwide British Olympic Games. In 1890, Coubertin attended the games at Much Wenlock and praised the Englishman's idea. Coubertin understood that through the revival of the Olympics it was possible, firstly, to raise the prestige of the capital of France (it was in Paris, according to Coubertin, that the first Olympics was to be held, and only persistent protests from representatives of other countries led to the championship being given to the homeland of the Olympic Games - Greece), and secondly, to improve the health of the nation and create a powerful army.
The motto of the Olympics was coined by Coubertin. No, the Olympic motto, consisting of three Latin words - "Citius, Altius, Fortius!" was first pronounced by the French priest Henri Didon at the opening ceremony of sports competitions in one of the colleges. Coubertin, who was present at the ceremony, liked the words - in his opinion, this phrase expresses the goal of athletes all over the world. Later, at the initiative of Coubertin, this statement became the motto of the Olympic Games.
The Olympic flame marked the beginning of all the Olympics. Indeed, in ancient Greece, competitors would light fires on the altars of Olympia to honor the gods. The honor to personally light a fire on the altar to the god Zeus was given to the winner of the running competition - the most ancient and revered sports discipline. In addition, in many cities of Hellas, competitions of runners with lit torches were held - Prometheus, dedicated to the mythical hero, the god-fighter and protector of people Prometheus, who stole fire from Mount Olympus and gave it to people.
At the revived Olympic Games, the fire was first lit at the IX Olympiad (1928, Amsterdam), and, according to researchers, it was not delivered, according to tradition, by relay from Olympia. In fact, this tradition was revived only in 1936 at the XI Olympiad (Berlin). Since then, the run of the torchbearers, delivering the fire lit by the sun in Olympia, to the venue of the Olympics has been a solemn prologue to the games. The Olympic flame travels thousands of kilometers to the competition site, and in 1948 it was even transported across the sea to give rise to the XIV Olympics held in London.
The Olympics have never been the cause of conflicts. Unfortunately, they did. The fact is that the sanctuary of Zeus, in which the games were usually held, was under the control of the city-state of Ellis. According to historians, at least twice (in 668 and 264 BC) the neighboring city of Pisa, using military force, attempted to capture the sanctuary, hoping in this way to gain control over the Olympics. After some time, a panel of judges was formed from the most revered citizens of the above-mentioned cities, which evaluated the performance of the athletes and decided which of them would get the winner's laurel wreath.
In ancient times, only Greeks participated in the Olympics. Indeed, in ancient Greece, only Greek athletes had the right to participate in competitions - barbarians were forbidden to enter the stadium. However, this rule was abolished when Greece, which lost its independence, became part of the Roman Empire - representatives of different nationalities began to be allowed to participate in the competition. Even emperors condescended to participate in the Olympics. For example, Tiberius was a champion in chariot races, and Nero won the competition of musicians.
Women did not participate in the ancient Olympics. Indeed, in ancient Greece, women were not only forbidden to participate in the Olympic Games - beautiful ladies were not even allowed into the stands (an exception was made only for the priestesses of the goddess of fertility Demeter). Therefore, sometimes especially gambling fans indulged in tricks. For example, the mother of one of the athletes - Kalipateria - to watch her son's performance, dressed as a man and perfectly played the role of a coach. According to another version, she participated in the competition of runners. Calipateria was identified and sentenced to death - the brave athlete was to be thrown off the Tithian rock. But, given that her husband was an olympionist (i.e., the winner of the Olympics), and her sons were winners in youth competitions, the judges pardoned Kalipateria. But the board of judges (Hellanodics) obliged the athletes to continue to compete naked in order to avoid a repetition of the above incident. At the same time, it should be noted that girls in Ancient Greece were by no means averse to playing sports, and they loved to compete. Therefore, games dedicated to Hera (wife of Zeus) were held in Olympia. In these competitions (which, by the way, men were not allowed to), only girls participated, competing in wrestling, running and chariot racing, which took place in the same stadium a month before or a month after the competition of male athletes. Also, female athletes took part in the Isthmian, Nemean and Pythian games.
Interestingly, in the Olympic Games, revived in the 19th century, at first only male athletes also competed. Only in 1900 did women take part in competitions in sailing and equestrian sports, tennis, golf and croquet. And the fair sex entered the IOC only in 1981.
The Olympics are just an opportunity to demonstrate strength and prowess, or a veiled way to select and train trained fighters. Initially, the Olympic Games were one of the ways to honor the god Zeus, part of a grandiose cult festival during which sacrifices were made to the Thunderer - out of the five days of the Olympics, two (the first and last) were devoted exclusively to solemn processions and sacrifices. However, over time, the religious aspect faded into the background, and the political and commercial component of the competitions became stronger and brighter.
In ancient times, the Olympic Games contributed to the peaceful coexistence of peoples - after all, wars stopped during the Olympic truce. Indeed, the city-states that participated in the games ceased hostilities for a period of five days (this is how long the Olympics lasted) in order to allow athletes to freely reach the venue of the competition - Elis. According to the rules, contestants and fans had no right to fight among themselves, even if their states were at war with each other. However, this does not mean a complete cessation of hostility - after the end of the Olympic Games, hostilities resumed. And the disciplines themselves, chosen for the competition, were more like training a good fighter: javelin throwing, running in armor and, of course, the extremely popular pankration - Street fight, limited only by the prohibition of biting and gouging out the eyes of an opponent.
The saying "The main thing is not victory, but participation" was coined by the ancient Greeks. No, the author of the saying "The most important thing in life is not victory, but participation. The essence of an interesting struggle" was Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who in the 19th century revived the tradition of the Olympic Games. And in ancient Greece, victory was the main goal of the competitors. In those days, prizes for second and third places were not even awarded, and the losers, as written sources testify, were very hurt by their defeat and tried to hide as soon as possible.
In ancient times, competitions were fair, only today athletes use doping, etc. to achieve better results. Unfortunately, this is not so. At all times, athletes, striving for victory, used not entirely honest methods. For example, wrestlers rubbed oil on their bodies to make it easier to free themselves from an opponent's grip. Long-distance runners "cut corners" or tripped up an opponent. There were also attempts to bribe judges. The athlete convicted of fraud had to fork out - bronze statues of Zeus were made with this money, which were installed along the road leading to the stadium. For example, in the 2nd century BC, during one of the Olympics, 16 statues were erected, which indicates that even in ancient times, not all athletes played fair.
In ancient Greece, they competed only for the sake of receiving a laurel wreath and unfading glory. Of course, praise is a pleasant thing, and the native city greeted the winner with joy - the Olympionik, dressed in purple and crowned with a laurel wreath, entered not through the gate, but through a specially prepared gap in the city wall, which was immediately repaired, "so that the Olympic glory would not left town." However, not only the laurel wreath and glorification were the goal of the competitors. The very word "athlete" in translation from ancient Greek means "competing for prizes." And the rewards that the winner received in those days were considerable. In addition to the sculpture, installed in honor of the winner, either in Olympia near the sanctuary of Zeus, or in the homeland of the athlete, or even deification, the athlete was entitled to a considerable amount for those times - 500 drachmas. In addition, he received a number of political and economic privileges (for example, exemption from all types of duties) and, until the end of his days, he had the right to dine daily free of charge in the city administration.
The decision to end the duel of wrestlers was made by the judges. This is not true. Both in wrestling and in fisticuffs, the fighter himself, who decided to surrender, raised his right hand with his thumb protruding upwards - this gesture served as a signal for the end of the fight.
Athletes who won the competitions were crowned with laurel wreaths. This is true - it was the laurel wreath that was the symbol of victory in ancient Greece. And they crowned them not only with athletes, but also with horses that provided their owner with victory in the chariot competition.
The people of Elis were the best athletes in Greece. Unfortunately, this is not so. Despite the fact that in the center of Elis there was an all-Hellenic shrine - the temple of Zeus, at which the Olympics were regularly held, the inhabitants of this area were notorious, because they were prone to drunkenness, lies, pederasty and laziness, little corresponding to the ideal of a strong spirit and body of the population. However, you can’t refuse them militancy and foresight - having managed to prove to their neighbors that Elis is a neutral country against which it is impossible to wage war, the Eleans, nevertheless, continued attacks on nearby areas in order to capture them.
Olympia was located near the sacred Mount Olympus. Wrong opinion. Olympus - the highest mountain in Greece, on top of which, according to legend, the gods lived, is located in the north of the country. And the city of Olympia was located in the south - in Elis, on the island of Peloponnese.
In Olympia, in addition to ordinary citizens, lived the most famous athletes of Greece. Only priests lived permanently in Olympia, and athletes and fans, who flocked to the city in huge numbers every four years (the stadium was designed for the presence of 50,000 spectators!), Were forced to huddle in tents, huts, or even just in the open air, made by hand . A leonidaion (hotel) was built only for honored guests.
To measure the time it took athletes to overcome the distance, in ancient Greece they used clepsydra, and the length of the jumps was measured in steps. Wrong opinion. Instruments for measuring time (sunglasses or hourglasses, clepsydra) were inaccurate, and distances were most often measured "by eye" (for example, a stage is 600 feet or the distance that a person can walk with a calm step during the time of full sunrise, i. e. in about 2 minutes). Therefore, neither the time for passing the distance, nor the length of the jumps mattered - the winner was the one who came to the finish line first or jumped the farthest.
Even today, visual observation has been used to assess the achievement of athletes for a long time - until 1932, when a stopwatch and a photo finish were used for the first time at the X Olympiad in Los Angeles, which greatly facilitated the work of judges.
The length of the marathon distance has been constant since ancient times. This is not true. In our time, a marathon (one of the disciplines of athletics) is a race for a distance of 42 km 195 m. The idea of organizing a race was proposed by the French philologist Michel Breal. Since both Coubertin and the Greek organizers liked this proposal, the marathon was included in the list of Olympic sports one of the first. There are road marathon, cross-country running and half marathon (21 km 98 m). The road marathon has been included in the program of the Olympic Games since 1896 for men and since 1984 for women.
However, the length of the marathon distance has changed several times. Legend has it that in 490 BC. Greek warrior Phidippides (Philippides) ran non-stop from Marathon to Athens (about 34.5 km) to please fellow citizens with the news of victory. According to another version, set forth by Herodotus, Phidippides was a messenger sent for reinforcements from Athens to Sparta and covered a distance of 230 km in two days.
At the first modern Olympics, marathon running competitions were held along a 40 km route laid between Marathon and Athens, but in the future, the length of the distance varied over a fairly wide range. For example, at the IV Olympiad (1908, London), the length of the route laid from Windsor Castle (the royal residence) to the stadium was 42 km 195 m. At the V Olympiad (1912, Stockholm), the length of the marathon distance was changed and amounted to 40 km 200 m, and at the VII Olympiad (1920, Antwerp) runners had to cover a distance of 42 km 750 m. The length of the distance changed 6 times, and only in 1921 was the final length of the marathon race established - 42 km 195 m.
Olympic awards are given to athletes who have shown the best results in competitions, after a long struggle with worthy rivals. This is true, however, this rule there are exceptions. For example, gymnast Elena Mukhina, who, a few days before the Olympics, injured her cervical vertebra in one of the training sessions, was awarded the Olympic Order for courage. Moreover, the President of the IOC Juan Antonio Samaranch personally handed her the award. And at the III Olympiad (1904, St. Louis, Missouri), American athletes became unconditional winners due to the almost complete lack of competition - many foreign athletes who did not have enough money simply could not take part in the competition, giving the palm to the hosts of the Olympics .
The equipment of athletes can affect the results of the competition. It really is. For comparison: at the first modern Olympics, the uniform of athletes was made of wool (available and inexpensive material), shoes, the soles of which were supplied with special spikes, were made of leather. It is clear that this form delivered a lot of inconvenience to the competitors. Swimmers suffered the most - after all, their suits were made of cotton fabric, and, having become heavy from water, they slowed down the speed of athletes. It should also be mentioned that, for example, mats were not provided for high jumpers with a pole - the competitors were forced to think not only about how to overcome the bar, but also about the correct landing.
Nowadays, thanks to the development of science and the emergence of new synthetic materials, athletes experience much less discomfort. For example, suits for track and field athletes are designed to minimize the risk of muscle strain and reduce the force of wind resistance, while the material based on silk and lycra, from which sportswear is sewn, is characterized by low hygroscopicity and ensures rapid evaporation of moisture. For swimmers, special tight-fitting suits with vertical stripes are also being created, which allow them to overcome water resistance as efficiently as possible and develop the highest speed.
It contributes a lot to the achievement of high results and sport shoes specially designed for the anticipated loads. It was thanks to a new shoe model equipped with internal chambers filled with carbon dioxide that American decathlete Dave Johnson showed the best result in the 4x400 m relay in 1992.
Only young, full of strength athletes participate in the Olympic Games. Not necessary. The oldest participant in the Olympic Games - Oskar Swabn, a resident of Switzerland, took second place in shooting competitions at the VII Olympiad (1920, Antwerp) at the age of 72 years. Moreover, it was he who was selected to participate in the 1924 competitions, but for health reasons he was forced to refuse.
Most of the medals at the Olympics were won by athletes of the USSR (later - Russia). No, in the overall standings (according to data on all the Olympic Games, up to 2002 inclusive), the United States excels - 2072 medals, of which 837 gold, 655 silver and 580 bronze. The USSR is in second place with 999 medals, of which 388 are gold, 317 silver and 249 bronze.
Modern society is spoiled with a huge variety of available entertainment and therefore pretentious. It is easily carried away by new amusements and just as quickly loses interest in them in pursuit of new, still unfamiliar toys. Therefore, those pleasures that managed to hold the attention of a windy audience for a long time can be considered truly powerful attractions. A vivid example is sports competitions of a different nature, from team games to pair martial arts. And the title of the main "watchdog" is rightfully worn by the Olympic Games. For several millennia, these multi-species competitions have attracted the attention of not only professional athletes, but also fans of various sports, as well as just fans of a colorful, memorable show.
Of course, the Olympic Games have not always been as costly and high-tech as they are today. But they have always been spectacular and fascinating, starting from their very appearance in Antiquity. Since then, the Olympic Games have been suspended several times, they have changed their format and set of competitions, and have been adapted for athletes with disabilities. And by now, a regular two-year organizational system has been established. How long? History will show it. But now the whole world looks forward to each new Olympic Games. Although few of the spectators, following the intense rivalry of their sports idols, guess how and why the Olympic Games appeared.
The birth of the Olympic Games
The cult of the body inherent in the ancient Greeks caused the appearance of the first sports games in the ancient city-states. But it was Olympia that gave the holiday its name, which has been fixed for centuries. Beautiful and strong bodies were sung from the stage, immortalized in marble and flaunted in sports arenas. The oldest legend says that the Games were first mentioned by the Delphic oracle around the 9th century BC. BC e., which saved Elis and Sparta from civil strife. And already in 776 BC. The first all-Greek Olympic Games were held, founded by the god-like hero Hercules himself. It was a truly large-scale event: a celebration of physical culture, religious worship and simply the affirmation of life.
Even the sacred wars for the Hellenes were suspended for the duration of the Olympic competitions. The seriousness of the event was arranged accordingly: the date of its holding was set by a special commission, which, through ambassadors-spondophores, announced its decision to the inhabitants of all Greek city-states. After that, their best athletes went to Olympia to train and polish their skills for a month under the guidance of experienced mentors. Then, for five days in a row, athletes competed in the following types of physical exercises:
This set can be considered the first composition of the Olympic sports of Antiquity. Their champions, the winners of the competitions, received truly divine honors and, until the next Games, enjoyed special respect from their compatriots and, according to rumors, from Zeus the Thunderer himself. At home, they were greeted with songs, sung in hymns and honored at banquets, bringing obligatory sacrifices on their behalf. supreme gods. Their names became known to every Greek. But the competition was tough, the competition was serious, and the level of physical fitness of the competitors was very high, so few managed to keep the winner's laurels for the next year. The same unique heroes who turned out to be the best of the best three times were erected a monument in Olympia and equated with demigods.
A distinctive feature of the ancient Olympic Games was the participation of not only athletes, but also artists. The ancient Greeks did not divide human achievements into categories at all and enjoyed life in all its manifestations. Therefore, the Olympic Games were accompanied by performances of poets, actors and musicians. Moreover, some of them did not refuse to show themselves in sports - for example, Pythagoras was a champion in fisticuffs. Artists sketched key events and images of athletes, the audience admired the combination of physical and spiritual beauty, enjoyed the abundance of delicious food and drinks. Sounds like a modern workout, doesn't it? But the original Olympic Games were still far from the modern level of organization. This is confirmed by the unfortunate termination of their story, albeit a temporary one.
Ban on the Olympic Games
So, cheerfully and amicably, exactly 293 ancient Olympiads were held in 1168 years. Until in 394 AD. Roman emperor Theodosius the first "Great" did not ban the Olympic Games by his decree. According to the Romans, who brought and imposed Christianity on the Greek lands, shameless and noisy sports competitions were the embodiment of a pagan, and therefore unacceptable, way of life. You could even say that they were right in their own way. After all, religious ceremonies in honor of the gods of Olympus were an integral part of the Games. Each athlete considered it his duty to spend several hours at the sacrificial altar, offering prayers and offering sacrifices to divine patrons. Mass rituals were accompanied by the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games, as well as the awarding of the winners and their triumphant return home.
The Greeks even adjusted the calendar to hold their favorite sports, cultural and entertainment event, creating the so-called "Olympic calendar". According to him, the holiday was supposed to be held in the "holy month", starting on the first full moon after the summer solstice. The cycle was 1417 days, or the Olympics - that is, the ancient Greek " Olympic year". Of course, the militant Romans were not going to put up with this state of affairs and free-thinking in society. And although the Olympic Games still continued after Rome conquered the lands of Hellas, but the pressure and oppression of Greek culture inevitably affected them, gradually leading to a complete decline.
A similar fate befell other, less significant, but similar in principle, sporting events. They, starting from about the 6th century. BC. they were regularly held in honor of various gods and named after the venue: the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games, the Nemean Games, etc. Mentions of them, along with the Olympic Games, can be found in Herodotus, Plutarch, Lucian and some other ancient authors. But none of these competitions went down in history so firmly, did not influence the development of European culture so much and were not subsequently restored in their rights as the Olympic Games.
Revival of the Olympic Games
Christian dogmas ruled over the European continent for more than one and a half thousand years, during which there was no question of holding the Olympic Games in their classical format. Even the Renaissance, which revived ancient values and cultural achievements, was powerless in this matter. And only at the end of the 19th century, that is, relatively recently, the restoration of the rights of the ancient Greek traditions of physical culture became possible. This event is associated with the name of Pierre de Coubertin. This 33-year-old French baron, who succeeded in his teaching and literary career and social activities, considered regular sports competitions an excellent opportunity to strengthen mutual understanding throughout the world in general and to raise the national consciousness of his compatriots in particular.
In June 1894, de Coubertin spoke at international congress at the Sorbonne with a proposal to revive the Olympic Games. The proposal was received with enthusiasm, at the same time the International Olympic Committee was created, and de Coubertin himself was appointed Secretary General. And already two years later, which had gone into preparation, in 1896 in Athens, the capital of the cradle of the Olympic Games, the first modern Olympic Games were held. And with great success: 241 athletes from 14 countries of the world, and the leaders of these countries, and the flattered Greek government were very pleased with the sporting event. The IOC immediately established a rotation of venues for the Olympics and a 4-year gap between the Games.
Therefore, the second and third Olympic Games were held already in the twentieth century, in 1900 and 1904, in Paris (France) and St. Louis (USA), respectively. Even then, their organization adhered to the Charter of the Olympic Games, approved by the International Sports Congress. Its main provisions remain unchanged today. In particular, those related to the serial numbering of the Games, their symbols, venues and some other technical and organizational issues. As for the Olympic sports, their list is not constant and changes from time to time, either including or excluding some individual items. But basically today it is 28 (41 disciplines) sports:
- rowing
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Fight
- Freestyle wrestling
- Greco-Roman wrestling
- Cycling
- Track cycling
- Mountain bike (Mountain bike)
- road cycling
- Swimming
- Water polo
- Diving
- Synchronized swimming
- Volleyball
- Beach volleyball
- Handball
- Gymnastics
- Rhythmic gymnastics
- Trampolining
- Golf
- Rowing and canoeing
- Rowing slalom
- Judo
- dressage
- Jumping
- Triathlon
- Athletics
- Table tennis
- Sailing
- Rugby
- Modern pentathlon
- Archery
- Tennis
- triathlon
- taekwondo
- Weightlifting
- Fencing
- Football
- Field hockey
By the way, the modern pentathlon was also created on the initiative of de Coubertin. He also founded the tradition, later enshrined in the Olympic Charter, to hold demonstration competitions in 1-2 sports not recognized by the IOC. But the idea of the baron to hold art competitions at the Olympic Games did not take root. But to this day, the nominal Pierre de Coubertin Medal is awarded by the International Olympic Committee for "outstanding manifestations of the sports Olympic spirit." This award is a special honor for an athlete, and many value it much more than an Olympic gold medal.
By the way, the Olympic medal was also born with the modern Olympic Games and can be considered the brainchild of de Coubertin's inexhaustible enthusiasm and ingenuity. After all, the ancient Greeks awarded their athletes not with medals at all, but with any other prizes: olive wreaths, gold coins and other valuables. One of the kings even granted the winning athlete his state. In the modern world, such waste is unthinkable, because all the principles of awarding and the system of awards of the Olympic Games since 1984 have been clearly spelled out in the Olympic Charter.
Development of the Olympic Games. Paralympic and Winter Olympic Games.
The Olympic Charter is a kind of charter containing the rules of the Olympic Games and the activities of the IOC, as well as reflecting the very concept and philosophy of the Olympics. At the beginning of its existence, it still allowed adjustments and amendments. In particular, since 1924 it has also regulated the holding of the Winter Olympic Games, or the "White Olympics", conceived as an addition to the main, summer, games. The first Winter Olympics were held in Sweden, and then for almost a century they were regularly held in the same years as the Summer Olympics. And only in 1994, the tradition began to separate the summer and winter Olympics from each other by a two-year interval. To date, the Olympic Winter Games include the following 7 winter (15 disciplines) sports:
- Biathlon
- Curling
- Skating
- Figure skating
- Short track
- Skiing
- Nordic combined
- Ski race
- ski jumping
- Snowboard
- Freestyle
- Bobsled
- luge
- Skeleton
- Hockey
A little earlier, in 1960, the IOC decided to hold competitions among athletes with disabilities. They got the name of the Paralympic Games in connection with the generalized term for diseases of the spine. But later it was reformulated into the Paralympic Games and explained by “parallelism”, equality with the Olympic Games, since athletes with other diseases also began to compete. By their example, they demonstrate the moral and physical strength necessary for a full life and sports victories.
Rules and traditions of the Olympic Games
The scale and significance of the Olympic Games surrounded them with many traditions, nuances and social myths. Each regular competition is accompanied by close attention of the world community, the media and private fans. Over the years, the Games have indeed acquired quite a few rituals, most of which are recorded in the Charter and are strictly observed by the IOC. Here are the most significant of them:
- Symbol of the Olympic Games- 5 multi-colored rings fastened together, placed in two rows, implies the union of the five parts of the world. In addition to it, there is the Olympic motto "Faster, higher, stronger!", the Olympic oath and additional symbols that accompany the Games when they are held in each individual country.
- Opening and closing of the Olympic Games- this is a grandiose performance, which has become a kind of tacit competition between the organizers in the scope and high cost of this action. The staging of these ceremonies spares no expense, using expensive special effects, inviting the best screenwriters, artists and world celebrities. The inviting party makes great efforts to ensure the interest of the audience.
- Funding for the Olympic Games is the responsibility of the organizing committee of the inviting country. Moreover, income from the broadcast of the Games and other marketing activities within their framework are transferred to the IOC.
- The country, or rather the city, the next Olympic Games is determined 7 years before their date. But even 10 years before the event, candidate cities submit applications and presentations to the IOC with evidence of their advantages. Applications are accepted for a year, then, 8 years before the finalists are called, and only then the IOC members appoint a new host of the Olympics by secret ballot. All this time, the world has been tensely waiting for a decision.
- Most The Olympic Games were held in the USA - 8 Olympiads. France has hosted the Olympics 5 times, and Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Italy and Canada - 3 times each.
- Olympic champion title- the most honorable in the career of any athlete. Moreover, it is given forever, there are no “former Olympic champions”.
- Olimpic village- this is the traditional habitat of delegations from each country participating in the Olympics. It is being built by the organizing committee according to the requirements of the IOC and only athletes, coaches and service personnel are accommodated there. Thus, it turns out a whole town, with its own infrastructure, training grounds, post offices and even beauty salons.