Olympic Games
The world's
greatest international sports games are known as the Olympic
Games.
The Olympic idea
means friendship, fraternity and cooperation among the people of
the world. The Olympic Movement proves that real peace can be
achieved through sport.
The Olympic
emblem is five interlinked rings: blue, yellow, black, green and
red. Any national flag contains at least one of these colours.
The original
Olympic Games began in ancient Greece in 776 B.C. These games
were part of a festival held every fourth year in honour of God
Zeus at the place called Olympia. It was a great athletic
festival, including competitions in wrestling, foot racing and
chariot racing, rowing and others.
The games were
for men only. Greek women were forbidden not only to participate
but also to watch the Olympics.
The first modern
Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Then they were
resumed in London after the Second World War. Since then the
Olympics are held every fourth year in different countries.The ancient
Greeks had no winter sports. Only in 1924 the first Winter
Olympic Games were held in France. Now they are being held
regularly.