The Olympic Flame started its historic journey around the world for the 2004 Olympic Games on March 25, 2004. This day is also the anniversary of the revival of the Olympic Games. The ceremony always begins with the lighting of the Olympic flame by the sun’s rays in a time-honored ceremony held in ancient Olympia in Greece.
In ancient times, the Greeks gathered in the serene Valley of Olympia to offer sacrifices to their many gods. In time, the event came to include games and contests, which eventually came to be known as the Olympic Games. The first recorded date of these games was 776 B.C. The Games were then held every four years until 394 A.D. As time passed, additional events were added, and the Games became a five-day festival, which reflected the culture of the people.
Originally, women and girls were excluded from participating in the Olympic Games. Later, separate races known as the Herannic Games in honor of Hera, the wife of Zeus were set up for them.
When conquering Roman armies invaded Greece, the Games lost their importance, and ended in 394 A.D. by order of Emperor Theodosius. Earthquakes, floods, and landslides eventually buried the site of the ancient festival.
In 1896, the Games were revived largely due to the efforts of one man — Baron Pierre de Coubertin!

The Modern Olympic Games

It wasn't until after efforts by French Baron Pierre De Coubertin and the Greek Dimitrios Vikelas that the games were brought back to life after nearly 1500 years in the wilderness. De Doubertin believed that sport was a very strong power that could inspire a feeling of unity and peace among the many nations of the world. He believed that this desire could be brought about with the revival of the Olympic Games.
After an unsuccessful attempt at reviving the games, he finally achieved his ambition. In 1894 at an international congress, that was actually devised for the study of amateur sports, he voiced his view on the revival of the Olympic Games, and was delighted when the other countries participating in the congress agreed with him. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded that year.
Held in Athens in 1896 at the Panatheniac Stadium, the games heralded a welcomed return to the original beliefs and virtues of the ancient games. With competitors from 14 nations, the games commenced on April 6th and came to a climax on 15th April. There were 43 events, which were competed in by 245 athletes, all of whom were male.
Probably the biggest cheer of the 1896 Olympics was when a Greek Shepard, Spiridon Louis, was victorious in the most popular of all events, the marathon. The athletes from the United States were also big winners in these games, winning 9 events.
What is even more remarkable regarding this is that their Olympic squad barely made it to Athens in time to compete.
The Olympics have taken place every four years, since the first games in 1896. However, even the ideals of the Olympic Truce could not prevent the games being cancelled during the first and second world wars. The games cancelled were the 1916 Olympics, due to be held in Berlin, the 1940 games to be held in Tokyo and the 1944 games to be held in Helsinki.
The Winter Olympic Games were introduced in 1924, and also took place every four years. However, it wasn't until 1992 that it was decided that the Olympic and Winter Olympic games would not take place in the same calendar year. The Winter Games were moved forward two years to 1994, and would continue to take place at four-year intervals.
Since the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the games have continued to grow throughout the years and more and more nations have been taking part, as well as more events being included. During the 1896 games, 14 nations took part. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 199 nations took part. In 1896 there were 245 athletes (all male), in 2000 there were 10,651 (4069 women and 6582 men). And in 1896 there were 43 events, compared to the 300 events at the 2000 Olympics.

The Demise of the Olympic Games

In 146 AD when most of Greece fell under Roman rule, the value of the Olympic games started to diminish. The games though still continued, and were enjoyed by those who attended.
However, in 394 AD the last games were held. Under the orders of Emperor Theodosius I, the games were abolished. This was because the taking part in any worshipping of idols was forbidden. The Olympic games would have to wait at least 1500 years before they were revived again.

The Importance of the Olympic Games

The Olympic Games were especially important to the Greeks, and it was the games that unified national, spiritual and racial beliefs. The ancient Greeks were also very competitive people, and all strived to be the best. Winning an Olympic event was the highest honour people could achieve.
The fact that the winners were presented with a simple olive wreath crown also illustrates the fact that the participants taking part were competing for themselves, and not any material rewards.
The ancient games were also held in high regard for social reasons, as well as the athletic side. Poets and writers were given the chance to present their works to a large audience, members of different city-states would have the chance to meet and talk with members of other city-states.
Leaders of the city-states would also come to discuss any personal differences that they were having with each other. The games were seen as a festival, and it was not acceptable for any negative issues or situations to occur during this time.
Even during times of war and battle, and differences were put aside, so that the Olympics would be conducted in a peaceful manner. Even the games of 480 BC took place in the middle of the Persian War.
It is from this ideal that the Olympic Truce was formed.
During the times of the Olympic games, messengers were sent all over the Greek world with details of the dates of the games, and called for a truce between any parties conducting in any hostile activities. There was also a ban in any death penalties being carried out during this time.

 

Were there other contests like the Olympics?

There were 3 other major games which were held on 2- or 4-year cycles: the Isthmean Games at Corinth, the Pythian Games at Delphi, and the Nemean Games at Nemea. Because it started 200 years before the other competitions, the Olympics remained the most famous athletic contest in the ancient Greek world.Many athletes competed at several athletic festivals. Inscriptions on victor's statues at Olympia often describe victories in 2, 3, or even all 4 major athletic festivals. Pausanias's description of Olympian architecture includes a list of the more famous victors' statues, and summaries of their inscriptions such as this one:

What prizes did Olympic victors get?

A victor received a crown made from olive leaves, and was entitled to have a statue of himself set up at Olympia.
Although he did not receive money at the Olympics, the victor was treated much like a modern sports celebrity by his home city. His success increased the fame and reputation of his community in the Greek world. It was common for victors to receive benefits such as having all their meals at public expense or front-row seats at the theater and other public festivals. One city even built a private gym for their Olympic wrestling champion to exercise in.

Who were the Olympic judges?

Unlike the modern Olympics, judges did not come from all over the Greek world, but were drawn from Elis, the local region which included Olympia. The number of judges increased to 10 as more events were added to the Olympics.
Even though the judges were all Eleans, local Elean Greeks were still allowed to compete in the Olympics. The Elean people had such a reputation for fairness that an Elean cheating at the Games was a shock to other Greeks.