Assemble for the Games

The creation of the Games

From time immemorial, man has practiced activities that were his fitness work and maintained its muscles and hence its performance. Indeed, it is impossible to set a date for the creation of the first disciplines (which came later in the Olympics).

Indeed, it could go back to prehistoric times when man began to throw pebbles for fun. Which over time has given other shots like disk, weight, and javelin. Prehistoric man already practiced these “primitive disciplines” to ensure its own survival, such as fishing, hunting and fight against enemies.

Therefore, it is unthinkable to define when the Olympics were actually created. Since man has always practiced physical activities!The design of the Games was somewhat inevitable for humans as a means for him to highlight his fitness to compete with itself and with adversaries.

Actors

In the beginning, the Pisati and the Eleens participated in the Games. But very quickly, given the success of the Games and their importance, people from all over Greece moved to participate in the Games. Olympia was considered a peaceful place where all the “clans” of Greece met and had the impression that they do form a single “clan”. The main motivation for these Games was linked to religion. As a poet or artist, the athlete is impregnated of the god in his heart and he has to prove what he is capable. He must put himself in the spotlight thanks to his physical condition. But apart from the religious aspect, the athletes also are fighting to defend the colors of their city, which increases the pride and ambition of the cities. Note that over time, athletes representing their city becoming real professionals in this field. They were well paid and ultimately this will have a very negative impact…

The term

The first Games only lasted one day. But over time, the tests became numerous and it was easier to spread over several days. In general, (about 300 BC) games lasted about a week. Each day, it had a number of tests planned.
The games lasted no more than one week. During this week, wars between cities were prohibited. The games were held every three years during the summer. The rest of the year, the athletes were preparing for their future participation in the Games.

The Olympia Site

The Games were always held in the same place in Olympia. The site of the Games was divided into two parts: the sanctuary and the space reserved for sports.

The sanctuary, called Altis (Sacred Wood), is separated from the outside world by an enclosure. It includes several churches that are devoted to any one god or goddess: the Heraion (dedicated to Hera), the time of Zeus, the grand hotel of Zeus, the Pelopeion (tomb of Pelops), the Metroon (dedicated to Rhea).
The space reserved for sports consists of many different sports-related buildings but also civilians buildings. They include:

• The Gym and refesh relax center with nice bathtub whirlpools german:  badewannen – whirlpools and duschkabinen
• The Palaestra: where wrestlers trained.
• The stage where training occurred on the track and the place where some of the competitions proceed.
• The race track
• The Prytaneion: the residence of judges.
• The Bouleuterion : The Olympic council where participants were taking the oath. He also served as City Hall.
• The treasures Terrace. The treasures are votive buildings shaped temple dedicated by rich or even by city-states, they are divided on a terrace to the north.

The enclosure Stage measure 210m on 30m wide. It is formed as a rectangle and these contours, there is a grass embankment that form nothing less than an amphitheatre. There are at the ends of the stage gutters where water flows; this water allows spectators to refresh athletes who are waiting for a next test.

Olympic stadion (Source: Own pic)

Now doesn´t look like the birth place of Olympic games … but here thousands gathered to watch the best athletes from all the world.