The Herald, UK
June 24 2004
Olympics: Athens to Athens
DOUG GILLON
50 days to go
When the XXVIII Olympics of the modern era open on August 13, the
Games will truly be coming home. Athens was merely the place where
the Games restarted.
The ancient Olympics date back to 776BC and were held every four
years in southern Greece, in the valley of Olympia. Lighting a flame
on the altar of Zeus is the origin of the modern flame-lighting
ceremony.
The first Olympic champion recorded was a cook, Koroibos of Elis, who
won the stadion, a sprint of nearly 200 metres. It was the only
athletic event among religious ceremonies attended by crowds of
40,000.
Events were added regularly, and wars were suspended in a month-long
truce, or heiromenia, to allow competitors safe passage to the
celebrations.
Although there was no prize money (just an olive wreath), athletes
were supported in their training, and rewarded by their patrons, just
like professionals. There was evidence of doping, bribery, cheating,
and even boycotts.
Women were excluded on pain of death from the all-male contests, but
were permitted to own horses. The first female winner was Kyneska of
Sparta who won the tethrippon in 396 and 392 BC. Or rather her horses
did. She was not actually a competitor at all, but a horse breeder,
whose horses won the 12-lap, four-horse chariot race.
The Games were held for more than 1100 years, until abolished in
393AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who considered them to be
pagan. The last recorded champion of the ancient era was a boxer,
Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369AD.
50 days to go
When the XXVIII Olympics of the modern era open on August 13, the
Games will truly be coming home. Athens was merely the place where
the Games restarted.
The ancient Olympics date back to 776BC and were held every four
years in southern Greece, in the valley of Olympia. Lighting a flame
on the altar of Zeus is the origin of the modern flame-lighting
ceremony.
The first Olympic champion recorded was a cook, Koroibos of Elis, who
won the stadion, a sprint of nearly 200 metres. It was the only
athletic event among religious ceremonies attended by crowds of
40,000.
Events were added regularly, and wars were suspended in a month-long
truce, or heiromenia, to allow competitors safe passage to the
celebrations.
Although there was no prize money (just an olive wreath), athletes
were supported in their training, and rewarded by their patrons, just
like professionals. There was evidence of doping, bribery, cheating,
and even boycotts.
Women were excluded on pain of death from the all-male contests, but
were permitted to own horses. The first female winner was Kyneska of
Sparta who won the tethrippon in 396 and 392 BC. Or rather her horses
did. She was not actually a competitor at all, but a horse breeder,
whose horses won the 12-lap, four-horse chariot race.
The Games were held for more than 1100 years, until abolished in
393AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who considered them to be
pagan. The last recorded champion of the ancient era was a boxer,
Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369AD.
50 days to go
When the XXVIII Olympics of the modern era open on August 13, the
Games will truly be coming home. Athens was merely the place where
the Games restarted.
The ancient Olympics date back to 776BC and were held every four
years in southern Greece, in the valley of Olympia. Lighting a flame
on the altar of Zeus is the origin of the modern flame-lighting
ceremony.
The first Olympic champion recorded was a cook, Koroibos of Elis, who
won the stadion, a sprint of nearly 200 metres. It was the only
athletic event among religious ceremonies attended by crowds of
40,000.
Events were added regularly, and wars were suspended in a month-long
truce, or heiromenia, to allow competitors safe passage to the
celebrations.
Although there was no prize money (just an olive wreath), athletes
were supported in their training, and rewarded by their patrons, just
like professionals. There was evidence of doping, bribery, cheating,
and even boycotts.
Women were excluded on pain of death from the all-male contests, but
were permitted to own horses. The first female winner was Kyneska of
Sparta who won the tethrippon in 396 and 392 BC. Or rather her horses
did. She was not actually a competitor at all, but a horse breeder,
whose horses won the 12-lap, four-horse chariot race.
The Games were held for more than 1100 years, until abolished in
393AD by the Roman Emperor Theodosius, who considered them to be
pagan. The last recorded champion of the ancient era was a boxer,
Varasdates, Prince of Armenia, in 369AD.