In the long history of human development, apart from the ancient social and cultural phenomenon of religion, the Olympic movement can be said to be the oldest social and cultural phenomenon. From the recorded history, the origin of the Olympic Movement can be traced back to 776 BC. But before that, the ancient Olympic Games may have existed for centuries. Olympic Games, referred to as "Olympic Games", is a comprehensive world games sponsored by the International Olympic Committee.
The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece and got its name because it was held in the Olympic Games. Legend has it that the ancient Olympic Games was founded by Zeus, the king of the gods. The 1 th ancient Olympic Games was held in 776 BC and 293 times in 394 AD. The sports meeting is held every 14 17 days, that is, every four years. Later, people called this cycle the Olympic cycle. With the rise of modern sports, the Greek people hope to restore the ancient Olympic Games. 1859―― 1889, Greece hosted four Olympic Games and made a preliminary attempt. From 1883, Frenchman Coubertin devoted himself to the revival of the ancient Olympic Games. Through the efforts of several generations, the International Olympic Committee was established on June 23rd, 1894. The first Olympic Charter formulated by Coubertin emphasized the amateurism of the Olympic movement, stipulating that only the winners were awarded honorary awards at the Olympic Games, and no money or other material rewards were given to athletes in any form. 1896 ―― 15 On April 6th, the first Olympic Games was held in Athens.
The ancient Olympic Games were basically held every four years, and this cycle was called "Olympiad". According to this cycle, from 776 BC to 394 AD, * * * should be held for 293 sessions; But in fact the number of meetings is much less. However, according to the ancient Olympic Games, one Olympic Games is one, whether it is held or not.
In the early days of the ancient Olympic Games, there were not many events, so the first 22 sessions only lasted for one day. Later, with the increase of incidents, it was extended to two days. From the 37th session, the juvenile competition was added, and the time was extended to 5 days. The first day is the opening ceremony, where sacrifices and oaths are held, the second, third and fourth days are the specific contents of the competition, and the fifth day is the closing ceremony, where prizes are awarded and sacrificial activities are held.
At present, the Olympic Games include track and field, swimming (including diving, water polo and synchronized swimming), shooting, weightlifting, cycling, archery, basketball, volleyball, football, handball, hockey, gymnastics (including rhythmic gymnastics), fencing, international wrestling (freestyle and classical), boxing, judo, rowing and kayaking.
The development scale and level of the modern Olympic Movement have attracted worldwide attention. The Olympic spirit has been widely spread. People see that Olympism, as a cultural phenomenon, closely links ethnic groups with different skin colors and cultural backgrounds in the form of competition, which has a far-reaching impact on human social activities and human civilization. As a sports phenomenon, the Olympic Games is the most fascinating stage for human beings to explore the limits of physical fitness. Olympic records and medals have become lofty goals pursued by athletes, and the Olympic movement has become a global activity with great attraction, penetration and cohesion in many participating countries and regions.
From 65438 to 0893, at the suggestion of Coubertin, the father of the Olympic Games, an international sports conference was held in Paris to discuss the revival of the Olympic Games. 1894 1 month, Coubertin drew up the concrete steps and 10 issues to be discussed in reviving the Olympic Games, and wrote to sports organizations and groups in various countries. 16 June, the "International Sports Congress" opened in Sorbonne Theological Seminary in Paris, with 79 delegates representing 49 sports organizations in 2 countries. 2000 people attended the opening ceremony. The General Assembly adopted the resolution of "Reviving the Olympic Movement". On June 23rd, the International Olympic Committee was established. The establishment of the International Olympic Committee marks the birth of the Olympic Movement.
History of ancient Olympic Games
From 776 BC to 394 AD, the ancient Olympic Games experienced 1 168, and * * * held 293 times. According to its origin and rise and fall, it can be roughly divided into three periods:
(1) From 776 BC to 388 BC, Evy Tus, the ruler of the Peloponnesian Peninsula, tried to combine religion with sports. It not only innovates religious ceremonies, but also organizes large-scale sports competitions and activities, and decides to hold them every four years. The time is set after the summer solstice of leap year. Therefore, the ancient Olympic Games in 776 BC officially went down in history and became the 1 th ancient Olympic Games. There was only one incident. That is, the running distance of the station is 192.27 meters.
Although there were disputes among the city-states during this period, Greece was an independent country with developed politics, economy and culture, which was the golden age of the Games. Especially in 490 BC, after Athens, Greece defeated the Persian army in the Marathon Valley, the people's feelings flourished and their national prestige increased greatly. Many sports facilities and temples have been built, and participants are all over the Greek city-States. The Olympic Games is at its peak, becoming the biggest festival in Greece.
(2) It began to decline from 388 BC to 146 BC. Due to the long Peloponnesian War between Sparta and Athens (43 BC1year to 404 BC), the national strength of Greece was greatly reduced, and Macedonia gradually annexed Greece. King Philip of Macedonia also took part in the horse race himself. Later, Alexander the Great actively supported the Olympic Games, although he did not like sports activities, and regarded it as the highest opening ceremony of sports activities in ancient Greece, adding facilities for it. However, during this period, the spirit of the ancient Olympic Games has greatly faded, and professional athletes began to appear.
(3) From BC 146 to AD 394, the ancient Olympic Games went from decline to destruction. After the Roman Empire ruled Greece, the Olympic Games were still held at first, but Olympia was not the only venue. For example, in the 175 Olympic Games in 80 BC, Rome's economic laws called for excellent athletes to compete in Rome, while Olympia only held junior competitions. At this time, professional athletes began to appear in large numbers, and the Olympic Games became a competition for professional athletes, and the Greeks lost interest in it. After the 2nd century AD, Christianity ruled the whole of Europe, including Greece, advocating asceticism, advocating the separation of soul and body, and opposing sports, which made Europe in a dark age, and the Olympic Games even declined until it existed in name only. In 393 AD, the Roman emperor Theodosius I declared Christianity as the state religion, and thought that the ancient Olympic Games were against the purpose of Christianity and were pagan activities. The following year, he announced the abolition of the ancient Olympic Games. In 895 AD, the Byzantines fought fiercely with the Alphonse River in Goethe, destroying all the facilities in Olympia. In 426 AD, Theodosius II burned the remains of Olympia architecture. Two strong earthquakes occurred in 522 and 5 1 1 year, which completely destroyed Olympia. In this way, the ancient Olympic Games, which was delayed for more than 1000 years, ceased to exist, and the bustling Olympia was in ruins.
Competition schedule and events of ancient Olympic Games
Starting from 1 session, the ancient Olympic Games decided to be held every four years 1 session, and each session only lasted 1 day. With more and more events, since the 22nd Ancient Olympic Games, the organizers decided to change the competition time to three days, and the whole duration will be five days together with the opening ceremony, closing ceremony and celebration activities. The number of events increased to five (discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling and running), boxing, wrestling, chariot racing and horse racing.
The ancient Olympic Games were held 293 times from 1 in 776 BC to * * * in 394 BC, all of which were held in Olympia Stadium in ancient Greece. The playground is built beside the hill in the north of alfons Valley. After transformation, the hill became a stand, which could initially accommodate 20,000 spectators, and later expanded to 45,000, with 160 VIP seats. The venue is 2 12m long, 32m wide and the runway is 192.25m long. The surface has no special treatment, and the starting point is paved with marble. There is a driving range in the southwest of the stadium, which is surrounded by stone pillars to form a courtyard. There is a conference hall, dressing room and bathroom on one side. There is also a 770m× 320m racecourse, which is used for horse racing and carriage racing.
Punishment rules of ancient Olympic Games
The rules of the ancient Olympic Games were very strict, and the offenders were hell to pay. This shows their sense of honor and disgrace. The ancient Greeks believed that the Olympic Games were sacred and winning aboveboard was the most glorious. On the contrary, it is a blasphemy against the sacred cause.
The ancient Olympic Games hated cheaters. At the 90th ancient Olympic Games, a player named Lihas won the championship. He claimed to be a Spartan, but after verification, he was from another city-state, so he was ranked. In the ancient Olympic Games, it was hell who paid bribes. Not only should he be deprived of his championship title, but he should also be severely punished as a warning. The fine was used to carve a statue of Zeus. At the 98th Ancient Olympic Games, a boxer won by bribing three other opponents, and all four were severely punished. The organizers of the ancient Olympic Games carved four statues of Zeus with the fines of these four people, and one of them was engraved with the warning that the victory of the Olympic Games could not be bought with money, but with quick feet and strong body.
Characteristics of ancient Olympic Games
The ancient Olympic Games had three characteristics. First, the ancient Olympic Games was an all-Greek comprehensive event with rich and colorful contents. Including offering sacrifices to Zeus, offering sacrifices to and celebrating the birthday of the gods, poets reciting works, speakers giving speeches, developing market trade, and sports competitions are just one of them. The second ancient Olympic Games is a part of Greek national culture, which has played a positive role in uniting people of all ethnic groups, safeguarding national unity, reducing and stopping wars, and has a very close relationship with politics. Thirdly, determined by the customs, artistic style, geographical environment and material production of ancient Greece, "nudity movement" is a major feature. During the competition, naked athletes are required to be covered with olive oil, so that their bodies will shine under the sunshine, their muscles will be more elastic, and their bodybuilding posture will be better displayed, so that people can enjoy the beauty.
In addition, the rules of the ancient Greek Olympic Games stipulated that women were forbidden to participate in and visit the games, and violators would be sentenced to death. There are two reasons: First, most events in the ancient Olympic Games required athletes to compete naked for a long time, and it was indecent for women to be present. Second, sports competitions in ancient Greece were one of the contents of religious celebrations, and women were not allowed to participate. It is said that the primitive athletes of the ancient Olympic Games competed in animal skins. In a competition, a player wearing a lion's skin accidentally dropped the lion's skin on the ground, and he suddenly became naked, but it did not affect his competition. Finally, he defeated his opponent and won the olive crown. In this unexpected "accident", people found that nudity can better reflect muscle fitness and appreciate a special charm, so it was stipulated that all nude competitions should be held in the future.
Nude movement is a major feature of ancient Greek culture and art with a long history. The "power era" in ancient Greek history refers to this period. This is reflected in the works of ancient Greek sculptors and artists, whose works depict naked people. At that time, muscular and strong, is recognized as a symbol of beauty.
Award ceremony of ancient Olympic Games
The awarding ceremony of the ancient Olympic Games was solemn and grand. The podium is located in front of the statue of Zeus, and the olive crown is placed on a special tripod. When awarding prizes, the reporter first announced the athletes' names, competition results, their city-states and their parents' names. Then the host brought the winner to the host. The host got up, took off the olive crown from the tripod and put it on the winner. At this time, the audience sang songs, recited poems, played music, cheered and threw flowers at the athletes. Although the reward for winning athletes in ancient Olympic Games has been changed many times, the principle is mainly spiritual reward. There are also material rewards, but they are quite meager.
Taking the olive branch as the spirit of the ancient Olympic Games and as a symbol of the Olympic spirit has profound implications and far-reaching influence. The ancient Greeks believed that the olive tree was brought to the world by Athena, the patron saint of Athens, and it was a symbol of peace and happiness given to mankind by God. Therefore, the olive crown woven by the olive branch is the most sacred prize, and getting it is the highest honor. It is said that the olive branch used to weave laurel must be cut from the sacred tree by children whose parents are alive 12 years old, and then carefully compiled.
After the awarding ceremony in Olympia, the winners can return home one after another. At this time, the city-states will also organize grand celebrations for their victors' triumphant return. Later, Greece also stipulated that the winning athletes could be exempted from their obligations to the country and set up honorary seats for them in theaters or festivals. Individual city-states also give lifelong allowances to outstanding athletes.
The flame of the ancient Olympic Games
Before the ancient Olympic Games, according to religious regulations, people gathered in front of temple of olympian zeus, held a solemn ceremony, lit the torch from the altar, and then went to Greek city-states. Torchbearers held the torch high and ran, shouting: stop all wars and take part in the sports meeting! The torch, like a strict command, has supreme power. Where the torch goes, the war will break out. Even in the fierce battle, the city-states laid down their weapons one after another, and the sacred truce began. Greece resumed a peaceful life, people forgot hatred and war and rushed to Olympia to participate in the Olympic Games.