The city where the first Olympic Games were held. The history of the Olympic Games

If yes, you will probably be very interested to know impressive details of the origins of the Olympic races... The history of the Olympic Games is exciting and full of surprises. So, let's dive into the unknown distances of the world Olympiads?

How it all began

The famous Olympic Games in honor of Olympian Zeus originated in ancient Greece and were held from 776 BC. That is, every 4 years in the city of Olympia. Sports competitions were such a tremendous success and great importance for society that at the time of Olympiyskoh races stopped wars and ekehiriya was established - a sacred truce.

People were pouring down from everywhere to look at the competitions in Olympia: some traveled on foot, some on horseback, and some even sailed ships over the distant lands, just to have at least one eye look at the majestic Greek athletes. Whole tent settlements grew up around the city. To watch the athletes, spectators completely filled the hillsides around the Alpheus Valley.

After the solemn victory and the award ceremony (the presentation of a wreath of the sacred olive tree and palm branch), the Olympian lived happily ever after. In his honor, celebrations were held, hymns were sung, statues were made, in Athens, the winner was exempted from taxes and burdensome public duties. And the winner was always left with the best seat in the theater. In some places, even the children of the Olympian enjoyed special privileges.

Interesting, that women were not allowed to participate in Olympic competitions on pain of death.

The brave Hellenes competed in running, fistfights (which Pythagoras once won), jumping, javelin throwing, and so on. However, the most dangerous were chariot races. Believe it or not, the winner of the equestrian competition was the owner of the horses, not the poor cabman who risked his life to win.

Many legends are associated with the Olympic Games. One of them says that Zeus himself allegedly organized the first competition in honor of the victory over his father. True or not, but in the literature it was Homer who first mentioned the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece in the poem Iliad.

Archaeological excavations indicate that in Olympia, 5 rectangular or horseshoe-shaped stadiums with stands for fans were erected specifically for the competition.

Unfortunately, now nothing is known about the time of the champions. It was enough to be the first to reach the finish line to get the right to light the sacred fire. But legends tell us about the Olympians who ran faster than hares, and what is the talent of the Spartan Ladas, who did not leave footprints on the sand while running.

Modern Olympic Games

Modern international sporting events, known as the Summer Olympics, have been held every four years since 1896. The initiator was a French baron Pierre de Coubertin... He believed that it was precisely the lack of physical training that prevented the French soldiers from winning the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. Young people should measure their strength on sports grounds, not on battlefields, the activist argued.

The first Olympic Games were held in Athens. To organize the competition, we created International Olympic Committee, whose first president was Demetrius Vikelas from Greece.

Since that time, the holding of the World Olympiad has become a good tradition. Amid impressive excavations and archaeological finds, the idea of \u200b\u200bOlympism has spread throughout Europe. Increasingly, European states organized their own sports competitions, which were watched by the whole world.

But what about winter sports ..

To fill the gap in winter sports competitions that were technically impossible to host in the summer, winter Olympic Games have been held since January 25, 1924... The first were organized in a French city Chamonix... In addition to figure skating and hockey, athletes competed in high-speed ice skating, ski jumping, etc.

293 athletes, including 13 women, from 16 countries of the world expressed their desire to compete for the championship in the competition. The first Olympic champion of the Winter Games was C. Jutrow from the USA (speed skating), but in the end the teams from Finland and Norway turned out to be the leaders of the competition. The races lasted 11 days and ended on February 4th.

Olympic Games Attributes

Now the symbol and emblem In the Olympic Games, there are five intertwined rings that symbolize the unification of the five continents.

Olympic mottosuggested by the Catholic monk Henri Didon: "Faster, higher, stronger."

At the opening ceremony of each Olympiad, they raise flag - white cloth with the emblem (Olympic rings). Throughout the Olympiad, it burns olympic fire, which is brought to the venue every time from Olympia.

Since 1968, each Olympiad has its own.

In 2016, the Olympic Games are planned to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where the Ukrainian team will present its champions to the world. By the way, a figure skater became the first Olympic champion of independent Ukraine Oksana Baiul.

The opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games are always a spectacular show that once again underlines the prestige and importance of this global competition on a planetary scale.

The Olympic Games, Games of the Olympics are the largest international complex sports competitions of our time, which are held every four years. The tradition that existed in ancient Greece was revived by a French public figure at the end of the 19th century Pierre de Coubertin... The Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics, have been held every four years since 1896, with the exception of the years during the World Wars. In 1924, the Winter Olympics were established and were originally held in the same year as the summer ones. However, since 1994, the time of the Winter Olympic Games has been shifted by two years from the time of the Summer Games.

Antique Olympic Games

The Olympic Games of Ancient Greece were a religious and sports festival held in Olympia. Information about the origin of the games is lost, but several legends have survived that describe this event. The first documented celebration dates back to 776 BC. e., although it is known that the games were held earlier. At the time of the games, a sacred truce was declared, at this time it was impossible to wage a war, although this was repeatedly violated.

The Olympic Games lost their significance significantly with the arrival of the Romans. After Christianity became the official religion, games began to be seen as a manifestation of paganism and in 394 AD. e. they were banned by the emperor Theodosius I.

Revival of the Olympic idea

The Olympic idea did not disappear completely even after the ban on ancient competitions. For example, in England during the 17th century, "Olympic" competitions and competitions were held several times. Later, similar competitions were organized in France and Greece. However, these were small events that were regional at best. The first true predecessors of the modern Olympic Games are the Olympias, which were held regularly between 1859-1888. The idea of \u200b\u200breviving the Olympic Games in Greece belonged to the poet Panayotis Sutsos, brought it to life by a public figure Evangelis Zappas.

In 1766, as a result of archaeological excavations at Olympia, sports and temple structures were discovered. In 1875, archaeological research and excavations continued under German leadership. At that time in Europe, romantic-idealistic ideas about antiquity were in vogue. The desire to revive the Olympic mindset and culture spread rather quickly throughout Europe. French baron Pierre de Coubertin (fr. Pierre de Coubertin) said then: “Germany has unearthed what remains of ancient Olympia. Why can't France restore the old greatness? "

Baron Pierre de Coubertin

According to Coubertin, it was the weak physical condition of the French soldiers that became one of the reasons for the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. He seeks to change the situation by improving the physical culture of the French. At the same time, he wanted to overcome national egoism and contribute to the struggle for peace and international understanding. The "youth of the world" was supposed to compete in sports, not on the battlefield. Reviving the Olympic Games seemed in his eyes the best solution to achieve both goals.

At a congress held June 16-23, 1894 at the Sorbonne (University of Paris), he presented his thoughts and ideas to an international audience. On the last day of the Congress (June 23), it was decided that the first Olympic Games of our time should be held in 1896 in Athens, in the country that was the ancestor of the Games - Greece. To organize the Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded. The first president of the Committee was a Greek Demetrius Vikelaswho was president until the end of the I Olympic Games in 1896. Baron became General Secretary Pierre de Coubertin.

The first Games of our time were really a great success. Despite the fact that only 241 athletes (14 countries) took part in the Games, the Games became the largest sporting event ever since the days of Ancient Greece. Greek officials were so pleased that they put forward a proposal to host the Olympics "forever" in their homeland, Greece. But the IOC introduced rotation between different states so that every 4 years the Games would change the venue.

After the first success, the Olympic movement experienced the first crisis in its history. The 1900 Games in Paris (France) and the 1904 Games in St. Louis (Missouri, USA) were combined with the World Exhibitions. Sports competitions dragged on for months and almost did not enjoy the interest of the audience. Almost only American athletes participated in the Games in St. Louis, since it was very difficult to get from Europe across the ocean in those years for technical reasons.

At the 1906 Olympic Games in Athens (Greece), sports competitions and results again took first place. Although the IOC initially recognized and supported the holding of these “intermediate Games” (just two years after the previous ones), these Games are now not recognized as Olympic Games. Some sports historians consider the 1906 Games to be the salvation of the Olympic idea, as they prevented the games from becoming "meaningless and unnecessary."

Modern Olympic Games

The principles, rules and regulations of the Olympic Games are determined by the Olympic Charter, the foundations of which were approved by the International Sports Congress in Paris in 1894, which, at the suggestion of the French educator and public figure Pierre de Coubertin, made a decision to organize the Games on the model of the ancient ones and to create an International Olympic Committee (IOC).

According to the charter of the Games of the Olympics, “... unite amateur athletes of all countries in fair and equal competitions. In relation to countries and individuals, no discrimination on racial, religious or political grounds is allowed ... ”. Games are held in the first year of the Olympiad (4-year period between games). The Olympiads have been counted since 1896, when the first Olympic Games took place (I Olympiad - 1896-99). The Olympiad also gets its number in those cases when the games are not held (for example, VI - in 1916-19, XII-1940-43, XIII - 1944-47). The symbol of the Olympic Games is five connected rings, symbolizing the unification of the five parts of the world in the Olympic movement, the so-called. Olympic rings. The color of the rings in the top row is blue for Europe, black for Africa, red for America, in the bottom row, yellow for Asia, green for Australia. In addition to the Olympic sports, the organizing committee has the right, at its choice, to include in the program demonstration competitions in 1-2 sports not recognized by the IOC. In the same year as the Olympics, the Winter Olympic Games have been held since 1924, which have their own numbering. Since 1994, the dates for the Winter Olympic Games have been shifted by 2 years relative to the summer. The venue for the Olympics is chosen by the IOC, the right to organize them is given to the city, not the country. Duration no more than 15 days (winter games - no more than 10).

The Olympic movement has its own emblem and flag, approved by the IOC at the suggestion of Coubertin in 1913. The emblem is the Olympic rings. The motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger). The flag is a white cloth with Olympic rings, since 1920 it has been raised at all Games.

Among the traditional rituals of the Games:

* lighting of the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony (the fire is lit from the sun's rays in Olympia and delivered by the torch relay of athletes to the host city of the Games);
* pronouncement by one of the outstanding athletes of the country in which the Olympics take place, the Olympic oath on behalf of all participants in the games;
* taking an oath on impartial judging on behalf of the judges;
* awarding medals to the winners and prize-winners of the competition;
* raising the national flag and singing the national anthem in honor of the winners.

Since 1932, the host city has been building the "Olympic Village" - a complex of living quarters for the participants of the games. According to the charter, the Games are competitions between individual athletes, not between national teams. However, since 1908, the so-called. unofficial team standings - determining the place occupied by teams by the number of medals received and points scored in competitions (points are awarded for the first 6 places according to the system: 1st place - 7 points, 2nd - 5, 3rd - 4, 4 -e - 3, 5th - 2, 6th - 1). The title of the Olympic champion is the most honorable and desirable in an athlete's career in those sports for which Olympic tournaments are held. An exception is football, since the title of world champion in this sport is much more prestigious.

The content of the article

OLYMPIC GAMES OF ANCIENT GREECE- the largest sporting events of antiquity. They originated as part of a religious cult and were carried out from 776 BC. to 394 AD (a total of 293 Olympiads were held) in Olympia, which was considered a sacred place among the Greeks. The name of the Games also originated from Olympia. The Olympic Games were a significant event for the whole of Ancient Greece, which went beyond a purely sporting event. Victory at the Olympics was considered extremely honorable for both the athlete and the policy he represented.

From the 6th century. BC. following the example of the Olympic Games, other general Greek competitions for athletes began to be held: the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games and the Nemean Games, also dedicated to various ancient Greek gods. But the Olympics were the most prestigious among these competitions. The Olympic Games are mentioned in the works of Plutarch, Herodotus, Pindar, Lucian, Pausanias, Simonides, and other ancient authors.

At the end of the 19th century. The Olympic Games were revived at the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin.

Olympic Games from inception to decline.

There are many legends about the origin of the Olympic Games. All of them are associated with ancient Greek gods and heroes.

The most famous legend says that the king of Elis, Iphit, seeing that his people were tired of endless wars, went to Delphi, where the priestess of Apollo conveyed to him the command of the gods: to arrange the common Greek athletic festivals that they please. After which Iphitus, the Spartan legislator Lycurgus, and the Athenian legislator and reformer Kliosthenes established the procedure for conducting such games and entered into a sacred union. Olympia, where this festival was supposed to be held, was declared a sacred place, and anyone who entered its borders armed, was a criminal.

According to another myth, the son of Zeus, Hercules, brought the sacred olive branch to Olympia and established the Games of Athletes to commemorate the victory of Zeus over his ferocious father Cronus.

There is also a legend that Hercules, having organized the Olympic Games, immortalized the memory of Pelope (Pelops), who won the cruel king Enomai in the chariot race. And the name Pelop was given to the Peloponnese region, where the "capital" of the ancient Olympic Games was located.

Religious ceremonies were an obligatory part of the ancient Olympic Games. According to the established custom, the first day of the Games was devoted to sacrifices: athletes spent this day at the altars and altars of their patron gods. A similar ceremony was repeated on the final day of the Olympic Games, when awards were presented to the winners.

At the time of the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, wars stopped and a truce was concluded - ekeheria, and representatives of the warring policies held peace negotiations in Olympia in order to settle conflicts. On the bronze disc of Iphita, which was kept in Olympia in the temple of Hera, with the rules of the Olympic Games, the corresponding paragraph was recorded. “The Iphit disc contains the text of the truce announced by the Eleans during the Olympic Games; it is not written in straight lines, but the words go around the disk in the form of a circle "(Pausanias, Description of Hellas).

From the Olympic Games 776 BC (the earliest Games, the mention of which has come down to us - according to some experts, the Olympic Games began to be held more than 100 years earlier) the Greeks had a special "Olympic calendar" introduced by the historian Timaeus. The Olympic holiday was celebrated in the "holy month" beginning on the first full moon after the summer solstice. It had to be repeated every 1417 days that made up the Olympics - the Greek "Olympic" year.

Started as a local competition, the Olympic Games eventually became a pan-Greek event. The Games attracted many people not only from Greece itself, but also from its colonial cities from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.

The Games continued even when Hellas fell into submission to Rome (in the middle of the 2nd century BC), as a result of which one of the fundamental Olympic principles was violated, which allowed only Greek citizens to participate in the Olympic Games, and even some of the winners were Roman emperors (including Nero, who "won" the chariot races drawn by ten horses). Affected the Olympic Games and began in the 4th century BC. the general decline of Greek culture: they gradually lost their former meaning and essence, turning from a sports competition and a significant social event into a purely entertainment event, in which mainly professional athletes participated.

And in 394 A.D. The Olympic Games were banned - as a "relic of paganism" - by the Roman emperor Theodosius I, who forcibly implanted Christianity.

Olympia.

Located in the northwestern part of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Here was Altis (Altis) - the legendary sacred grove of Zeus and the temple and cult complex, which was finally formed around the 6th century. BC. On the territory of the sanctuary there were religious buildings, monuments, sports facilities and houses, where athletes and guests lived during the period of the competition. The Olympic sanctuary remained the focus of Greek art until the 4th century. BC.

Soon after the ban of the Olympic Games, all these structures were burned by the order of Emperor Theodosius II (in 426 AD), and a century later they were finally destroyed and buried by strong earthquakes and river floods.

As a result, held in Olympia at the end of the 19th century. archaeological excavations have succeeded in discovering the ruins of some buildings, including sports facilities, such as the palaestra, gymnasium and stadium. Built in the 3rd century. BC. palaestra - a platform surrounded by a portico where wrestlers, boxers and jumpers trained. Gymnasium, built in the 3rd and 2nd centuries. BC - the largest building in Olympia, it was used for training sprinters. The gymnasium also kept a list of winners and a list of the Olympics, and there were statues of athletes. The stadium (212.5 m long and 28.5 m wide) with stands and seats for judges was built in 330-320 BC. It could accommodate about 45,000 spectators.

Organization of the Games.

All free-born Greek citizens were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games (according to some sources, men who could speak Greek). Slaves and barbarians, i.e. persons of non-Greek origin could not participate in the Olympic Games. “When Alexander wished to take part in the competition and for this he arrived in Olympia, the Greeks, the participants in the competition, demanded his expulsion. These contests, they said, were for the Hellenes, not for the barbarians. Alexander proved that he was Argos, and the judges recognized his Hellenic origin. He took part in a running competition and came to the goal at the same time as the winner ”(Herodotus. History).

The organization of the ancient Olympic Games provided for control not only over the course of the Games themselves, but also over the preparation of athletes for them. Control was exercised by the Hellenodics, or Helanodics, the most authoritative citizens. For 10-12 months before the start of the Games, athletes underwent intensive training, after which they passed a kind of exam of the Hellenodic Commission. After fulfilling the "Olympic standard", future participants in the Olympic Games were preparing for another month according to a special program - already under the guidance of the Hellenodics.

The fundamental principle of the competition was the honesty of the participants. Before the start of the competition, they swore an oath to abide by the rules. Ellanodiks had the right to deprive the champion of the title if he won by fraudulent means, the offending athlete was also subject to a fine and corporal punishment. In front of the entrance to the stadium in Olympia, they stood for the edification of the participants zana - copper statues of Zeus, cast with money received in the form of fines from athletes who violated the rules of the competition (the ancient Greek writer Pausanias indicates that the first six such statues were installed in the 98th Olympiad, when Thessalian Eupolus bribed three fighters who spoke with him). In addition, persons convicted of a crime or sacrilege were not allowed to participate in the Games.

Entry to the competition was free. But only men could visit them, women, on pain of death, were forbidden to appear in Olympia throughout the festival (according to some sources, this prohibition extended only to married women). An exception was made only for the priestess of the goddess Demeter: a special marble throne was erected for her at the stadium, in the most honorable place.

Antique Olympic Games program.

At first, there was only a stadium in the program of the Olympic Games - running one stage (192.27 m), then the number of Olympic disciplines increased. Let's note some cardinal changes in the program:

- at 14 Olympic Games (724 BC) diaulos was included in the program - running in 2 stages, and 4 years later - dolichodrom (running for endurance), the distance of which ranged from 7 to 24 stadia;

- at 18 Olympic Games (708 BC), wrestling and pentathlon (pentathlon) competitions were held for the first time, which included, in addition to wrestling and the stadium, jumping, as well as javelin and discus throwing;

- at 23 Olympic Games (688 BC) a fist fight was included in the competition program,

- at the 25 Olympic Games (680 BC) chariot races were added (drawn by four adult horses, over time this type of program expanded, in the 5th – 4th centuries BC chariot races, pulled by a pair of adult horses began to be held , young horses or mules);

- at 33 Olympic Games (648 BC) in the program of the Games, horse races appeared (in the middle of the 3rd century BC, horse races were also held) and pankration - a single combat that combined elements of wrestling and fist fighting with minimal restrictions on "forbidden techniques" and in many ways reminiscent of modern fighting without rules.

Greek gods and mythological heroes are involved in the emergence of not only the Olympic Games in general, but also their individual disciplines. For example, it was believed that running one stage was introduced by Hercules himself, who personally measured this distance in Olympia (1 stage was equal to the length of 600 feet of the priest of Zeus), and pankration dates back to the legendary fight of Theseus with the Minotaur.

Some of the disciplines of the ancient Olympic Games, familiar to us from modern competitions, differ markedly from their current counterparts. Greek athletes did not jump in length from a running start, but from a place - moreover, with stones (later with dumbbells) in their hands. At the end of the jump, the athlete threw stones abruptly back: it was believed that this allows him to jump further. This jumping technique required good coordination. Javelin and disc throwing (over time, instead of a stone, athletes began to throw an iron disc) was performed from a small elevation. In this case, the spear was thrown not at range, but at accuracy: the athlete had to hit a special target. In wrestling and boxing, there was no division of the participants by weight categories, and the boxing match lasted until one of the rivals admitted that he was defeated or was unable to continue the fight. There were very peculiar varieties of running disciplines: running in full armor (i.e. in a helmet, with a shield and weapons), running heralds and trumpeters, alternating running and chariot racing.

From the 37th Games (632 BC), young men under the age of 20 also began to participate in the competition. At first, competitions in this age category included only running and wrestling, over time pentathlon, fist fighting and pankration were added to them.

In addition to athletic competitions, an arts competition was also held at the Olympic Games, from the 84th Games (444 BC) it became an official part of the program.

Initially, the Olympic Games took one day, then (with the expansion of the program) - five days (this is how long the Games lasted during their heyday in the 6-4 centuries BC) and, in the end, “stretched out” for a whole month.

Olympionics.

The winner of the Olympic Games received universal recognition along with the olive wreath (this tradition began in 752 BC) and purple ribbons. He became one of the most respected people in his city (for the inhabitants of which the victory of his countryman at the Olympics was also a great honor), he was often freed from state duties and given other privileges. Posthumous honors were also given to Olympionics at home. And according to the introduced in the 6th century. BC. In practice, the three-time winner of the Games could put up his statue in Altis.

The first Olympian known to us was Korab of Elis, who won the race by one stage in 776 BC.

The most famous - and the only athlete in the history of the ancient Olympic Games who won 6 Olympics - was the "strongest among the strong" wrestler Milon from Croton. A native of the Greek colony city of Croton (south of modern Italy) and, according to some sources, a student of Pythagoras, he won his first victory at the 60th Olympiad (540 BC) in competitions among young men. From 532 BC to 516 BC he won 5 more Olympic titles - already among adult athletes. In 512 BC. Milo, who was already over 40 years old, tried to win his seventh title, but lost to a younger rival. Olympionic Milon was also a multiple winner of the Pythian, Isthmian, Nemean Games and many local competitions. Mentions about him can be found in the works of Pausanias, Cicero and other authors.

Another outstanding athlete, Leonidas from Rhodes, won three "running" disciplines at four Olympiads in a row (164 BC - 152 BC): one and two stages, as well as running with weapons.

Astil from Croton went down in the history of the ancient Olympic Games not only as one of the record holders for the number of victories (6 - in the one and two stages at the Games from 488 BC to 480 BC). If at his first Olympics, Astil played for Croton, then at the next two - for Syracuse. Former countrymen avenged him for his betrayal: the statue of the champion in Croton was demolished, and his former house was turned into a prison.

There are whole Olympic dynasties in the history of the ancient Greek Olympic Games. So, the grandfather of the champion in fist fighting Poseidor from Rhodes Diagoras, as well as his uncles Akusilai and Damaget, were also Olympians. Diagoras, whose exceptional perseverance and honesty in boxing fights won him great respect from the audience and were praised in the odes of Pindar, witnessed his sons' Olympic victories - in boxing and pankration, respectively. (According to legend, when grateful sons put their champion wreaths on their father's head and lifted him on his shoulders, one of the applauding spectators exclaimed: "Die, Diagoras, die! Die, because you have nothing more to wish for from life!" died immediately in the arms of his sons.)

Many Olympians were distinguished by exceptional physical data. For example, the champion in a two-stage race (404 BC) Lasphenes of Tebea is credited with a victory in an unusual race with a horse, and Aegeus of Argos, who won a long distance race (328 BC), then jogging , without making a single stop on the way, covered the distance from Olympia to his hometown in order to quickly bring the good news to his fellow countrymen. Victories were also achieved through a unique technique. So, an extremely hardy and agile boxer Melankom from Caria, winner of the Olympic Games 49 AD, during the fight constantly kept his arms outstretched forward, due to which he avoided the blows of the opponent, and at the same time he rarely retaliated. in the end, the physically and emotionally exhausted opponent admitted defeat. And about the winner of the Olympic Games 460 BC. in the dolichodrome of Ladas from Argos, they said that he runs so easily that he does not even leave marks on the ground.

Among the participants and winners of the Olympic Games were such famous scientists and thinkers as Demosthenes, Democritus, Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Pythagoras, Hippocrates. Moreover, they competed not only in the fine arts. For example, Pythagoras was the champion in fist fighting, and Plato was in pankration.

Maria Ischenko

The history of the Olympic Games is more than 2 thousand years old. They originated in Ancient Greece. At first, the games were part of the festivities in honor of the god Zeus. The first Olympiad took place in ancient Greece. Once every four years, athletes flocked to the city of Olympia in the Peloponnese, a peninsula in the south of the country. There were only one-stadium sprint competitions (from Greek stages \u003d 192 m). Gradually, the number of sports increased and the games became an important event for the entire Greek world. It was a religious and sports holiday, during which a mandatory "sacred peace" was declared and any military action was prohibited.

History of the first Olympiad

The truce period lasted a month and was called Ekeheiriya. It is believed that the first Olympiad took place in 776 BC. e. But in 393 AD. e. Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned the Olympic Games. By that time, Greece was under the rule of Rome, and the Romans, having converted to Christianity, believed that the Olympic Games, with their worship of pagan gods and the cult of beauty, were incompatible with the Christian faith.

The Olympic Games were remembered at the end of the 19th century, after they began to carry out excavations in ancient Olympia and discovered the ruins of sports and temple structures. In 1894, at the International Sports Congress in Paris, the French public figure Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937) proposed to organize the Olympic Games on the model of the ancient ones. He also came up with the motto of the Olympians: "The main thing is not victory, but participation." De Coubertin wanted only male athletes to compete in these competitions, as in ancient Greece, but women also participated in the second Games. Five colored rings became the emblem of the Games; the colors were chosen that are most often found on the flags of various countries of the world.

The first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 in Athens. In the XX century. the number of countries and athletes participating in these competitions has grown steadily, and the number of Olympic sports has also increased. Today it is already difficult to find a country that would not send at least one or two athletes to the Games. Since 1924, in addition to the Olympic Games, which take place in the summer, winter Games have also begun to be held, so that skiers, skaters and other athletes who are involved in winter sports can compete. And since 1994, the Winter Olympic Games have not been held in the same year as the summer ones, but two years later.

Sometimes the Olympic Games are called the Olympics, which is wrong: the Olympics are the four-year period between successive Olympic Games. When, for example, they say that the 2008 Games are the 29th Olympiad, they mean that from 1896 to 2008, 29 periods of four years each passed. But there were only 26 Games: in 1916, 1940 and 1944. There were no Olympic Games - the world wars interfered.

The 2018 Olympics will be held in the South Korean city of Pyeongchang from February 9 to 25. Traditionally, this event is one of the most anticipated, because millions of fans around the world will have a wonderful opportunity to see the spectacular competition of the best athletes of our time. There will be about 2,500 of them at the Olympics from more than 90 countries, with 102 sets of awards planned to be played in various winter disciplines.

It should be noted that not many countries wanted to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. The following have submitted their applications to the IOC:

• Annecy (city in the south-east of France);
• Munich (city in the south of Germany);
• Pyeongchang (South Korea).

The main reason for the rejection of the French application was the too frequent OI. The last such event took place in this country in 1992, and during its sovereign history, France has hosted the Olympics 5 times (more than only the USA). In addition, senior officials from this country ignored the final part of the choice of the venue for the Olympic Games, as a result of which the chances of a French bid to win became very slim. Munich (Germany) could be an excellent venue for the 2018 Winter Olympics, but the IOC members considered that not so long ago the Federal Republic of Germany hosted the main sporting event of the four years (in 1972). As a result, the first games after the fall of the Berlin Wall never took place on the united territory of Germany.

Choosing Pyeongchang, the IOC functionaries pursued two goals, the main of which was the popularization of winter sports in Asia. In addition, this South Korean city has applied for the Olympic Games for the third time, and the last time it was offensively lost to Sochi with a difference of only 4 votes. Pyeongchang won the right to host the Olympic Games in the first round, beating the competitors by a huge margin (63 votes against 25 for Munich and 7 for Annecy). The judges were won over by the determination with which the city went towards its goal, because over the past few years in South Korea, the construction of sports facilities and related infrastructure has not stopped. After the official announcement of the winner, the joy of the South Korean delegation knew no bounds.

In which sports will medals be awarded?

At the moment, only 15 types of winter sports are recognized as Olympic. This list includes:

• skating;
• skiing;
• ski jumping;
• ski nordic event;
• figure skating;
• skiing;
• luge sports;
• short track;
• freestyle;
• snowboard;
• skeleton;
• biathlon;
• bobsled;
• curling;
• hockey.

At the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, medals will be played for the first time in 6 new disciplines, including mass start in speed skating (for men and women), big air in snowboarding (for men and women), team competition in alpine skiing, double -mix in curling. Two disciplines were deleted from the list of sporting events - parallel slalom for men and women. The number of disciplines is final and cannot be changed, as stated in the resolution adopted at the IOC meeting on June 8, 2015.

Sports objects

Almost every fan knows where the 2018 Winter Olympics will take place, but which venues will host the main sporting events of the four-year period remains a mystery to many. The main venue for the upcoming event, where the opening and closing ceremonies of the games are planned, will be Hwenge Park, which has a capacity of 75,000 people. Among other objects it should be noted:

• ski center "Alpenzia" (15,500 spectators can be accommodated at the same time);
• ski jumping center "Alpenzia" (capacity - over 60,000 spectators);
• center for biathlon competitions "Alpenzia" (capacity - 26,500 spectators);
• yongpyeong ski base (capacity - 18,000 spectators), etc.

Also worth mentioning are several indoor sports venues, including the Genpo Ice Hall, which will host figure skating and short track speed skating competitions, and the Gwandong University Sports Arena, which will host most of the Olympic hockey matches, including the final.

Now 7 out of 13 objects are completely ready and put into operation. In the summer of this year, an IOC commission visited Pyeongchang to assess the pace of construction of the necessary infrastructure. According to the officials, the construction schedule of stadiums, training bases, tracks, sports complexes in the country is proceeding not only in accordance with the established deadlines, but also significantly ahead of them. Given how badly South Korea wanted to host the 2018 Winter Olympics, these claims are worth trusting.

How much will the tickets cost?

The organizers of the event tried to make the ticket prices affordable, so that even not the wealthiest fan will have the opportunity to see one of the sporting events with his own eyes. The only exception will be the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2018 Winter Olympics. The cheapest entrance ticket will cost at least 168 euros, while many are ready to purchase tickets at this price. The most expensive tickets in the central sectors can be redeemed at 1147 euros apiece.

The minimum ticket price for less visited sporting events (traditionally short track, skeleton and bobsleigh) is estimated at 15 euros. The maximum ticket price for the final part of popular sports (hockey, biathlon, figure skating, downhill skiing) will be 689 euros. More than half of the tickets for all 15 disciplines of the Olympiad are sold in the price range of 60-70 euros. In October of this year, fans will be able to redeem the cherished tickets on the Internet on the official website of the games.

Ticket prices are comparable to those for Olympic Games 2008 in Vancouver and slightly lower than those for Olympic Games 2014 in Sochi. You should take care of purchasing tickets in advance, because the price list will definitely not go down cheaper than the indicated amounts. In addition, as the competition in South Korea approaches, the cost will only increase, and on the day of the competition, tickets can only be bought from dealers. They usually set a price 2-3 times higher than the face value of the purchase, so going to Pyeongchang in the midst of the Olympics and hoping to get a cheap ticket there is at least silly.

Symbols of the 2018 Olympics

The official emblem of the event is simple, expressive and quickly deposited in the memory of fans. It consists of four straight lines connected in the form of an unfinished square. Each of these lines symbolizes three harmonious elements:

1. sky,
2. land;
3. person.

The second symbol is made in the form of a five-pointed star, symbolizing two winter elements - snow and ice. It is noteworthy that the logo of the 2018 Odimipiada uses colors traditional for South Korea, such as yellow, black, blue, red and green. According to IOC President Jacques Rogge, he has not seen a more successful combination of elements of national culture for a long time, because the created emblem helps to delve into the worldview of the Korean people and discover something new.

When choosing a mascot for the event, the organizers tried to associate it with folk mythology. As a result, the white tiger was ideal for this role, symbolizing strength, trust and protection from evil in South Korean tales. The color of the mascot is also associated with winter sports, and the name has a deep meaning. The name of the tiger Soohorang can be divided into two parts, the first of which Sooho literally translates as "protection". The second part rang means "tiger" and closely resembles the folk music of the same name in the province where Pyeongchang is located. Mascots have been an official attribute of the Winter Olympics since the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, when a dachshund was chosen for this role.

Thus, the next 2018 Olympics promises to be one of the largest, well-prepared and exciting events. Eminent athletes will gather here, who will try to prove to the fans, judges, the world community that they are the ones who deserve the title of the best in their discipline. The audience can only wait for this unique event, which can amaze even an inveterate skeptic with spectacularity, uncompromising struggle and sensational results.

The composition of the Russian team

After the whole sports world shuddered in 2015 from another doping scandal, in which the names of the country's best athletes appeared, the trip of our team to South Korea remained in question. In the fall of 2017, the WADA management even announced that it would refuse to restore RUSADA's rights, which would automatically mean the complete disqualification of all Russian athletes.

And now, when only a few weeks are left before the start of the first competitions, the decision has been made - Russia will be represented at the Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, but only those athletes who will fully meet the stringent requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency will be able to represent the country. moreover, they will have to perform under a neutral flag.

By the decision of WADA, they will definitely not go to South Korea:

Also, the list of those who lost the chance for the long-awaited medal included athletes who did not appear directly in the scandal, but who have various violations mentioned in the WADA requirements in history, namely:

Denis Yusakov, who had been justified earlier, and six-time champion Viktor An, who was far from doping scandals, did not receive an invitation either, which could not but cause a storm of indignation among the fans of these young and talented athletes.

When the lists of those who were denied participation became known, they caused a real shock, because it became even more difficult to understand the principle of selection. Thus, to those already suspended from participation in the 2018 Olympics were added:

Of course, such a decision immediately before the start of the competition seriously undermined the quality of the national team. But, among those who got the opportunity to fight for medals in Pyeongchang, there are many young and very talented athletes who have a chance to receive the long-awaited medal and defend the honor of the country.

The official website of the Russian Olympic Committee already has an official list of the national team, which includes 169 people:

Form of the Russian Olympic team

In 2018, our Olympians will go to the opening of the Winter Olympics in a new uniform. The Zasport sports collection includes 72 models of clothing for various sports, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Games.

Traditionally, the basic colors are white, blue and red, but at the same time it fully complies with the strict IOC rules. In particular:

• colors, even in individual elements, do not add up to the tricolor;
• there is no emblem of the Russian Federation on the clothes of athletes;
• the uniform is decorated with a special Olympic emblem with the inscription Olympic Athlete From Russia.