jan 1, 776 BC - Olympic Games (Archaic Greece)

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In 776 BC, the first recorded Olympic games were held at Olympia in the Greek city-state of Elis, but many believe the Olympics were actually 500 years old at that time. They were held every four years, occurring during a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus. The first ever event was the stade, which was an 192 metre foot race, with a cook named Coroebus becoming the first Olympic champion. In the next few centuries there were many new champions, and the Olympic games turned into a 3 day event with many more events like running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration (a mix of wrestling and boxing, which often resulted in death) and equestrian events. The games kept on going until 393 AD, but it was then brought back by a man called Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1896, where it is still happening to this day every 4 years.

The Olympic games is so significant because it was first founded over 3000 years ago, and it is still running to this day. The Olympic games have inspired many athletes, and have brought entertainment to many for millenniums. During the Olympic games in Archaic Greece, 10's of thousands of spectators travelled to the games, and the games became so popular they spread Hellenistic culture across the world. Nowadays the Olympic games are watched by billions, and, 3000 years after is was created, continues to inspire and educate people across the world.

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