F
rom the earliest modern Olympic Games, held in Athens, Greece, in 1896 to the upcoming summer Games this year in Paris, France, the Olympic Games continue to uphold the spirit of community and fair competition for all. Though an array of diverse cultures assemble for the Olympics, one common passion unites all who gather to witness the elaborate event: the love of sports. The Origins of the Olympic Games Although many historians believe that the Olympic Games started several years before, verified ancient records show the first Olympic Games date back to 776 BCE. The event was a 192-meter footrace, and Coroebus—a cook—won the race, making him the first Olympic champion. The Games received its moniker because they were held at Olympia, a revered spot close to the Peloponnese peninsula's western shore in southern Greece. Their impact was so significant that the four-year intervals between the Olympic Games, or Olympiads, became a common way for ancient historians to measure time. Folklore traces the founding of the Games to Heracles, the son of Zeus and Alcmene. By around the sixth century BCE, the event had become the most important Greek sporting event. The ancient Greeks held the Olympic Games every four years in honor of Zeus, and the Games took place between August 6 and September 19.
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