The Medal Of Gold: The Olympics

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This is the event that people all over the world watch, on television or in the arena, this is the place gold medals are earned and lost. This is the Olympics. Did you know that unmarried women could watch the ancient Olympics? Or that one person ate paper as a warm up food? Though wacky, it is true, and there is a lot more to go along with that. Welcome to the Olympics. “May the odds be ever in your favor!” - Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games.
Greece is the origin of the Olympics, plain and simple. The Olympics were traced to 776 BC, in the 8th century B.C. They were supposedly created by Hercules. They were first held for just one day, but then were extended in the 7th century B.C., to three days. In the 5th century B.C., the games were extended again to cover five days. The Olympics continued for nearly 12 centuries, until Emperor Theodosius exclaimed in in the 4th century, that all such "pagan cults" be banned. In the 8th century, the Olympics reappeared. I’m happy that they did.
Although ever changing, the (newer) Ancient Olympics still had some of the same events. They were first held in Olympia, and consisted of only foot races. More events were added, starting with wrestling and pentathlon. (A pentathlon consisted of discus, javelin, jumping, running, and wrestling.) In discus, part of the pentathlon, the discs were different, based on the athletes’ age, weight and personal preferences. When victors won, they received their award immediately after the competition. Following the announcement of the winner's name by the herald, a Hellanodikai (Greek judge) would place a palm branch in the winner’s hands, while the spectators cheered and threw flowers to him. Red ribbons were tied on his head and hands as a mark of victor...

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... Retrieved November 26, 2013 from Olympic.org Web site: http://www.olympic.org/olympic-games
(2013, November 25). Olympic Flame. Retrieved November 25, 2013 from Olympic.org Web site: http://www.olympic.org/
(2013, November 27). London 2012 Olympic Games Open in Spectacular Style. Retrieved November 27, 2013 from Olympic.org Web site: http://www.olympic.org/news/london-20123-kicks-off-with-spectacular-opening-ceremony/169583
Penn Museum (n.d.). The Women: Were the Olympics just for men?. Retrieved November 18, 2013 from , The Real Story Of the Olympic Games Web site: http://www.penn.museum/sites/olympics/olympicsexism.shtml
Ross, S. (2013). Olympics Timeline. Retrieved November 19, 2013 from , Infoplease Web site: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/olympicstimeline.html
Wallechinsky, D. & Loucky, J. (2012). The Book of Olympic Lists. Great Britain : Aurum Press.

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