Long ago ancient Greeks often waged wars. Small states suffered and lost much even if they did not take any side and stayed out of wars. The ruler of such a small state, Elis, wanted to live in peace with all neighbours. He was a good diplomat because his negotiations were successful and Elis was recognized a neutral state. To celebrate this achievement, he organized athletic games. In the beginning this feast lasted one day, but later a whole month was devoted to it. All wars and feuds were stopped by special heralds who rode in all directions of Greece. The games were held every four years in Olympia on the territory of Elis. The first games which later were called the Olympic Games were held about a thousand years before our era. Usually the Olympic Games began before the middle of the summer. Best athletes arrived from many Greek states to Olympia to compete in running, long jumps, throwing of discus and javelin and wrestling. In the course of time fist fighting (boxing) and chariot races were also included in the Games.
All athletes took an oath that they had been preparing well for the Games and promised to compete honestly and keep the rules of the sacred Olympics. Athletes took part in all kinds of competitions. Winners were called "olympionics", they were awarded olive wreaths and cups of olive oil. This tradition has survived. In our time sportsmen often get cups and wreaths for winning the first place in sports competitions. The olympionics of ancient Greece became very popular. Best craftsmen were chosen to make honorary cups; many poets wrote and recited in public poems about the best athletes. Sculptors made their statues which were put up at the birthplace of the winners. The Olympic Games were accompanied by arts festivals. Only men could take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not allowed even to watch the competitions at the stadium under the fear of death penalty. There was a single exception, when a woman coached her son and accompanied him to the stadium in men's clothes. That brave woman was spared the penalty because her son excelled in many events. Magnificent strong bodies inspired artists and sculptors. They painted wall pictures and made statues of marble and bronze, so now we can admire the corporal beauty of ancient and eternally young discus thrower, javelin bearer and others. The Olympic Games had been held for about eleven hundred years, until the emperor Theodosius banned them for religious reasons in 394 A. D.
The revival of the Olympic Games began long time afterwards, in 1892, when a young French teacher Pierre de Coubertin made a public speech before the Union of French sports clubs in Paris. At that time many people in many countries practised various kinds of sports and games. They wanted to make friends and compete with sportsmen from other lands. Pierre de Coubertin understood the importance of sports which unified peoples of the world and served the cause of peace like in ancient time. On the 23rd of June 1894 the International Congress of amateur sportsmen made an important decision: to revive the Olympic Games and to establish the International Olympic Committee which would be responsible for the administration of the modern Olympic Games.
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The first Committee consisted of 13 members. Now 111 members of the International Olympic Committee control the affairs of all member countries which joined the Olympic movement. The International Olympic Committee is the central policymaking body of the Olympic movement. It is formed by the representatives of all countries which take part in the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee decides upon the programme of the games, the number of the participants and the city-host for the Games. Over one hundred and fifty countries are represented in the International Olympic Committee now. Besides, each country has its National Olympic Committee.
The modern Olympic Games began again in 1896. They take place every four years. They cannot take place in a country which is at war, and during the two world wars there were no Olympic Games. So except in 1916, 1940 and 1944, the Olympic Games have been held every leap year. Women's events started in 1912.
Summer and Winter Olympic Games are held separately, in different countries. Winter Olympic Games first took place in 1924. At the Winter Games many teams from different countries take part in competitions in figure-skating, skiing, hockey and other winter sports.
Since 1936 the opening ceremony has been celebrated by lightning a flame which is called "Olympic Flame". The 22-nd Summer Olympic Games were held in Russia, Moscow in 1980. It was for the first time that the Olympic Games were held in our country.
There are always several cities wishing to host the Games. The most suitable is selected by the International Committee. After that the city of the Games starts preparations for the competitions, constructs new sports facilities, stadiums, hotels, press centers. Thousands of athletes, journalists and guests come to the Games, and it takes great efforts to arrange everything. There is always an interesting cultural programme of concerts, exhibitions, festivals, etc., for each Games.
On July 04, 2007 the city of Sochi was elected as the host city for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014. The announcement was made by International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge in Guatemala City. This will be Russia's first time hosting the Winter Olympic Games.
Sochi has always been a favourite resort and tourist destination during the Soviet and post-Soviet period. Sochis geographical location and its climatic conditions are unique the city stretches along 145 km between the Caucasian Mountains and the Black Sea and has 200 sunny days a year.
On December 12, 2007 the State Duma of the Russian Federation approved a seven-year program of the Olympic objects construction and development of Sochi as mountain-climatic resort. Construction in preparation for the Games involves the building of new venues; and modernizing the telecommunications, power, and transport infrastructure of the area. This will include the construction of a new Olympic Park by the Black Sea coast in the Imeretin Valley, with venues clustered around a central area. The venues in Krasnaya Polyana will also be new.
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Vocabulary:
to wage wars -
ruler -
feast -
herald - ,
javelin -
wreath-
chariot races
sacred -
to be spared the penalty -
1. Answer the following questions:
1. What did ancient Greeks do long ago?
2. What did the ruler of a small state want to do?
3. Why did the ruler organize athletic games?
4. How long did the first feast last?
5. When did the Olympic Games begin?
6. How were the winners called?
7. What were the Olympic Games accompanied by?
8. Who was not allowed to take part in the Olympic Games?
9. When did the revival of the Olympic Games begin?
10. When was the International Olympic Committee established?
11. What is the International Olympic Committee e responsible for?
12. Why werent the Olympic Games held in 1916, 1940 and 1944?
13. When did the womens event start?
14. Summer and Winter Olympic Games are held separately, in different countries, arent they?
15. How has the opening ceremony celebrated since 1936?
16. What Olympic Games were held in Russia?
17. What city was selected as the host for the XXII Olympic Winter Games in 2014?
18. What will be constructed for the Games?
