The Tokyo Olympics, after a 12-month delay, finally held its grand opening ceremony on 23rd July 2021. This year, for the first time, there would be no spectators. However, the entire world is very excited. With such a massive fanbase across the globe, let’s look at how did the Olympics begin.
Olympics, in its origin, was an ancient festival that was celebrated in honour of the Greek God Zeus. In western Peloponnesos, there was a village Olympia, where these games and this festival originated. And thus, it got its name ‘Olympics’.
Earlier, only men used to participate in these games. Like Spain in the east and Turkey in the west, Greeks worldwide came to be a part of this festival. The Olympics began in 776 BC. During that time, there was only one athletic event- a foot race which was 600m long. When Olympics was held in 1908 in London, the modern marathon, had a distance of 42.195 km. The 5th century BC added other athletic events. From 776 BC, the Olympics were held every four years for 12 centuries.
After being held from around 776 BC to 393 AD, it took 1503 years for the Olympics to return. It was all because of a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin that the modern Olympics was first held in 1896 in Athens. In 1920, the Olympic Oath was introduced. Since 1994, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games were held every alternate year.
The Olympics have significant economic benefits on the hosting countries. Their exports increase, trade options expand. Even the non-profit centres and local shops have a positive effect on them. It also increases the chances of employment; even when the Olympics are over, the buildings remain.
The Olympics are also a great entertainment source, which makes the country united in cheering their representatives.
The Olympic flag has a white background, with five rings interlocked in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red. This represents the five continents. The Olympic motto- CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS stands for faster, higher and stronger. Coubertin once said that the main motto of the Olympics is to participate and not to win.
The goal of the Olympics is to promote sports. It is to build a peaceful and better world, encouraging youth with no discrimination of any kind. There is a mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship and solidarity and fair play. It also promotes gender equality. The Games are aimed at increasing female participation by making access to sport easier.
The Olympic organizers have the objective of leaving the host city a sustainable and positive legacy. They also look after maintaining the integrity of the event and protecting the clean athletes.
Olympics is like a stadium of dreams. So many young athletes, and aspiring youngsters, look up to the event. They look up to their idols and get inspired to be dedicated enough to be in their place someday.
The Olympics remain significant to date and hopefully would grow more in the coming years.
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