EVENTS THE OLYMPICS cont.
These Olympic ceremonies continued for 1,200 years after this first event, and would have gone on even longer except for the fact that Emperor Theodosius I declared that it was a pagan activity, and it should be banned. This happened in 393AD.
In 1894, a 29-year-old French aristocrat, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, persuaded nine countries that bringing back the Olympic Games would be a good idea. Ironically, it was Dimitrios Vikelas of Greece( as well as Professor William M. Sloane of the United States) who was against the idea. But he and Sloane were outvoted, and the modern Olympic Games were born. Originally, the first of these new games was due to be held in 1900 in Paris, but Coubertin was so excited by the idea that he managed to get the whole thing brought forward to 1896 – and held in Athens.
Coubertin and the rest of the newly formed International Olympic Committee( IOC) managed to put unsettled and unsure minds at rest, and with very little time to organise anything, the games went ahead. There was no particular way of choosing competitors – anyone who fancied a go could join in providing there was space for them – and it wasn’ t until 1906 in London that any special building or organising went on. It was at these fames that a 66,000-seat stadium was built especially for the competition.
Despite some games being rife with controversy( such as the 1980 Moscow Olympics which, because of Russia’ s invasion of Afghanistan, 60 national boycotted), and some being cancelled altogether( there were no games in 1916 due to World War I, and nothing for 12 years until 1948 because of World War II), when it is done right, The Olympics is a spectacular, life affirming event.
The Summer Olympics 2016 is being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and it will run from 5th to 21st August. The intensely exciting and hugely anticipated sporting event, which is held every four years in a different country, consists of 42 sports and 306 different events held over 19 days in 37 venues. At the end, an impressive 306 medals( 161 for men, 136 for women, and nine mixed) will have been awarded.
This year there are a record number of countries participating( 206 in all, including South Sudan
and Kosovo, for whom Rio will be their first Olympics), and with over 10,500 athletes taking part, it is sure to be a breathtaking event.
Each Olympic Games opens with a beautiful and spectacular opening ceremony. These perfectly choreographed events take years to organise and arrange, and the event held in London in 2012 even involved Her Majesty The Queen!
And at the end of the games, when all the races have been run and all the medals have been won, there is a wonderful closing ceremony too. For some, these two ceremonies are the most important and exciting part of the games, and even for those who don’ t enjoy sports or athletics, it is worth tuning in to see the dancing, the lights, the singing, the props, the effects and the excitement.
One can’ t help but get caught up in‘ Olympic fever’ – there is something very special about everything that goes into making these games unique across the world. And even if it’ s just for two and a bit weeks every four years, for a little while we can all be united in joy.
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