Olympic Games - Origin and other Athens, Greece Sports Travel Tips

Theme: Sports Watching

The origin of the Olympic Games is linked with many myths referred to in ancient sources but in the historic years their founder is said to be Oxylos whose descendant Ifitos later rejuvenated the games.

According to tradition, the Olympic Games began in 776 BC when Ifitos made a treaty with Lycourgos the king and famous legislator of Sparta and Cleisthenes the king of Pissa. The text of the treaty was written on a disc kept in the Heraion. In this treaty that was the decisive event for the development of the sanctuary as a Panhellenic centre, the "sacred truce" was agreed, the ceasing of fighting in all of the Greek world for as long as the Olympic Games were on.

As a reward for the victors the cotinus, which was a wreath made from a branch of wild olive tree that was growing next to the opisthodomus of the temple of Zeus in the sacred Altis, was established after an order of the Delphic oracle.


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The Olympics were held, after the completion of four years during the month of July or August. The time in between two Olympic Games was called an Olympiad. In the beginning the games lasted only one day and only had one event, the foot race but gradually more events were added resulting, towards the 5th century BC, in the games lasting for 5 days.

In total the Olympic Games consisted of 10 events: running, the pentathlon, jumping, discus, javelin, wrestling, boxing, the pancration, chariot racing, and horse racing. All Greeks who were free citizens and had not committed murder or heresy, had the right to take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not entitled to take part, except as owners in the horse races but they were strictly forbidden from watching the games.

The athletes presented themselves one month before the games began at Elis, the organising town, but the organisation and supervision for the upholding of the rules was carried out by the Hellanodikes (jury), who were chosen by lot from the citizens of Elis. Two days after the beginning of the games, the procession of the athletes and the judges started from Elis to arrive in Olympia where it was received by the crowds who had come to watch the games.
The ceremonies began with the official oath that was taken by the athletes at the altar of Horkios Zeus, in the Bouleuterion, swearing that they would compete with honour and respect the rules.

The victors enjoyed great honours and on returning to their cities. Their compatriots pulled down part of the walls for them to enter. They were also given special privileges and high office.


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The great historical events that took place in the passing of centuries within the Hellenic lands took their toll even on the athletic ideals of the Olympic Games resulting in the gradual fall of the moral values that was especially felt from 146 A.D when most of Greece fell under the Romans and the Eleans lost their independence.

The institution of the Olympic Games lasted for twelve continuous centuries and was abolished in 393 AD (the 293rd Olympiad) by order of Theodosios I when the functioning of all idol worshiping sanctuaries was forbidden and, during the reign of Theodosios II, the destruction of the Altian monuments followed in 427 AD.

The national, racial and spiritual unity of the Greeks was forged thanks to the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games combined the deep religious spirit along with the heroic past of the Greeks thus unifying to the highest degree body, mind and soul according to universal and philosophical values, and so projecting the individual as well as the cities, through the highest ideal of freedom.


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Efforts for the revival of the Olympic Games in modern times reached a peak at the end of the 19th century with the instrumental contribution of the French Baron Pierre De Coubertin and the Greek Dimitrios Vikelas. The first contemporary Olympic Games took place with great glamour in 1896 in Athens, in the Panathenaic Stadium. The headquarters of the International Olympic Academy are now in Olympia.

Also in Olympia is the altar of the Olympic flame, which is transferred every four years to the city that hosts the Olympic Games. The lighting of the flame takes place at the altar of the Temple of Hera and it is done with the convergence of sunlight onto a metal reflector. This process is part of a ritual combination that includes the prayer and the hymn to Apollo. The high priestess enters the stadium holding the lit torch which she then hands over to the first runner in order for it to start its long journey to the ends of the earth.


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In 2004 the Olympic Games returned to their ancient birthplace and the city of their revival. Athletes from all nations united in Greece to engage in noble competition. The Athens Olympic Games combined history, culture and peace with sports and Olympism. The people of Greece hosted these unique Games on a human scale, inspiring the world to celebrate Olympic values.

Over and above sporting exploits, Olympism is a source of multiple passions which unite the worlds of sport, art, culture and collections. Olympism is a state of mind and the Olympic flame is its symbol. Athens is where the flame was burning in the minds and hearts of millions all over the world.


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As if Athens' cultural and architectural achievements are not enough, the city can also boast the modern Olympic Games and the marathon among its lasting legacies. Panhellenic athletic contests were held in Athens from the fourth century BC and reinstated as the modern Olympic Games in 1896. After the initial disappointment of seeing the millennium Olympic Games go to Sydney, Athens is ready to welcome the Games home again.

The marathon commemorates the Greek soldier Phidippides who ran 42km (26 miles) from the battlefield at Marathon to Athens to announce Greek victory over the Persians (490 BC). He delivered his one word message, 'Nenikikamen' (we have won), and then collapsed and died. The annual Athens Marathon retraces his footsteps from the battleground to the 1896 Olympic Stadium.

Although the Greek national team has not seen much success in recent years, football is by far the nation's favourite sport. In the domestic league, the local giants are Panathanaikos (www.pao.gr) and AEK (www.aek.com) in Athens and Olympiakos (www.olympiakos.gr) in Piraeus. The season runs from September to June and most major football matches are played at the Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens Olympic Sports Complex, Maroussi.

Individual venue ticket offices sell tickets for national sporting events, while Segas, Syngrou 137 (tel: 21093 59346; www.segas.gr), sells tickets to international events. The Olympic Committee (tel: 21020 04000; (www.athens2004.com/athens2004/) can provide information on the forthcoming 2004 Olympic Games.


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The General Secretariat of Sports, Panepistimiou 25 (tel: 21032 94227; www.sport.gov.gr), provides information on sport in Athens.

Golf: There is a professional (18-hole, 72-par) golf course at Glyfada. The Glyfada Golf Course, Kypros 15 Panopis, Glyfada (tel: 21089 46820; www.glyfadagolf.gr), is open Tuesday to Sunday from 07:30 until sunset and Monday from 13:00 to sunset. Membership is not required but a handicap card is requested.

Horseracing: The Faliro Ippodromo racetrack is located at the end of Syngrou (tel: 21094 26331). There is racing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 17:00 in summer and from 15:00 in winter.
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Horseriding: The Attikos Riding Club (tel: 21066 26429) is based at Alopekis 5A, Kolonaki.
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Running: The Athens Marathon (www.athensmarathon.com) provides the opportunity to run along the original marathon route. It takes place each year in November and details can be obtained from Seggas, Syngrou 137 (tel: 21093 59346; www.segas.gr).

Equipment: Sailing: The Greek National Tourist Organisation website (www.gnto.gr, click on Marine Tourism) has a list of over 50 charter companies offering yachts for hire. Information on races and clubs is available from the Hellenic Sailing Federation (tel: 21032 35560).

Scuba diving: The Aegean Dive Centre in Glyfada (tel: 21089 45409; www.adc.gr), organises scuba diving tuition with English-speaking instructors and one-day diving trips along the coast between Glyfada and Cape Sounion.

Swimming: The best beaches are located at Glyfada, Vouliagm?ni and Varkiza (see Excursions).

Tennis: Tennis courts are open to visitors at the Glyfada Golf Course, Kypros/15 Panopis, Glyfada (tel: 21089 46820). The Athens Tennis Club (tel: 21092 32872) also welcomes non-members 0800?1400 on weekdays.

Windsurfing: All GNTO-run beaches have windsurfing equipment for hire. The Hellenic Windsurfing Association (tel: 21032 30068) can provide more information.

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