Name: The ancient origins of the Olympics
Uploaded: 2021-07-06T01:09:54Z
Duration: 3 min 4 s
Description: Thousands of years in the making, the Olympics began as part of a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia. But how did it become the greatest show of sporting excellence on earth? Educator Armand D'Angour explains the evolution of the Olympics. (Directed by Diogo Viegas, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu and Brooks Ball)

Armand D'Angour: The ancient origins of the Olympics

The ancient origins of the Olympics

Thousands of years in the making, the Olympics began as part of a religious festival honoring the Greek god Zeus in the rural Greek town of Olympia. But how did it become the greatest show of sporting excellence on earth? Educator Armand D'Angour explains the evolution of the Olympics. (Directed by Diogo Viegas, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Cem Misirlioglu and Brooks Ball)

The Olympic Games began in 776 BC as a festival honoring Zeus in Olympia and have become the world's foremost display of athletic excellence. Early competitions ranged from footraces to no-holds-barred fighting, and even inspired tales in works like the Iliad. One champion, Orsippus of Megara, famously shed his loincloth mid-race, starting the tradition of competing nude. Although banned in the fourth century AD, the Olympics returned in 1896 and now unite athletes and fans worldwide.