BRIEF HISTORY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES | History of the Olympics. 2024 Paris Olympics. Sporting history

The history of the OLYMPIC GAMES starts in Greece no later than 776 BC and probably earlier, but no one is quite sure how they came about. In this Olympics documentary from History Calling, made in honour of the 2024 Paris Olympics, I look at the origins of the games which are surely the most famous sporting event in the world. I’ll discuss some of the myths surrounding their creation (including the idea that they were founded by the hero Hercules) and at if the Olympics were abolished by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 393 CE or if they fell out of use after a fire at the stadium during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I. I’ll then move forwards in time to the modern rebirth of the Olympics in 1896, discuss the involvement of English doctor W.P. Brookes and Baron Pierre de Coubertin in their re-establishment and discuss how they have developed since then.

This video will answer questions including why are the Olympics called that (hint, it has something to do with the ancient Greek phrase Olympiakoi agones)? How many events are there in the Olympics? How many countries take part in the Olympics? How many Olympic Games have there been, why are the Olympics held every four years and what do the Olympic rings mean? I’ll also look at some Guinness World Records set by Olympians and at some of the most famous Olympic Games in modern history. I hope you enjoy this brief history of the Olympic games!

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THE PARTHENON MARBLES
THE FLAT EARTH MYTH & WHY IT’S DUMB
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LEARN MORE

Sofie Remijsen, The End of Greek Athletics in Late Antiquity (2015)
David C. Young, A Brief History of the Olympic Games (2004)

Want to watch/hear/read more about history (and a whole host of other topics)? Then you might benefit from a free Audible or Prime video trial. They are available from the following links:

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I, Tonya (2017)
Blades of Glory (2007)

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Thumbnail: Simone Biles, 2016, Wikimedia Commons, Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil, CC BY 2.0

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#Paris2024 #OlympicGames #Olympics

[HistoryCalling]

What’s your favourite part of the Olympics? Let me know below and remember that you can also find me at:

[freedomspromise]

I am 60 years old.
My primary school memories of the history of The Olympic Games are nearly nonexistent.
Thank you for the history lesson.

[garycurry]

I see from the comments that somebody else my age (60) also appreciated the history lesson of the Olympics. I remember the tragedy of the 1972 Olympics, as well as the phenomenal performance by Nadia Comaneci in 1976. I don’t enjoy the games like I did as a child, but I will always love the history. Thank you for this timely lesson!

[DarthDread-ohne]

History Calling; I had a dream where you was crowned as queen of France, and Chris Evans was your consort. Each year; they held games in your honor.

[jeffarmstrong]

For me the greatest Olympic moment was when Kathie Freeman won the 400m running race. Lorraine Graham of Jamaica came second.
This was special to me because I was a driver for the Jamaican team during the Sydney Olympics and had just taken the team's Chef de Mission to the Olympic Stadium. I was on my dinner break in the Olympic Village as I listened to the race on my portable radio (no live streaming that year). 
I knew the result when I heard the roar from the crowd as Freeman came home to take the gold. I was INDOORS and nearly two kilometres away! A few seconds alter my little radio told me that Graham had won the silver.
As an Australian I wanted Freeman to win but I was, of course(!), barracking for Graham. It was the perfect result for me and a trifecta to remember.

[ron]

You'll be happy to hear that the hop skip and jump is still part of the Olympics, but you might be less happy to hear that it's now boringly called the triple jump.

[SurferJoe]

Hop, Skip, and Jump- that is truly joyous.

[Claire_T]

I do love how much variety is in the games now, who would have ever thought break dancing would be in them?

[matildami]

Thank you for another timely video full of interesting facts! My favourite thing about the Olympics is the cross-country discipline in eventing (the three-day equestrian sport). The Olympic cross-country day in eventing is literally the only day I watch sport on television every four years, but I'm passionate about it! And yes, I am a rider myself too, though never did anything half as skillful as the Olympic cross-country riders.

[DanielleReeder-jg]

Thank you History Calling!! Another great video! My favorite parts of the Olympics are gymnastics, and the closing ceremony!! Have a great week!!!

[delia]

Great video. I was in Olympia Greece and toured where the first Olympics were held and it was so cool

[joykoski]

Thanks! As a little girl and young gymnast I became interested in the Olympics in 1976. Nadia Comaneci was a huge draw. I do remember Olga Korbut from 1972 but I am not sure I associated that competition with the olympics. I was pretty young. I became a bit obsessed with London's 2012 games. Waking up at 6am (I am in Canada) to watch every event Canada competed in. Learned alot about sports that I otherwise never would have watched.

[faytsampouri]

As a Greek, I knew most of this...but nothing would stop me hearing it from you History Calling..love all your videos and input...keep up the excellent work😊😊😊😊

[aliceingoryland]

One of my favorite bands played at the opening of the Paris Olympics this year! I was absolutely thrilled. (Gojira)

[katherineoliver]

Peter Norman, the Australian who came second in 1968 joined in the protest and many believe he was unofficially sanctioned as well. If you look at the image, you can see he’s wearing a badge supporting human rights. The sporting authorities deny that he was penalised but he was never selected for the Olympics again despite the fact that he still holds the national 200m record.

[Kimbermoi]

I love the equestrian events for the summer Olympics and all the figure skating for the winter Olympics. And on that note, let's not forget the 2002 skating scandal involving Canadians Jamie Salé and David Pelletier. They were initially awarded the silver medal in Pairs skating, despite having a cleaner performance than the Russian team. The next day, the French judge Marie-Reine Le Gougne admitted she had been pressured into awarding the long program to the Russians in exchange for a first-place vote for the French ice dancing team of Marina Anissina and Gwendal Peizerat, and a judging controversy quickly blew up. The scandal ultimately resulted in the suspension of several judges and officials, and Le Gougne's vote was discarded, leaving the long program a tie. Salé and Pelletier were awarded gold medals in a special ceremony later in the week. 🇨🇦

[revgurley]

I lived in Atlanta during the 1996 games. I remember watching some TV late one night when the bomb went off. Happened just a few miles from our home. The movie "Richard Jewel" is a good recreation of what was going on afterward, trying to find the bomber. Rudolf went on to bomb several women's clinics, then lived off the land in the Appalachian Mountains for a time until he was found.

[UncleSam-USofA]

This episode deserves a Gold Medal. Well done. That accent is so cool🎵🎶

[annmoore]

Thank you, as always, for taking a historical perspective on a current news event. I think my favorite part of the Olympics was always the figure skating events. At one time, we used to drop everything to watch the games on television every four years. The skill of the athletes, in all the events, was breathtaking to behold. In recent years, however, I have had less interest in the whole thing. For one thing, it seems to me that it's gotten more difficult to distinguish between amateur and professional sporting events or participants. Most of all, however, there are so many interests seeking to profit from the huge media spectacle, either commercially or politically, that the original intent of the games has been overshadowed. That said, Celine Dion's performance at the opening ceremony moved me to tears. What a great musician and how wonderful to see her performing once again, and how appropriate for it to be Hymne a L'Amour in her native Canadian French.

[missyme]

Hello HC, thank you for this little nugget about the only thing on television right now! I've always been fascinated by the ancient history about the Olympics, for that alone, thank you! I missed you last week, unfortunately i was rushed to hospital and had to undergo emergency surgery. Back home now, catching up on everything, especially sleep! I'm already looking forward to your next video! Have a great week, 😊❤ and seeing as the Olympics are on: 🇬🇧!!