Video - The Evolution of the Olympics

The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece around the 8th century BCE, held in Olympia to honor Zeus with events like running and wrestling. They ended in 393 CE when banned by Emperor Theodosius I. The modern Olympics were revived in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin in Athens, aiming to foster international peace and friendship through sports. The first Games included 13 countries and 43 events. The Winter Olympics began in 1924 in Chamonix, France, featuring winter sports such as speed skating and skiing. World War II led to the cancellation of the 1940 and 1944 Summer Olympics, but the Games resumed and grew in scale. The 2000 Sydney Olympics had 199 countries and over 10,000 athletes. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted the Games' resilience. Today, the Olympics symbolize global unity and sportsmanship.