The first Olympic Games

The first Olympic Games happened in Ancient Greece, back in 776 B.C. They took place in a city called Olympia, which wad one of the oldest religious centers in Greece. The first games were more like religious festivals; they included song and dance, as well as athletics. They were meant to honor Zeus, the most important Greek god. Only Greek men could compete, and the games were always held at the same place. There was running, wresting, boxing, and even chariot racing!

The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin words: “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, which means “Faster, Higher, Stronger”. The three Latin words became the Olympic motto in 1894.These three words encourage the athlete to give his or her best during competition, and to view this effort as a victory in itself.