 Revival Of The Olympic Games - Resurrecting Universal Love
Added: 11/29/2007 |
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The predominance of the Olympic Games in the ancient Greece used to witness the real Olympic truce, since during that particular period all wars and disputes had to stop. Every four years, during summer time, athletes from all over Greece used to gather in Olympia, which is in Peloponnesus, to take part in Olympic Games and the winners gained a wreath of olive tree leaves and glory. However, the initiation of the domination of the Christian religion in the Greek mainland meant the end of the Olympic Games, marking the end of a glorious civilization. But in the year 1896 with the revival of the Olympic Games, due to the effort of one person, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the same spirit was regained.
It should, however, be mentioned that the dream of the revival of the Olympic Games was quite evident from the very beginning. With this end in view, in the meantime, a wealthy Greek philanthropist called Eavngelos Zapas, became instrumental in the the revival of the first modern international Olympic Games. The first approach in this regard was held in an Athens city square in 1859. It was Zappas who beacme totally responsible to pay for the refurbishment of the ancient Panathenian stadium that was first used for an Olympic Games in 1870 and then again in 1875. The same stadium was refurbished again for a second time, and was used for the Athens 1896 Games. It can certainly be said that the revival of the Olympic Games to some extent with the participation of athletes from two countries, Greece and the Ottoman Empire, sponsored by Zappas can be regarded as the first dedicated approach to a noble future. Nevertheless, the interest in the revival of the Olympics as an international event grew further when the ruins of ancient Olympia, the venue of the ancient Olympic Games were uncovered by the German archaelogists in the mid-nineteenth century. At the same time, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was in the great search of the possible reason for the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871). According to him, the main reason was that the French had not received proper physical education, and he therefore sought to improve this. Coubertin also sought a way to bring nations closer together, to have the youth of the world compete in sports, rather than fight in the warfields! In 1890 he attended a festival of the Wenlock Olympian Society, and decided that the recovery of the Olympic Games would achieve both of his goals. Thus, with his initiative the revival of the ancient Olympic games was completed and in 1896 the first Olympic Games in modern times came to the fore. But, truly speaking, the Olympic Spirit has by that time had become worldwide, and as a result the Olympic Games have become international. In the years that followed, many countries undertook the organization of the summer Olympic Games, like England, Italy, Germany, USA, Russia, Mexico and Spain. That proved the internationally spreaded Olympic Spirt. Unfortunately nobody can claim that Olympic Truce is still combined with the games. But with the passing of the years more and more sports personalities are coming to its fold. These Olympic Games witnessed the exploits of the great talents like Jessie Owens, Karl, Lewis, Mark Spitz and many, many other!
Olympic Games returned to its birthplace only 4 years ago. The city of Athens hosted the 2004 Olympic Games. The organization has been successful and everyone was impressed by what, the small country that has hosted the games, has managed. Athens during the Olympic Games in August 2004 had been a colorful, vivid and happy metropolis hosting visitors from all over the world. Though governments at the present time seem incapable of respecting any kind truce, people prove that friendship and understanding cannot be divided by borders - you could see that in case you found yourself in Athens by that time. People from different backgrounds met in Athens and strong friendships were built. This spirit above all signify that the greatest message of the revival of the Olympic games lay in the bondage of love, even in this world of strife!
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