They survived 1,200 years of invasions, natural disasters, wars and even the loss of Greek independence. No matter what else was going on in ancient Greece, every four years the "Call to the Games" was sounded, a "Truce of God" was declared and the Olympics Games began.
That kind of record cannot be boasted in modern times. Since they were reestablished in 1896, the Olympics have been suspended during two world wars and have been marred by violence and political controversy.
But both the ancient games and their modern heirs are dedicated to the ideals of sportsmanship, bringing athletes from around the world together in competition, and striving for excellence.
The origin of the games in Olympia, Greece, is shrouded in myth. The first definitive record of victors' names dates to 776 BC and stretches without interruption to 394 AD, when Roman emperor Theodosius abolished the games. It is believed that the Olympics began as a one-day religious festival and developed into a seven-day carnival of culture, athletic prowess and religious ceremony.
The early games featured foot races, boxing, chariot races and the five-event pentathlon designed for Spartan warrior/athletes. Kings raced alongside commoners, their only prize an olive wreath, symbolizing the Greek ideal of individual excellence.
That early sense of competition is what Baron Pierre de Coubertin aimed to recapture when he revived the Olympic Games in the late 1800s. The Frenchman insisted that there should be no point score in the games and was against nationalism dominating the competition.
The first modern Olympics was held in 1896 in Athens and included many of the events we now associate with the Summer Olympics, including track and field, cycling, swimming, weight lifting and pistol shooting.
The highlight of those first modern games was the marathon, run over the ancient course from the battlefield of Marathon to the Athens stadium 25 miles away. As the leader burst into the arena, the crowd of 60,000 cheered wildly, recognizing Spiridon Loues, a Greek peasant whose victory established the modern games.
The games have been held many times since that first competition, and in 1924 were split into summer and winter games.
Twice, during World War I and World War II, the games have been suspended. In 1936, the Olympics were held in Berlin under the watchful eye of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. In 1972, Arab terrorists targeted the competition, kidnapping 11 Israeli athletes who were killed during a gun battle between the terrorists and German police.
Politics has also intruded on the games. In 1980, the United States boycotted the Moscow games and the Soviets responded by boycotting the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 1984.
