The roots of the Olympic Games stretch back thousands of years to ancient Greece.

• The Ancient Games: Traditionally dated to 776 BC, the ancient Olympics were held in Olympia, Greece, as part of a religious festival honoring the god Zeus. Initially a one-day event featuring only a foot race (the stadion), the Games grew over centuries to include events like boxing, wrestling, chariot racing, and the pentathlon. A sacred truce, the Ekecheiria, was declared to allow athletes and spectators to travel safely to and from the Games. These ancient Games continued for nearly 12 centuries before being abolished by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I around 393 AD.

• The Modern Revival: The Games lay dormant for about 1,500 years until the vision of a French educator, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, brought them back to life. Inspired by the ancient ideal and a desire to promote physical education and international understanding, Coubertin spearheaded the movement that led to the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894.

• Athens 1896: The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896, symbolically linking the new era with its ancient origins. Athletes from 14 nations competed in 9 sports.

• Growth and Evolution: Since then, the Olympic Games have grown exponentially. The Winter Olympics were introduced in 1924 (Chamonix, France) to feature snow and ice sports. The participation of women, initially limited, has steadily increased, striving towards gender equality. The number of participating nations, athletes, and sports has expanded dramatically, making the Games a truly global spectacle. Despite challenges like political boycotts, security threats, and doping scandals, the Olympic movement has endured and adapted, remaining a powerful force in the world.