For the first time, the Olympics gathered its spectators in 776 BC. e. Athletes competed near Olympia on the island of Peloponnese. An interesting fact is that absolutely all wars in the region stopped during the games. Ancient Greece has watched this unique sporting spectacle for more than a millennium. The participants were warriors, men, competing in a race of about 192 meters (one stage) completely naked. Because of this, women were not allowed into the stands, and they also did not take part in competitions.
The duration of the competition was only one day. Gradually, the program of the Olympiad expanded. First, a two-stage run was added, then an endurance run, pentathlon competitions, chariot running, pankration, fisticuffs and others. The decision to increase the duration of the games to five days was made in the fifth century BC. e. The year 394 was unlucky for the Olympians, the competitions were abolished due to incompatibility with Christianity. After all, initially they were dedicated to Zeus and other gods from the sacred mountain. It was possible to revive the games only in 1896 through the efforts and efforts of Pierre de Coubertin in a symbolic place - in Athens. And since 1924, the winterOlympic Games.
Symbols of the Olympics
The games have their own symbols - fire, flag, anthem, motto, rings and oath.
Fire came to the Olympic tradition from Greece: during the games it was transferred from the altar of Hestia to the sacrificial altar of Zeus.
The flag of the Olympic Games is white without any border or frame with the image of five rings. The white color represents the unity of all peoples, peace, and the rings on it represent the universal Olympic idea.
The anthem is played at the raising and lowering of the flag, as well as on other solemn moments.
The motto consists of a combination of the words "Faster, Higher, Stronger!".
The rings linked together reflect the unity of all continents, the "truce" for the duration of the games, the meeting of athletes from all over the world in fair competition. Their colors represent the five parts of the world.
The Olympic Oath is intended to proclaim the importance of wrestling and its spirit. It creates an atmosphere of fairness and trust.
History of the motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger!"
The motto is the Latin expression "Citius, Altius, Fortius!", which literally means "Faster, Higher, Stronger!" The authorship belongs to Henri Didon, the director of the spiritual college, a French priest. During the beginning of college sports, he tried to express as accurately and concisely as possible the desire for a fair fight, as well as the beneficial effects of sports on a person. Pierre de Coubertin really liked Latinand when in 1894, during the creation of the IOC (International Olympic Committee), the question arose of which motto of the Olympic Games would be officially approved, de Coubertin did not hesitate and proposed "Faster, Higher, Stronger." The first IOC Bulletin of 1894 used the slogan in its headline for the first time. Official approval took place in 1913, and since 1920 it has become part of the Olympic emblem. The motto was presented to the public during the VIII Summer Games in Paris only in 1924.
Unofficial principle of Olympic competition
De Coubertin is also credited with creating the unofficial motto of the Olympics, which reads "The main thing is not winning, but participating." In fact, these words were spoken by a bishop from Pennsylvania in 1908 during the London Olympics. Participation meant empathy for an athlete who did not manage to win, but fought to the last with all his might. The words were sent to Pietri Dorando, the Italian runner. The day before, Dorando was disqualified due to third-party help at the finish line, which he did not ask for when he ran the marathon distance. During the awards ceremony, he did receive a gold cup from a member of the royal family for outstanding sporting achievement.
Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger!" perfectly and accurately reflects the aspirations of athletes around the world.
Most memorable mottos
In addition to the generally accepted slogan, each country seeks to express itselfcoined motto of their games. One of the best so far is the motto of the Beijing Olympics (2008) - "One World, One Dream", in translation - "One World, One Dream". This is a reflection of the principle of unity. It was published in 2004 and over the next 4 years they could not come up with anything better. There were other interesting and memorable phrases. Vancouver (2010), for example, had two mottos. One of which is in English ("With Glowing Hearts"), and the second in French. The literal translation is "With burning hearts." The slogan of Sydney (2000) - "Share the Spirit" and, of course, S alt Lake City (2002), which sounded like "Light the fire inside" turned out to be memorable.
Two seasons of the Olympics, summer and winter mottos
The Winter Olympics are much younger than the summer ones. They first took place in French Chamonix in 1924. Until 1994, their holding coincided with the year of the Summer Olympics, after 1994 the interval was reduced to 2 years. The motto of the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi (2014) consisted of a sequence of three words “Hot. Winter. Yours. He talks about everyone's involvement in what is happening, about the intensity of the struggle and the timing of the competition.
One World, One Dream
Olympics have overcome more than one obstacle over the centuries. Now this is one of the largest and most exciting events in the world, during which all military conflicts cease. The sports movement did not die out, but revived with new strength and aspirations for high ideals. Sacred fire blazesin almost every heart, and the motto of the Olympics is “Faster, Higher, Stronger!” sounds in any sports arena. Millions of people on the planet are involved in this unusual grandiose and solemn performance. And those who cannot take part in it try to watch it from the podium, sincerely cheering for their favorites. Also, the event can be watched on the TV screen, sitting in a cozy home environment or surrounded by friends. In addition, participants in international games have the opportunity to properly improve their financial condition: in case of victory, the reward will be very large. And women can now compete for medals, as well as watch the competition. In addition, there are Paralympic Games, in which people with disabilities take part, demonstrating the greatest strength of mind.
