Pierre de Coubertin

Ather a gap of hundreds of years the Olympics  returned to Athens in 1896 the reason behind the recreation of the Olympics because of one man Pierre de Coubertin. He admired the Greek ideals fitness in sporting competitiveness amongst different communities and he hoped that the modern Olympics would bring countries closer together.  

The First Olympic Games

The Olympics of 1896  in Athens in Greece had fourteen countries taking part, with most of the athletes from Greece. This first modern Olympics was the largest meeting of international competitors that had ever occurred. The next Olympics held in Paris four years later was the first to allow women competitors this time the Olympics were part of much bigger event and lasted several months.

Ben Johnson

Crouching down on the starting line he waited nervously. He had big red eyes.  Ben Johnson didn’t look human he had huge muscles.

All eyes were on two men Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. Ben Johnson was at the front he was beating Carl Lewis, the commentator said “the race is over” because Ben Johnson was so far ahead. Ben Johnson had just smashed the world record.

Ben Johnson ran to the airport. Then the Olympics man took the gold medal off Ben Johnson because he had cheated. They did his drug test. Then they gave it to Carl Lewis.

 

Pheidippides

The Greeks were exhausted as the battle came to the end. Greeks won against the Persians army. When the long battle ended he was sent a message. He was told to run to Athens.Under the beating sun Pheidippides went over a rocky mountain it was very high and very steep. Pheidippides had nothing to do he just kept running and didn't stop for nothing.“Joy! We won!” shouted Pheidippides he arrives back. Pheidippides had no food drinks.  Then sadly Pheidippides died on the ground.

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt trained for 4 years to get the gold medal. As Usain Bolt passed the line. He was very proud of him because he won the gold    #medal. He was thankful that the crowd cheered for him when he was running. When Usain got the medal he was proud.

Fencing Olympics

The Persians and Greeks used fencing for practicing fencing and for war. They use it against each other for war. We know they did fencing because they carved pictures in the stones.120 years later at the Modern Olympic games the fencing was different to ancient Olympics. Fencing had lights go green and red, red means that they don’t get a point green means that they get a point. In the olden days they didn’t  have lights for fencing.The 3 swords are called Sabre, Foil and Epee. The foil sword is flexible and it is light to hold. The epee sword is long and heavy to hold. Sabre is the short and light sword. They had rubber balls on the sharp bit of the sword.

Olympic Flame

The ancient Greeks started the tradition of having an Olympic flame. In Olympia a sacred flame is lit by the sun's rays and stays alight until the games have ended. The flame symbolized a request for protection from Zeus and the athletes’ struggles for victory.

The modern flame symbolizes the light of the spirit, knowledge and life. To this day, the torch is still lit in Olympia in Greece, then carried by a relay team, passing runner to runner, until it reaches the host-city of the games. There, the cauldron will be lit and stay alight until the closing ceremony.