Seventeen Days in Greece: The Olympics

From August 13 through August 29, all eyes will be on Athens, Greece for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. This year, the Olympics will have special significance, being held in the country where the Olympics first began.

The Ancient Olympics were quite different from our modern day Olympics. Then the sports included Boxing, Equestrian events including Chariot racing and Riding, the Pankration - a grueling combination of boxing and wrestling, the Pentathlon which included the Discus, the Javelin, Jumping, Running, and Wrestling. Other events were Running, in four different kinds of races and Wrestling. Athletes had to be free men who spoke Greek - and athletes from other countries were not allowed.

The Ancient Olympics were a far cry from our Modern-day version. In 2004, there will be 28 different sports broken down into 37 different disciplines. About 11,000 athletes from a record 202 countries are expected to go for the gold during this year's games.

In the Ancient Olympics, no medals were awarded to the winners. The first place winner wore an olive wreath on his head. Nothing was given to second or third place winners.

In the modern Olympics, medals are given to the first, second and third place winners. Gold is given to he first-place winner, silver to the second place winner and bronze to the third place winner. On the front of each medal is are pictured a Greek goddess, the Olympic Rings, the coliseum of ancient Athens, a Greek vase known as an amphora, a horse-drawn chariot, and the year, number of the Olympiad, and host city. The host city can design the back of the medal as they choose.

The Olympic Rings were adopted in 1913, and signify the five major regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors of the rings, which are (from left to right) blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

The Olympic Flag debuted at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. It is now a tradition that at the end of each Olympic Games, the mayor of that host-city presents the flag to the mayor of the next host-city. It then remains at the town hall of the next host-city for four years until the Opening Ceremony of their Olympic Games.

You can find a schedule of events at this year's Olympics here: http://www.athens2004.com/athens2004/pag...

Here are a few Olympics-related activities to try with your child.

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