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The Olympic Games many believe actually began Olympia Greece in 776BC, The Greek calendar at the time was based on the Olympiad which is the four year gap which we recognise between each Olympics today.

The Games itself were staged in a wooded valley of Olympia in a place called Elis, The locals would erected statues and temples all in dedication to Zeus. The ivory and gold statue of Zeus at the time was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

At the beginning there was only 1 event which was the 200 yard dash and stayed that way until 734BC when a second event was added, But by the time 708Bc came around their was 25 mostly track events but also including the pentathlon and wrestling.

The Victorious athletes back were crowned with wreaths from a sacred olive tree that grew behind the temple of Zeus. According to tradition this tree was planted by Hercules (Heracles), founder of the games. The winners marched around the grove to the sound of people playing a flute while admirers chanted songs written by a prominent poet at the time.

The Olympic Games were held without interruptions in ancient Greece. The games were even held in 480 BC during the Persian Wars, but when the Arcadians invaded the sanctuary and took over in 364BC and reorganised the games it lost its identity as Olympic.