THE OLYMPICS. BY: MAYSON ROBERT MORRIS

BACKGROUND The Olympic Games is a BIG international event using summer and winter sports and thousands of athletes joining in a many different sports. The Olympic games is the world’s most sports competition,where more than 200 nations participate. The Games are now held every two years, with summer and winter Olympic games take turn, although they occur every four years by seasonal games. Originally, the ancient Olympics were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD.

PURPOSE OF THE GAMES

originally back in Olympia (greece) this great festival took place to honor the Greek gods. Olympics were held during the great festival. My resources say Olympics were held to please the various gods. One God, in particular, the most important was called Zeus Currently the reason is because When the 160 nations send their players to the Olympics it brings them closer and make them to rise above national and racial differences. One of the main threats to World peace is that the nations do not understand the problems of other nations because they have some discrimination towards other nations. The key is by living together and by thinking of nothing else except games players over come national barriers and overcome language and racism. Nobody bothers whether Carl Lewis is black or white. nobody hates a great player because he happens to belong to other power union

HISTORY

Moving to the legend, the ancient Olympic Games were originated by Heracles (the Roman Hercules(god)) which is apparently the son of Zeus. The first Olympic Games, luckily we still have written records that were held in 776 BCE (though it was probably believed that the Games had been going on for lots of years already). At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, Coroebus, won the single event at the Olympics, it was a run about 192 meters. This showed that Coroebus was the very first Olympic champion in history. The ancient Olympic Games continued to be played every four years for nearly 1200 years and has been growing and growing ever since. In 393 CE, the Roman emperor Theodosius I took down the Games because of their bad influences.

ADVANTAGES

-improves status --financial profit --participation in sports may increase --improved sport facilities -- improved infrastructure --coaching systems are developed

DISADVANTAGES

-risk of complaints about the organization -huge financial problem maybe low profits -vulnerability to terrorism -security concerns -high cost improving transport links

HUMAN INTEREST STORIES

Mark Spitz- Mark Spitz is now a retired American swimmer and a major Olympic icon. He won about seven gold medals during the 1972 summer Olympic games located in Munich, Germany. He Held a record over 35 years until of course Michael Phelps broke it with 8 gold medals. Durin Spitz time he set more then thirty records Carl Lewis- Carl Lewis use to be a America track and field star. He impressed America and the world with 10 Olympic medals and 9 of them are gold. Lewis won his first four Olympics events in 1984 summer games located in Los Angles in California. He won his last Olympic event in 1996, Atlanta, Georgia. Babe Didrikson Zaharias- Babe Didrikson Zaharias was a American athlete in the 1930s. She was known as a really competitive women. She won one silver and two gold in track and field events in the 1932 Olympic games Los Angles in California. She also had skill in basketball, diving,softball, roller skating and bowling. By 1940s she became a golf celebrity.

OLYMPIC CONTROVERSIES

Fred Lorz - was a long distance runner best known for “winning” the marathon in the 1904 summer Olympic games. On his 9 th mile, Lorz had no more energy to run so he hitched a ride in his trainers car for the next 11 miles. Unfortunately the car broke down, leaving Fred Lorz to the stadium on foot and managed to brake the tape and he was considered the winner. But he eventually admitted to the stunt and Thomas Hicks was named the real winner. Jim Thorp- He won the gold metal in the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Olympic games. At this time the Olympics only allowed amateurs but so happens to be that Jim Thorp was a two season minor league baseball for 25 dollars a week, violating the rule of only amateurs. So they stripped his medals. Unfortunately he became the third best athlete in the century and became a professional basketball player and baseball.