As we draw to within a week of the Beijing games, what better a way to start our Olympic countdown than by giving you an insight into the ancient beginnings of the Olympics.
Originating in the sacred city of Olympia as early as the 12th century BC, myth has it that the Ancient Greek god, Heracles, son of Zeus, founded the Olympic Games.
To honour his father, Heracles took 400 strides in a straight line to mark the distance of a stadium. Many believe this to be the reason why the length of the modern athletics track is 400 metres long.
As a way of settling rivalries between the nation-states of Ancient Greece, competitions were held by individual Olympians.
Proudly displaying their strong and perfect bodies, the Olympians would compete naked.
Those who triumphed were seen to possess personal excellence and were given more respect than if they were to win a physical battle.
Women and foreigners were forbidden to compete.
But in the 4th century, when Greece was under the rule of the Roman Empire, then Emperor Theodosius I, declared Christianity the religion of the empire and discontinued the games.
It wasn’t until 1896 when the modern Olympics were reinstated in Athens. The games featured 241 athletes from Greece and the Ottoman Empire.
Four years later in 1900 (in accordance with ancient tradition), the games were held in Paris, France. With the turn of the new century, women were for the first time able to compete in the games.
Later in 1914, the current Olympic emblem, featuring five individually coloured rings to symbolise the unity of the five major continents (North and South America were considered one) was adopted.
While the world often seems divided, sport and the Olympic Games has for centuries provided a realm for people of different race, religion and culture to achieve harmony and unity.
Today, the games comprise of roughly 12,000 athletes representing over 200 different countries.
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