Home Plan - [GR2-L7-U1-LC1-11 The Olympics – Past and Present]

The document covers the history and evolution of the Olympic Games, starting with its origins in ancient Greece as a way to honor Zeus and promote peace among city-states. It discusses the early exclusion of adult women from the Games, the influence of Theodosius in ending the festival due to religious reasons, and the revival of the modern Olympics with a focus on peaceful competition. The text also delves into challenges faced by athletes, threats to the peaceful goal of the Games throughout history, including terrorist attacks and attempts by groups like the Nazis to manipulate the event for ideological reasons. Despite these challenges, the document emphasizes the enduring appeal of the Olympics and the efforts made to uphold fairness and honesty in the context of evolving training methods and equipment.

Contents

• Pages 1—21: Olympic Games History
• Pages 22—38: Olympics history summarized.
• Pages 39—55: Olympic threats history.

This section of the document introduces Lesson 11 at Level 7, focusing on the topic of the Olympic Games. It starts by presenting words to know related to the Olympics such as “ancient,” “athletes,” “Nazis,” etc. The text discusses the history of the Olympic Games, mentioning that they began in ancient Greece almost 2,800 years ago to honor Zeus. It highlights details about the ancient Olympic Games, including how they started with races and later expanded to include various events. The section also touches on the significance of the Olympics, like promoting peace among city-states during the games. Additionally, it mentions that winners were awarded with olive branches and honored throughout Greece. The text emphasizes the religious and peaceful aspects of the ancient Olympics, and includes information on how people felt safe to travel throughout Greece during the Games.

Originally, adult women were not allowed to compete in or watch the Olympics. In 470 BC, a separate festival for female athletes was created. The Roman Empire continued the Games after taking over Greece, but in AD 393, Theodosius, a Christian leader, ended the Games as he stopped all festivals honoring Greek gods. The Games continued to be remembered through legends, pottery, statues, and writings. In the early Games, athletes competed nude or with small shorts and some events required carrying heavy shields. The International Olympic Committee was formed in 1894 to promote peaceful competition and discourage athletes from competing for money. Winners received a silver medal and an olive branch. The modern Olympics focused on the love of sports and not monetary rewards. Women officially began competing in the Summer Games in 1928, and the Olympics saw new traditions like the torch relay beginning in 1936. Peace during the Games was disrupted by wars, and instances like the Nazis trying to spread racist ideas during the 1936 Berlin Olympics and terrorists taking Israeli athletes hostage in 1972.

This section discusses the threats the peaceful goal of the Olympic Games faced throughout history, such as instances where athletes were killed, terrorist attacks, and attempts by groups like the Nazis to use the Games for spreading racist ideologies. It also highlights the challenges faced by modern-day athletes, the pressure to win leading some to cheat, and efforts by Olympic organizers to maintain fairness and honesty in the Games. Additionally, it touches on the evolution of the Olympics, the advancements in training and equipment, as well as the excitement and popularity of the Games. The section concludes by emphasizing the rich history of the Olympics and the enduring appeal of peaceful sporting contests.