'The Ancient Olympics' Article Sumary

Article Summary 

We do not know exactly when the first Olympic Games were held but they were probably about three thousand years ago. The Olympic games were held to honor the Gods, especially Zeus, the king of all gods. They were held in a valley in Western Greece at a place called Olympia. The Olympics were so important that warfare ceased during the games. Apparently, the first person to win the Olympic games was Coroebus and he would have won the 180 meters footrace at the Olympic festival in 776 B.C. He was rewarded with a wreath of olive branches. It was the ultimate achievement to win the Olympics. 
Only Greek male citizens could participate in the games; foreigners, slaves, and women were not allowed. Women could not even go watch the games or else, they would get killed. Over the years, this rule changed and now, woman can watch and also compete in the games. An Athlete competing in the Olympic games had to  take the Olympic oath and swear that he had trained for ten months before the Games and that he had done nothing to offend the gods.
According to Theodore Knight, "The history of the Olympic Games parallels the history of Ancient Greece. Over the centuries, as Greece grew to be the most powerful nation in the civilized world, the Olympics grew also in size and importance.". 
I think that this quote explains that the Olympics were considered a very important event in Greece and it still is but all over the world now. One evidence that the Games were extremely important was that all warfare ceased during the Games.  

Knight, Theodore. "The Ancient Olympics." The Ancient World . Print.