The Complexity of the Olympic Games
On February 9 the Winter Olympics began in Pyeongchang, South Korea. These were the twenty-third Olympic Games, and continued until February 25. There is quite a bit of history behind the Olympics, dating all the way back to the 7th century B.C. Those games are now known as the Ancient Olympic Games, which were discontinued with the rise of Christianity in 394 A.D. The current Olympics, which were revived in 1896, are known as the Modern Olympic Games. The history of and reasoning for the Ancient Games remained quite simple until their downfall. However, the revival and history of the Modern Olympics has often been complicated mostly due to politics, discrimination, and drug use even though the sports and …show more content…
The people would come from some of the surrounding cities of Olympia, and unity was represented in the Greek world. (History of the Olympic Games) The games were meant to make men fit to be a soldier, as Stephen Instone from BBC states, “The Games were an attractive means of getting men fit.” In order for someone to compete, they would have to be in extreme physical condition. If one was in shape to compete, they were in shape to fight. Men were motivated by the honor they brought to their home if they won. Nudity was common in the ancient olympics, thought to be introduced by the Spartans. One legend tells of a runner’s shorts falling off during a race, and that was how it was introduced. It is more likely that it was the Spartans. …show more content…
All performance enhancing drugs such as steroids are banned and the use thereof results in disqualification. Although this is the case, some athletes still take drugs disregarding the risks of getting caught and the major health risks. Most performance enhancing drugs can have negative effects on the heart, which can lead to heart attacks. As drug tests have improved throughout the years, most athletes taking them get caught. (The History of the Olympic Games) For example, blood and urine tests are taken before and after the competition to check for the banned substances or doping. (Young and Abrahams) Doping is when someone removes blood and freezes it only to put in back into them before a competition. This raises red blood cell count for better oxygen delivery to the muscles, but also gives one dangerously high blood pressure.
Not only this makes the Modern Olympics complicated compared to the Ancient. The Ancient Olympics had very few events compared to today. The first of the Games only consisted of the 192m dash but in 724 B.C. the diaulos (a 400m race) and the dolichos (1500 or 5000m) were added. In 708 a pentathlon was added, which was an event where an athlete participated in five sports: a race, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw, and wrestling. Ten years later boxing was added, chariot racing eight years after that, and in 648 pankration, a form of no-rule wrestling. (History.com Staff)