THE OLYMPIC GAMES

THE OLYMPIC GAMES

Nowadays almost everyone likes sports. Many people participate in some kind of sports such as football, swimming or running. A lot more people are interested in sports as specttators. They enjoy watching a football game, a swimming contest or an athletics contest.

      Among the biggest sports event in the world are Olimpyc Games. They began in Greece long ago. They were held every four years at Olimpia. Only men participated in the games. Women could not even watch them in stadium.

      At firs Olimpic Game there was only one event, a running race. Later games had more event : long jump, javelin, boxing and chariot (= kereta perang) racing. The only prize the winner received


 was a crown of leaves. But it was a great honour to win.

      When the Romans conquered Greece, they contiuned to hold the Olimpic Games. But they started to gives winners big prizes. Then people began to cheat, so the Roman Empe-ror (= kaisar) Theodosius stopped the games.

      In 1896 a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, revived the Olimpyc Games. People from every country in the world can participate, and each time games are held in a different country. At each new Olimpyc Games there special opening ceremony : the lighting of Olimpyc torch. Runners carry the Olimpyc flame from Greece all the way to the hpst country for this purpose.

      Like the ancient games, the modern games take place every four years. About 30 sport are played. Today the winners receive medals as prizes ins-tead of the old crown of leaves. The 2000 Olimpyc Games will be held in Sydney, Australia.