The Olympic Games began in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece and were celebrated every four years until being suppressed in 393 AD. During the Games, an Olympic Peace was established to allow athletes to travel safely. Only free young men who spoke Greek could compete in the ancient Olympics. Over time, the Games grew from one to five days.

1. The first Olympic Games
The Olympic Games were a series of athletic competitions held for representatives of various city-statesof
AncientGreece.Theybeganin776BCinOlympiainGreece.Theywerecelebrateduntil393AD whentheywere
suppressedbyTheodosiusIas part of the campaignto impose Christianityasa state religion.The Gameswere
usuallyheldeveryfouryears.Duringa celebrationof the Games,an OlympicPeace wasmade so that athletes
could travel from their countries to the Games in safety. Some archaeologists argue, however, that the wars
were not halted, but that the athletes who were in the army were allowed to leave and participate in the
Olympics.
Politicianswouldannounce political alliances at the Games, and in times of war, priests would offer sacrifices
to the gods for victory. The Games were also used to help spread Hellenistic culture throughout the
Mediterranean.
The ancient Olympics were rather different from the modern Games.There were fewer events, and only free
young men who spoke Greek could compete. Athletes from any country or city-state were allowed to
participate. The Games were always heldat Olympia rather than alternating with different locationsas is the
traditionwiththe modernOlympicGames.Atfirst,the OlympicGameslastedonlyone day,buteventuallygrew
to five days.Participationinthe classical gameswaslimitedtomale athletes,althoughwomenenteringhorses
in the equestrian events were allowed to take part.
1. Add True or False, quoting the relevant information from the text to justify your answer.
a) The Olympic Games were originally celebrated once a year until 393 BC.
b) The Games were used for several purposes, apart from the sports competition.
c) Any Greek citizen was allowed to participate.
2. Answer the following questions according to the information given in the text. Use your own words.
a) How many cities hosted the Games in ancient Greece?
b) In what way were the ancientOlympics differentfromcontemporary games? Give two examples.
3. Complete the following sentences. The meaning should be the same as that of the sentence above.
(2 points)
a) It’s a pity they didn’t permit women athletes to compete. I wish (…).
b) Duringthe Games sculptors created statues of Olympic victors and displayed their works of art.
(…) used to (…).
c) The organizers awarded the winner of an Olympic event an olive branch. The winner (…). d) ‘I
have read that single women were allowed to watch the races’, he said to me. He said (…).
4. Write a composition with the following title: (80-120 words) (3 points) Try to convince a friend to join
you in a sports activity, giving your reasons.