Greece - The Olympic Games from 1896 to 2004

Through the years, the Olympic Games havenotable failures, but the creation of the Winter
managed to win their rightful place in history. They areOlympics, along with the Paralympics for disabled
still the highest ambition of athletes all over the world.athletes, brought the institution of the Games back to
Though the olive branch has been replaced by a goldits initial form, giving it the breath of equality, social
medal and the exalting songs of the ancient world byjustice and human sensitivity. In addition, long before the
tempting prizes for "the winners of the modernintroduction of these Games, the participation of
Games, the glory that comes from an Olympic victoryfemale athletes had been established which came as
remains exactly the same.a victory parallel to the, by then, still fresh appearance
The modern history of the Olympic Games begins inof the feminine movement.
1896, and from then to now it has lasted through bothSlowly, the concept of marketing and advertising came
difficulties and moments of sheer magnificence. Theto complete and complement the organization of the
only Olympiads not to have been held were thosegames. It is said that the winners of ancient Greece, as
scheduled for 1916, 1940 and 1949 due to the outbreakwell as the olive wreath, also received an amount of
of the two World Wars. The honour of hosting theoil, the origin of which was announced loudly to the
Games has always been great, but the taskpeople of the area so that the victory of the athlete
extremely difficult. The undertaking of the countriesremained in the minds of the spectators along with the
who organize the Games offers, each time, thequality of the oil he was awarded.
opportunity for a different country to play host andThrough glorious moments and critical comments the
thus promises a different dimension to the games.Olympic Games have never ceased to represent only
There have been many times when there wereone thing: Man. His life. His story.