Comparing the Ancient and the Modern Games
While the modern Games draw their inspiration from the past, they are also quite different.
Secular Games
The modern Games are secular, unlike the ancient Games which were dedicated to the gods.
In location
In contrast with the Olympic Games of Antiquity, each edition of the modern Games takes place in principle in a different city and country.
Length of duration
In ancient times, the Games were held first on one day, and finally over five days.
Today the official duration is no more than 16 days.
Today the official duration is no more than 16 days.
Athletes from all over the world
The ancient Olympic Games were the preserve of free male Greek citizens, whereas the modern Games have always been open to athletes from all over the world. The 245 participants in Athens in 1896 came from
14 different countries.
The 1912 Games in Stockholm (Sweden) were the first to boast the presence of national delegations from the five continents. The universality of the modern Olympic Games was assured.
Today, the Summer Games welcome athletes from every country of the world, without exception.
14 different countries.
The 1912 Games in Stockholm (Sweden) were the first to boast the presence of national delegations from the five continents. The universality of the modern Olympic Games was assured.
Today, the Summer Games welcome athletes from every country of the world, without exception.
Inclusion of women
As in Ancient Greece and in the Costwold Olimpicks (in several sports), there were no female athletes at the first edition of the modern Olympic Games. In Athens in 1896, only men competed. At that time, female athletes
faced many prejudices. People worried that they would lose their femininity, over-develop their muscles or become sterile. They therefore had to overcome this kind of attitude and gradually take their place at the Games.
In fact, the first female athletes had to face up to this type of preconception. Little by little, they earned a place at the Games, sport by sport, and event by event.
Women made their Olympic début at the 1900 Games in Paris (France), in tennis and golf. Subsequently, over the course of the century, they gained access to more and more sports. And some important occasions for women at the Summer Games were:
From volleyball (1964), to rowing (1976), from cycling (1984) to football (1996), female Olympians have gone from strength to strength!
With the addition of women’s boxing, the 2012 Olympic Games in London were the first in which women competed in every sport on the Olympic programme. Also, since 1991, all new sports wishing to be included on the Olympic programme must feature women’s events.
Women's rugby will be introduced in Nanjing 2014 as its "soft opening", with the "grand introduction" will occur in Rio 2016.
Greco-Roman wrestling is the only discipline featured for men only. There are some diciplines like gym wheel, synchronised swimming and rhythmic gymnastics, in which only women participate.
faced many prejudices. People worried that they would lose their femininity, over-develop their muscles or become sterile. They therefore had to overcome this kind of attitude and gradually take their place at the Games.
In fact, the first female athletes had to face up to this type of preconception. Little by little, they earned a place at the Games, sport by sport, and event by event.
Women made their Olympic début at the 1900 Games in Paris (France), in tennis and golf. Subsequently, over the course of the century, they gained access to more and more sports. And some important occasions for women at the Summer Games were:
- the first appearance of women swimmers at the 1912 Games in Stockholm
- the first female athletics competitions, at the Amsterdam Games in 1928. Note that the 800m race was considered too difficult for women and was discontinued after 1928, not to be reintroduced until 1960.
From volleyball (1964), to rowing (1976), from cycling (1984) to football (1996), female Olympians have gone from strength to strength!
With the addition of women’s boxing, the 2012 Olympic Games in London were the first in which women competed in every sport on the Olympic programme. Also, since 1991, all new sports wishing to be included on the Olympic programme must feature women’s events.
Women's rugby will be introduced in Nanjing 2014 as its "soft opening", with the "grand introduction" will occur in Rio 2016.
Greco-Roman wrestling is the only discipline featured for men only. There are some diciplines like gym wheel, synchronised swimming and rhythmic gymnastics, in which only women participate.
The Winter Games
When Coubertin revived the Olympic Games, only summer sports were included. In the 1920’s, however, snow and ice sports began to enjoy soaring popularity. A number of IOC members decided to react to this new phenomenon. In 1924, it was decided to hold an International Winter Sports Week in Chamonix (France): 258 athletes from 16 countries (mainly in Europe and North America) attended.
The week was a great success and, two years later, it was retroactively named the first Olympic Winter Games. The future of an Olympic event dedicated exclusively to snow and ice sports was assured.
In case of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, a total of 2,566 athletes came together from 82 countries as diverse as Ghana, Brazil, New Zealand and Pakistan.
The week was a great success and, two years later, it was retroactively named the first Olympic Winter Games. The future of an Olympic event dedicated exclusively to snow and ice sports was assured.
In case of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, a total of 2,566 athletes came together from 82 countries as diverse as Ghana, Brazil, New Zealand and Pakistan.
For professionals
The modern Olympic Games were long open only to amateur athletes, in line with Pierre de Coubertin’s wishes. The IOC abolished this rule in 1984 (for the Games in Los Angeles), and since then professional athletes have also been able to take part.