It all began in Ancient Greece
about 3.000 years ago.
No-one's quite sure who actually started the Games or why
so let's just say it was this guy.
You know what?
We should do this thing where a bunch of people come
and run and wrestle and do javelin
and then, like, everyone comes and sits and watches
and then the winner, they, like, get a crown or something.
Hmm, that sounds mildly entertaining.
Let's do it.
Anyway, they decided the first known Olympic Games should be held
in an area named Olympia in 776 BC in a rectangular stadium
and the Games were dedicated to the Greek God, Zeus
The only people who could take part were men of Greek origin.
They were picked by their cities and trained for months to complete.
At first, there was only one sport, a 200 metre sprint.
Then they added longer running events, boxing, equestrian,
pankration - that's an extreme mix of boxing and wrestling -
and pentathlon, made up of five sports
including javelin, discus and long jump.
Oh, and every athlete competed in the nude.
ALL: What?!
But for the purposes of this story, we won't worry too much about that.
Phew!
Finally, all athletes and judges took an oath to take part honourably
and abide by the rules.
Wait, does that mean I can't cheat?
No, of course not.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
At the end of an event, there was only ever one award winner
known as the Olympionic.
They were crowned with sacred olive branches
and they were seen as a hero in their home towns.
Statues were often made in their likeness
and poems written about their athletic feat.
"He ran with the fierceness of a goat,
"dainty in hoof of feet."
I approve, I approve.
The Olympics were held like that every four years.
And at first, it was only a one-day thing
but eventually it became even longer
as the event became more and more popular.
The Games drew tens of thousands of spectators
and even when some Greek cities were at war,
they were brought together by a sacred truce
which meant that nobody could fight during the Games
so everybody could watch.
After more than 1.000 years of Games,
this guy, Emperor Theodosius I decided he didn't like it very much
and scrapped it and that was the end of the ancient Olympics.
It wasn't until centuries later, in 1894 that this guy,
a French teacher and historian named Pierre de Coubertin,
founded the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC then organised the very first modern Olympic Games
in Athens, Greece, in 1896.
Over the years, the Olympics continued to change a lot.
Competitors started coming from all over the globe
and, of course, female athletes were finally included.
One award changed to three medals,
heaps of new sports were added -
although some didn't last -
and huge ceremonies and TV broadcasts
eventually became part of the experience.
COMMENTATOR: All of them got off to a beautiful start.
But if you watch closely,
there are still plenty of traditions in the modern Olympics
that originated from ancient times.
Like running races and the pentathlon,
the Olympic torch and, of course, the four years between Games.
So, the next time you watch your favourite athletes go for gold,
spare a thought for the ancient, uh, nude Olympians who started it all.