Assignment 1: History of Athletics and Sports
1.What is the ultimate goal of athletics and sports?
The ultimate goal of athletics and sports in ancient Greece was arete, or excellence. They believed
that constant practice and becoming excellent in many areas of life was good for you and your city and
would grant you blessings from the gods. They achieve excellence through competitions like the infamous
Olympics. Furthermore, it promotes healthy well-being, physical fitness, and interconnectedness, as
demonstrated by how the ancient Greeks set aside their disputes for sports competition.
2. How did Athletics and Sports Develop?
Ancient Greeks practiced in the gymnasium, where women were strictly prohibited, and men were
naked while training. The first Olympic games started in 776 BCE with the stadion as its only event and
where Koiroibos was hailed as the first winner. Soon, other games were added, including the chariot race,
where the first-ever female in the Greek Olympics, Kyniska of Sparta, had won twice. Today, equality’s
observed, women can participate, and players’ safety is considered.
3. What are the different sports/games offered in the ancient times?
Other games were also held aside from the Olympiad, which is held every four years. These were
the Pythian, Isthmian, and Nemean games. The Olympiad had stadion, a running race; hoplitodromos, a
running race with full armor and shield; wrestling, where competitors pin the opponent to the ground;
pentathlon, where sprint, discus, javelin, long jump, and wrestling are combined; boxing, a fist fight;
pankration, with similarity to modern martial arts; and lastly, a chariot race.
4. How does these sports/games influence or contribute to the present times?
Some of these ancient Greek sports are still played today. I believe they are the foundation of
today’s athletics as many modern games are taken from and based on them, as evident by the current
Olympic games. Lastly, considering how society examines and learns from its past mistakes, it is also
safe to assume that some of today's established rules in the world of sports are in response to the old
flaws in the system.