The original Olympic Games were mainly a part of a religious festival to honor the father of the Greek gods and goddesses, Zeus. It was first held in 776 B.C.E. in Olympia, hence, the name “Olympics.” In 394 C.E., the Roman Emperor, Theodosius I, abolished Olympic Games suspecting they were an idolatrous event.
It was only in 1894 that the idea of having Olympic Games was revived. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee, believing it would promote international understanding. And in 1896, the first Modern Olympic Games successfully took place in Athens. Since then, the international tournament has been considered the world’s most prominent sporting tournament.
In 2004, Athens hosted another memorable event. Beijing followed in 2008, London in 2012, and Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
