Sports And Competition In Ancient Greece

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were then suspended. The sacred truce was to protect Games-goers from assault and lasted three months.
The competitions were open only to honorable Greek men, and lasted five days. On the first day of the Games the athletes and the judges swore that they would compete and judge honestly. On the second, third, and fourth day the different contests were held. The main event at Olympia was the stadion or single-course race, and the winner of that race gave his name to the Olympiad. On the fifth day, at the conclusion of the Games, the victors were awarded a crown of wild olive leaves. The olive crown was the greatest honor for the contestant and also for his family and his city. It was an honor that could never be outranked either by money or official position. The victors were linked to the immortals, celebrated by poets and sculptors, and they often lived for the rest of their lives at public expense. A strong bond joined every athlete with his gods, to whom he believed he owed ...

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