"ANCIENT OLYMPICS"
from the first Olympiad in 776 B.C. -- two
decades before the legendary founding of
Rome?
DID YOU KNOW;  Gymnastics were not part  
of the ancient Olympics. Gymnos means  
naked and at the ancient Olympics,    
Gymnastes were athletic exercise trainers.
DID YOU KNOW;  The ancient Olympics did
not have a torch relay.  However, they did
have a flame burning for the entire length of
the Olympics.   The Olympic torch lighting
event began in 1936 for the Berlin Olympics.

Victory at the Olympic Games:
The Greeks considered the olive tree as the most valued gift
to humankind, a symbol of peace, sustenance, and life.
An Olympic victor was crowned with an olive wreath. (laurel
wreath was the award for another of the Panhellenic games --
the games at Delphi).   The winner also had his name inscribed
in the official Olympic records.   Some Olympic victors were
fed for the rest of their lives by their poleis(city states),
although they were never paid.   They were considered heroes
who conferred honor upon their city-states.
The people of ancient Greece would send their best athletes to
compete in Olympia at the Olympic games. During this period,
a truce was called and all warring factions would lay down
their arms during the weeks of the competition in Olympia.  
The Greek world would come together in peace to explore the
limits of human endurance and excellence in a spectacular and
organized manner.
Participants:
Participants included all Greek men, except slaves, certain felons, and
barbarians during the Classical Period.   By the Hellenistic Period, professional
athletes competed. Married women were not allowed to enter the stadium
during the games and might be killed if they tried. (Gee, who needs to get a
divorce?)   However... Women were allowed to participate in sporting events in
Sparta.  (There always has been something special about Sparta!)  A priestess
of Demeter was always present at the Olympics, however.   Even without
competing, women could be named victor in equestrian events if they owned
the winning horse.   
Ancient stadium at Olympia, 192 meters long
CHEATING:
DURING the 98th Olympics, in 388 B.C. a boxer named
Eupolus bribed his 3 opponents to let him win. The for a
row of bronze statues of Zeus with inscriptions explaining
what had happened. ( see pic. at left.) These 6 bronze
statues were the first of the zanes.

Lichas of Sparta
In 420, the Spartans were excluded from participation, but
a Spartan named Lichas entered his chariot horses as
Thebans. When the team won, Lichas ran onto the field.
The Hellanodikai (judges), sent attendants to flog him as
punishment.

In 332 B.C., during the 112th Olympics, Callipus of Athens,
a pentathlete, bribed his competitors. Again, the
Hellanodikai found out and fined all offenders. Athens
sent an orator to try to persuade Elis to remit the fine.
Unsuccessful, the Athenians refused to pay and withdrew
from the Olympics. It took the Delphic Oracle to persuade
Athens to pay. A second group of 6 bronze zane statues
of Zeus were erected from the fines.