Many critics condemn the modern Olympic Games, calling them too corrupt and commercial, and accuse the organizers of the fact that there are many professional athletes. They argue that modern competition tarnished the ideals of the ancient Greeks, who competed in the original games from 776 BC. e. to 394 AD e.
The idea that the ancient Olympics brought together amateur athletes who competed solely in the name of peace and good sport is another part of Greek mythology. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the myths about the ancient Olympic Games. You will find a striking resemblance to a modern sports festival.
Only amateur athletes competed in the ancient Olympics
The idea that only amateurs should participate in the Olympics is completely modern. It was developed during the revival of the Olympics in 1896. Real professionals took part in the ancient Olympic Games. Moreover, the Greeks did not even come up with a term that would denote an amateur, because the word "athlete" they mean "the one who fights for the prize."
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No cash prizes were offered to the Olympic Games participants, but they were in other Greek sporting events. As it happens today, glory and fortune awaited the ancient Olympic champions upon their return home. States awarded cash prizes to their champions. Athens, for example, rewarded its winners with huge sums of money and other awards, tax exemptions, front row theater seats, or lifetime free meals.
Ancient Olympics didn't suffer from deception and corruption
Regardless of the millennium, the temptation to win can be too tempting for some athletes. While the ancient Olympians stood in front of the formidable statue of Zeus and vowed to play fair, some of them were willing to incite the wrath of the gods just for the thrill of victory.
Athletes who violated the rules could be disqualified. They could even be flogged publicly. Athletes and judges who were convicted of bribery had to pay huge fines. Often this money was used to finance the construction of bronze statues of Zeus erected at the entrance to the stadium. “Victory must be achieved with the speed of the legs and the strength of the body, not with money,” the inscriptions on the statues said. Obviously, not everyone listened to them: over the years of the games, 16 statues were erected.
The first recorded game cheating scandal dates back to 388 BC. e., when the boxer Eupolus bribed three opponents to lose their fights to him.
But when politics began to interfere with the games, it raised corruption to a new, almost farcical level. When the Roman emperor Nero decided to compete in 67 AD. BC, he offered astronomical bribes to the judges, who then agreed to add competitions in music and poetry reading to the general program. The Roman emperor also took part in chariot races. And although he fell out of the chariot and could not finish the race, the judges awarded him the main prize. Nero brought 1808 prizes from the Olympic Games and other Greek competitions.
Politics and wars were absent from the ancient Olympics
Contrary to popular belief, politics has continually invaded the ancient sports festival. During the Peloponnesian War in 424 BC. e. the Spartans were forbidden to take part in the games and even attend them. And although the sacred truce traditionally stopped all hostilities during the Olympic Games, in 364 BC. e. the war came straight to Olympia. Archers defended her, shooting from the roofs of the temples. The 2012 London Games security measures repeated these events, with soldiers armed with surface-to-air missiles on the rooftops.
Ancient Olympic Games were devoid of commercialism
The billions of dollars that the International Olympic Committee receives from corporate sponsors and television companies have raised the level of commercialism to unprecedented heights. However, trading at the Olympic Games is not a modern invention. In the ancient games, only licensed merchants could sell food, drinks, and souvenirs. Painters, sculptors, and poets sold out their works. Olympic organizers could fine merchants who raised prices for their goods. Images of champions appeared on specially minted coins and statues, which were made by state order.
Ancient Olympians trained on their own
Like many Olympians today, the athletes in the ancient games had good support. They were assisted in preparation and training. As in modern countries, the Greek states invested money in sports facilities and hired instructors to help athletes with medicine, nutrition and rehabilitation. The trainers of Olympic champions became famous and wrote popular study guides that provided advice on exercise and diet.