History of the Olympic Games: from the ancient Greek competition to the present day

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Ancient athletes, willing to fight for glory, laid the foundation for what we know today as the Olympic Games. This tradition, imbued with the spirit of competition and the pursuit of excellence, has undergone many changes to become a global show. The history of the Olympic Games is a fascinating journey from antiquity to the present day, filled with dramatic moments, inspiring examples and unexpected twists and turns.

The Ancient Olympic Games: the story of the birth of a legend

Every four years since 776 BC, the city of Olympia has been transformed into a centre of sporting and spiritual events. Dedications to Zeus, the mighty supreme god. Athletes gathered in Olympia to undergo numerous tests of strength and endurance, and only the best could claim the title of champion.

Sacrifices and solemn oaths were important parts of these games. Bulls and rams were sacrificed to placate the gods. The contestants swore before a statue of Zeus that they would observe honesty and compete without cheating. The public watched running, wrestling, javelin and discus throwing, and pankration, a mixture of wrestling and boxing that at times resembled a real battle.

These events didn’t just demonstrate physical strength – they symbolised the ideals of ancient Greek society: honour, courage and harmony between body and spirit. In those games, not only people, but entire cities participated, trying to strengthen their reputation and confirm their right to leadership.

Who founded the Olympic Games?

Legend has it that the Olympic Games were founded by Hercules himself, the great son of Zeus. He set up the competition to honour his father and awarded the winners with olive wreaths, a symbol of peace and greatness. But archaeological evidence tells us that the games probably originated as a means of political and cultural unification of the Greek polities. Pelops, the legendary hero, is also linked to the history of the Olympic Games. According to legend, he defeated King Oenomaus in a chariot race and established the games in honour of his victory.

The evolution of the Olympic Games: from antiquity to modernity

With the fall of the Roman Empire in 394 AD, the Olympic Games fell into decline and were later banned by Emperor Theodosius I as a pagan manifestation. Over a thousand years later, the idea of a revival reappeared thanks to French Baron Pierre de Coubertin.

In 1896, the first modern competition took place in Athens. Coubertin wanted to use sport as a means of peace and unity between nations. Since then, the events have changed dramatically, from only 14 countries participating in the first games to over 200 countries today.

Modern performances have come to symbolise progress, tolerance and the human spirit. In 1924, the Winter Olympics came into being, adding new sports such as skiing and figure skating.

And while the ancient games were exclusively for men, since the 20th century the Olympics have become a platform for gender equality, with women not only participating but also setting world records.

Modern Olympics: the global arena of sport

There are summer and winter Olympic Games. The Summer Games include classic sports such as athletics, swimming and gymnastics. The Winter Games offer spectators the chance to enjoy ice hockey, figure skating and biathlon.

Interestingly, the atmosphere at the Winter Games is formed not only by the athletes, but also by the very conditions – ice, snow and mountain tracks create unique challenges for the participants. Each athlete going out on the ice or descending from snow-covered mountains must not only show their physical fitness, but also cope with the natural conditions.

What sports were in the first Olympics

Participants competed in a pentathlon, which included the following disciplines:

Running. Several distances, from short sprints to long marathons. Running competitions were held in a stadium 192 metres long, which corresponded to the ancient Greek ‘stadia’, a unit of length from which the word ‘stadium’ was derived.
Long jumps. Athletes jumped while holding weights in their hands, which helped create inertia. These weights weighed from 1.5 to 2kg and were released at the right moment to increase the range of the jump.
Spear Throwing. The javelin, about 2 metres long, was thrown using a leather loop that served to give rotation and improve aerodynamics.
Disc throwing. The disc, made of bronze or stone, weighed about 2-3 kg. The competition required high coordination and strength, as well as knowledge of rotational techniques for the longest possible throw.
Wrestling. The discipline was a combination of technique and strength. Bouts took place in a sand ring and the winner was the one who took his opponent to the ground three times.

The Olympic legacy and its significance today

The heroes of their time inspire millions of people to new achievements, becoming an example that nothing is impossible. Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles – they didn’t just win medals, they showed the world the importance of hard work, determination and self-belief.

Usain Bolt:

Set a world record in the 100 metres with a time of 9.58 seconds.
He was an eight-time Olympic champion, inspiring millions with his desire for speed and discipline.
His charisma and positive attitude made him a true ambassador for the sport.

Michael Phelps:

Won 23 Olympic gold medals, making him the most decorated Olympian in history.
His swimming record showed that constant training and sacrifice can lead to unprecedented results.
Since the end of his career, he has been an active advocate for supporting the psychological health of athletes.

Simone Biles

These champions not only raise the profile of their countries, but also shape new standards and values. Their stories are paths of overcoming that motivate young athletes.

The role of the International Olympic Committee

The Committee, founded in 1894, plays a crucial role in the organisation and conduct of the OIs. The IOC ensures that competitions are conducted in a spirit of fairness and equality, striving to create conditions in which every athlete, regardless of nationality, race or gender, can prove themselves.

The IOC has also been active in the fight against doping, implementing strict rules and testing to keep sport clean. It is through its efforts that the Olympics remain a symbol of peace and fair competition.

A legacy that inspires

The history of the Olympic Games is a journey of courage, unity and the pursuit of excellence. From the ancient rituals of Olympia to today’s multi-billion dollar shows, the competitions continue to inspire millions of people around the world. They are a reminder that despite all differences, people can come together and celebrate the best qualities of humanity: strength, will and the desire to be better.

FINA World Championships 2025: What to look out for

The 2025 FINA World Championships will be one of the most important events on the global sporting calendar. Dozens of countries, hundreds of athletes and millions of spectators will take part in the competition, both in the pools and in front of their screens. The programme includes all the major disciplines, from classic swimming to spectacular high diving. The event is a full-fledged sports festival with a rich programme, intrigue and record-breaking events.

Format and disciplines of the 2025 World Swimming Championships

Each discipline at the 2025 FINA World Championships has its own unique story and schedule.

Classic swimming. One of the most anticipated events. The focus is on the battle for tenths of a second over distances from 50 to 1,500 metres. Athletes will compete in the freestyle, backstroke, butterfly and medley disciplines.
Synchronised swimming. A spectacular combination of artistic performance and athletic power. Crews from different countries will present their programmes in duets and groups. High precision, artistic talent and synchronisation of movements will be the main assessment criteria.
Water polo. Teamwork and a tight competition schedule make this block one of the most dynamic. The 2025 World Swimming Championships will consist of events for both men and women. The emphasis is on interaction, throwing accuracy, tactics and emotional resilience.
Diving. Divers will perform from 1, 3 and 10 metre springboards. The jury will assess technique, the difficulty of the elements and the beauty of the entry. Both beginners and experienced masters will demonstrate competitive intensity in individual and synchronised disciplines.
High diving. Height, risk and artistry. The 27-metre platform dives are one of the most extreme parts of the tournament. Participants perform a series of acrobatic elements under conditions that require maximum concentration and precision. High Diving 2025 will give spectators a real adrenaline rush.
Open water swimming. Participants compete at distances ranging from 5 to 25 kilometres. Waves, currents, water temperature and the lack of signage increase the demands on navigation and endurance. Open water swimming in 2025 will test both physics and psychology.

Athletes and teams: who should you keep an eye on?

The 2025 FINA World Championships will bring together representatives from more than 80 countries, including top favourites, returning veterans and rising stars. The competition covers all continents and training levels: from beginners to Olympic titans. Each team will send its strongest line-up, selected according to the principles of qualifications, national team selection and training camps.

World names and young sensations

In men’s swimming, it is expected to be an exciting battle between continents, with athletes from the United States, Australia, Japan and France traditionally setting record performances. In women’s swimming, representatives from China, Canada and Italy dominate, especially in the butterfly and medley. Athletes from Africa and South America are participating in the high jump for the first time. The new teams are quickly developing their technical base and training high-level divers who can compete with the current leaders.

Competition in team disciplines

Water polo will increase the rivalry between Eastern European countries. Hungary, Serbia and Croatia are returning to the top, demonstrating strict discipline, tactical variability and teamwork. The national women’s teams of the United States, Spain and the Netherlands will add extra dynamism with an emphasis on fast attacks and aggressive pressing.

Trends and expectations:

Swimming: South Asian teams, once marginal, are seeing a strong improvement in results. Active implementation of biomechanics and digital analysis is raising the bar for technical training.
Synchronised swimming: the art that goes beyond the classics. The South Korean and Brazilian teams are presenting unconventional compositions with elements of theatre and visual spectacle.
High jump: introduction of new equipment and expansion of the geographical area. The towers are equipped with a visual trajectory recording system, which gives the analysis more depth.
Diving: China is still the leader, but the pressure is increasing as Great Britain and Mexico send their best athletes of the past 10 years.

What can we expect from the 2025 FINA World Championships?

The organisers are not focusing solely on the sporting aspect. The tournament will be a media and cultural phenomenon. A rich space will be created around the stadiums with training zones, VR stations and merchandising areas. In each section, spectators will have the opportunity to study the rules of the sport in detail, meet former athletes and participate in interactive activities.

The presence effect will be enhanced by the installation of round cameras, synchronisation with mobile devices and the ability to change angles. Augmented reality graphics visualise athlete data such as heart rate, speed, energy consumption and accuracy. Analytical studios prepare daily reviews and predictions, with commentators who have years of experience, including champions from previous years, participating.

Viewing and participation formats

The tournament’s media platform covers the entire spectrum of digital technologies. The 2025 World Swimming Championships will be broadcast live via satellite channels, mobile apps and interactive stands in the stadiums. The emphasis will be on far-reaching personalisation of content, tailored to the interests of each individual viewer.

Interactive and convenient:

Direct access to the broadcast from any location: pool, tower, playing field.
Select the language for comments, check the emphasis and view the types of infographics.
Ability to connect to live analyses in split-view format.
Digital ticket sales and seat reservations with accurate hall visualisation.

The app includes push calendar reminders, GPS navigation in the stadiums and the ability to create an individual visit plan.

Infrastructure and organisation of the 2025 World Swimming Championships

The host city is transforming sports logistics into a model of efficiency. Platforms for high jump, synchronised swimming and open water swimming will be installed at various locations, taking into account accessibility by means of transport, weather conditions and safety. The sports stadiums will be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment: tactile starting blocks, motion registration systems, 3D diving storyboards, soundproof stands and adjustable water temperatures. Each location will have air-conditioned recreation areas, charging stations, Wi-Fi and medical facilities. The organisers are taking into account the needs of people with limited mobility by installing lifts, wide aisles and touch-sensitive navigation.

Planning and availability

The organisers of the 2025 World Swimming Championships are optimising the schedule to prevent important finals from overlapping. The morning sessions are dedicated to qualifying swims and preliminary diving events. In the evening, the semi-finals and finals take place with musical accompaniment, light shows and award ceremonies. The competitions will be synchronised with the primetime broadcasts of the major television companies. This will increase the reach of the broadcasts and allow maximum attention to be paid to the highlights of the tournament. Important: Each visitor can choose the form of their visit: during the day, in the evening or a combination of both.

Conclusion

The 2025 FINA World Championships will raise the bar in terms of organisation, entertainment and technology. The tournament combines sporting aesthetics, excitement and technical perfection. Hundreds of medals, dozens of records, millions of fans: all this takes place in the context of a major water festival, where every second counts.

March 20, 2025

The most infamous sports scandals: 10 cases everyone remembers

Competitions create heroes, but also reveal people’s weaknesses. At times when rules are broken, integrity is disrupted and trust is lost, competition transcends stadiums. The most high-profile scandals in sport not only undermine reputations, they also rewrite history, break careers, overturn medals and provoke reform. These episodes are forever etched as markers of weakness and turning points. We will discuss them below.

The Spanish Paralympic basketball team: one of the most talked-about scandals in the world of sport

The first case involves a blatant forgery, in which the team’s entire system was cheated. In 2000, at the Paralympic Games in Sydney, the Spanish team won gold for intellectual disability, but it soon became clear: 10 of the 12 players did not meet the medical criteria.

The federation allowed professionals without a diagnosis to participate. Victory meant a medal, but also a massive disqualification. Spain lost credibility and the International Paralympic Committee excluded the category from competition for 12 years. This incident demonstrated the extent of systematic falsification and led to a tightening of IP tests.

Rosie Ruiz – victory without distance

The next episode highlighted the absurdity of the lack of technological control. In 1980, Rosie Ruiz was the first woman to cross the finish line of the Boston Marathon, one of the fastest times of the decade. However, witnesses did not record her at intermediate points along the course.

An investigation revealed that she had cut the course and joined the crowd at the finish line. The scandal immediately became one of the most talked about and became a textbook example of cheating in the sports world. Ruiz lost his title and recognition and marathons began massively implementing electronic tracking tags along the course.

The ‘Hand of God’ is a symbol and a cheat

The Argentina-England match at the 1986 World Cup was the scene of a legendary foul. Diego Maradona, without waiting for the referee, scored with his hand. The referee registered the goal and Argentina went ahead. The term ‘hand of god’ has come to symbolise the moment when genius and deception crossed paths. It is one of the most famous sports scandals, which has caused a storm of controversy, emotional protests and calls for the introduction of video replays. The idea of VAR, developed decades later, has its origins in this incident.

‘Calciopoli: mafia, referees and titles

In 2006, Italian football was at the epicentre of a huge crisis. A system of match-fixing, referee coordination and pressure on the league came to light in an investigation dubbed ‘calciopoli’. The main clubs involved were Juventus, AC Milan and Lazio. The consequences were disqualification, points deduction, title loss and financial penalties. Juventus’ lost the 2005 and 2006 championships and were relegated to Serie B. The scandal forced a reform of the approach to referees and corporate governance in Serie A.

Boris Onishchenko and the flying sword

Soviet pentathlete Boris Onishchenko was the hero of one of the most unexpected frauds of the 1976 Olympics. His fencing technology included a built-in switch that activated a hit signal even if he missed. After strange readings of the instrument, the judges opened the sword and discovered the mechanism. The Olympics became an exhibition platform. Boris Onishchenko lost all his decorations and the incident has forever remained on the list of the sporting world’s most infamous scandals and undermined confidence in the technical side of competition.

‘Bloodgate: blood as a tactical tool

In 2009, the Harlequins club faked a player’s injury by using artificial blood for an extra substitution. The team wanted to turn the tide in a Heineken Cup match against Leinster. The falsification was discovered when the tapes were viewed. The club was fined £260,000, the athlete suspended for four months and the medical officer barred for life. The incident was codenamed ‘Bloodgate’ and was an example of tampering with substitutions.

Horse doping at the Olympics

The 2008 Olympic equestrian tournament took a sudden turn when four teams from Germany, Norway, Ireland and Brazil lost their medals due to flunisin, a banned anti-inflammatory substance found in the horses’ bodies. In this case, it was not just doping, but a disruption of the animal’s physiology. The event led to a large-scale review of veterinary procedures. Since then, the IOC has tightened animal testing standards and introduced new testing algorithms.

Crashgate: a deliberate accident for victory

In 2008, Formula 1 faced a precedent contrary to basic principles of sporting integrity. At the Singapore Grand Prix, Renault team management directed driver Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash into a crash barrier. The incident, known as crashgate, allowed his teammate – Fernando Alonso – to take advantage of the safety car that appeared and take victory.

The investigation revealed all the details of the plan. The team lost several managers, one of whom was banned for five years. F1 began imposing stricter rules on radio communications and strategic actions. The event added to the list of the sport’s most notorious scandals and undermined confidence in racing tactics.

Salt Lake City and the bribery of figure skating judges

At the 2002 Winter Olympics, French judges gave excessive scores to the Russian pair Berezhnaya and Sikharulidze in the pairs skating competition. As a result, the Canadian pair – Sale and Pelletier – won the silver medal despite their perfect skating. A subsequent investigation revealed that the French delegation was involved in bribery. The International Olympic Committee awarded the Canadians a second gold medal, making it the first time in history there were two winners. The incident was a key moment in the reform of the refereeing system in figure skating.

‘Black Socks – the baseball final sold out

The 1919 Minor League Baseball World Series final between the Chicago White Sox and the Cincinnati Reds turned out to be a shock to all of sports America. Eight players on the team deliberately let the game slip after receiving a reward from the gambling mafia. This conspiracy was dubbed the ‘black socks’ scandal and began the systemic transformation of the league.

Despite confessions and testimonies, the court acquitted the defendants. However, the league permanently banned the participants and the basis for internal ethical controls was strengthened. Financial backstabbing, weak rules and temptations ruined one of the most important finals in baseball history.

The aftermath of sports’ most infamous scandals

Each case in this compilation is not just an episode, but a systemic failure. The most glaring scandals show that the breakdown of integrity in sport is not due to the weakness of individual actors, but to the lack of reliable filters at the structural level. The incidents start with doping, move on to falsifying results and go all the way to bribery and fake crashes. These events do not disappear from the news: they are part of the chronology of sport as markers of a crisis of confidence. History shows that only with sufficient transparency, strict scrutiny and an international response can sporting ethics be restored.

March 20, 2025