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Past
Past
THE OLYMPIC OATH
The inspiration for an oath came from the Ancient Olympic Games where competitors swore on a statue of Zeus. On the first day of the games the athletes swore solemnly not to commit offenses before the statue of Zeus, ‘the guardian of the oaths’, in the council house of Olympia. The same oath was sworn by their fathers, brothers, and trainers.
Present
Present
THE OLYMPIC ANTHEM
The Olympic Anthem illustrates the merging of the ancient past and the national present. Spyridon Samaras, a celebrated Greek composer was commissioned by the Council of the Olympic Games to write the music of the hymn of the Games in 1896 while Costis Palamas, the famous Greek poet, has written the lyrics. The poem is as follows:
Ancient immortal spirit, unsullied father of
that which is beautiful, great and true,
Descend, make thyself known and shine hero
on this earth and below these skies
witness of Thy Glory
Illuminate the endeavour of the noble contests
in the running race, the wrestling and the throwing.
Place a wreath of evergreen branch,
creating the body as of iron and worthy.
Vales, mountains and oceans shine with Thee
Like unto a great temple of white and porphyry.
To which all people hasten to this temple
to worship Thee, Oh ancient immortal Spirit.
THE OLYMPIC OATH
An oath for the athletes was first thought of in 1906, following unsportsmanlike incidents. The athletes had to comply with the rules: cheating and corruption were forbidden. On the first day of the games, the athletes, the coaches and the umpires swore.
THE OLYMPIC FLAME
It is said that the god of fire Prometheus stole fire from Zeus to gift to humanity. The ancient Greeks used to honour this symbolism by burning the flame on the Altar of Prytaneion in Ancient Olympia during the Ancient Olympics. It remains a tradition at the modern Games.
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