Olympia,a religious sanctuary.The athletes came to Olympia from all parts of the Greek world,from as far as Spain in the west and Turkey in the east. The ancient Olympic Games began in the year 776 BC when Koroibos,a cook from the city of Elis,won a 200-metre-long race.They took place for a period of 617 years until the last games were held in AD 393. In the ancient games,athletes received prizes worth large amounts of money.In fact the word“athlete”is an ancient Greek word,meaning“one who competes for a prize”. Although women did not compete in the games,there was a separate festival held at the same time in honour of Hera,wife of Zeus.At this festival unmarried girls competed in foot races. The marathon was not an event of the ancient Olympic Games.The marathon is a modern event that was first introduced in the Olympic Games in 1896.It was named after a village called Marathon where the Persians were defeated by a small Greek army.The news of the victory was brought to Athens by soldier,who ran the 26 miles from the village of Marathon to the capital.26 miles was therefore adopted as the distance of the modern marathon race. The Olympic flag was introduced in 1908 and carries the symbol of five linked rings. Which represent the five continents-Africa,America,Asia,Australasia and Europe.The Olympic flame was first carried in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.There was no torch relay in the ancient Olympic Games.The first torch relay in the modern Olympic Games was staged in Berlin in 1936. 31.The ancient Greeks held the first Olympic Games in 617 BC. 32.The ancient Greeks held the Olympic Games for 393 years. 33.They did not allow women to compete in the ancient Olympic Games. 34.They first used the Olympic flag in 1908. 35.The torch relay was first used in the ancient Olympics. 986Olympia , a religious sanctuary. The athletes came to Olympia from all parts of the Greek world , from as far as Spain in the west and Turkey in the east. The ancient Olympic Games began in the year 776 BC when Koroibos, a cook from the city of Elis, won a 200-metre-long race. They took place for a period of 617 years until the last games were held in AD 393. In the ancient games, athletes received prizes worth large amounts of money. In fact the word "athlete" is an ancient Greek word , meaning "one who competes for a prize". Although women did not compete in the games, there was a separate festival held at the same time in honour of Hera , wife of Zeus. At this festival unmarried girls competed in foot races. The marathon was not an event of the ancient Olympic Games. The marathon is a modern event that was first introduced in the Olympic Games in 1896. It was named after a village called Marathon where the Persians were defeated by a small Greek army. The news of the victory was brought to Athens by soldier, who ran the 26 miles from the village of Marathon to the capital. 26 miles was therefore adopted as the distance of the modern marathon race. The Olympic flag was introduced in 1908 and carries the symbol of five linked rings. Which represent the five continents - Africa , America , Asia , Australasia and Europe. The Olympic flame was first carried in the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. There was no torch relay in the ancient Olympic Games. The first torch relay in the modern Olympic Games was staged in Berlin in 1936. 31. The ancient Greeks held the first Olympic Games in 617 BC. 32. The ancient Greeks held the Olympic Games for 393 years. 33. They did not allow women to compete in the ancient Olympic Games. 34. They first used the Olym pic flag in 1908. 35. The torch relay was first used in the ancient Olympics. 986