The Olympic Athlete :: essays research papers

The Olympic Athlete     I al paths have prize Olympic athletes, for they spend all their timetraining. Victorious athletes were professionals in the whizz that they livedoff the rejoice of their achievement ever afterwards. Their hometowns might rewardthem with uncaring meals for the rest of their lives, honorary appointments, orleadership positions in the community. The victors were memorialized in statuesand overly in victory songs, and commissivirtuosod from famous poets.     Today, the Olympic Games are the worlds largest display of acrobaticskill and competitive spirit. They are also displays of nationalism, commerceand politics. These two opposing elements of the Olympics are not a younginvention. The conflict surrounded by the Olympic movements high ideals and thecommercialism or political acts, which accompany the Games, has been illustrious sinceancient times. The ancient Olympic Games, part of a major phantasmal festivalh onoring Zeus, the chief Greek god, were the biggest events in their world. Theywere the scenes of political rivalries amongst people from different parts ofthe Greek world, and the site of controversies, boasts, general announcements andhumiliations. superannuated athletes competed as individuals, not on national teams,as in the modern Games. The emphasis on individual athletic achievement throughpublic competition was related to the Greek ideal of excellence, called "arete".Aristocratic men who succeed this ideal, through their outstanding words ordeeds, won permanent glory and fame. Those who failed to measure up to this codefeared public shame and disgrace.     Olympia was one of the oldest religious centers in the ancient Greekworld. Since athletic contests were one way that the ancient Greeks honoredtheir gods, it was logical to hold a recurring athletic competition at the siteof a major temple. Also, Olympia is pleasant geographically to reach by ship,which was a major concern for the Greeks. Athletes and spectators travelled fromGreek colonies as far away as modern-day Spain, the sinister Sea, or Egypt.     Athletics were a key part of education in ancient Greece. Many Greeksbelieved that developing the body was equally important as improving the mindfor overall health. Also, regular exercise was important in a society where menwere always needed for military service. Platos Laws specifically mentions howathletics greatly improved military skills. Greek youth therefrom worked out inthe palaestra (wrestling-school) whether they were serious Olympic contenders ornot.      quaint competitors were required to train at Olympia for a month out frontthe Games officially started, like modern competitors at the Olympic. Young menworked with athletic trainers who used long sticks to point out incorrect body