The London 2012 Games will be very different from the Ancient Olympic Games.
The Ancient Games
Back then, there were fewer sporting events and athletes were only allowed to compete if they were men and spoke Greek, no women were allowed.
Just like the Modern Games, the Ancient Games brought together the best athletes to compete, but there were also awards for poets, writers and musicians. The Ancient Games were always held in Greece and didn’t move from country to country like today.
The modern Olympic Games and Paralympic Games
Today, the Games are very different. The Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are held in a different country every four years. Male and female athletes come from all over the world to take part in both Games and are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.
In 2012, there will be more than 10,000 athletes from 205 different countries taking part.
Examples of Ancient Olympic sports
- Boxing
- Chariot Racing
- Riding
- Pankration (a combination of Boxing and Wrestling)
- Pentathlon (five events including Discus, Javelin, Jumping, Running and Wrestling)
- Running
- Wrestling
Modern Olympic sports
- Aquatics
- Archery
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Canoe/Kayak
- Cycling
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Hockey
- Judo
- Modern Pentathlon
- Rowing
- Sailing
- Shooting
- Table Tennis
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Triathlon
- Volleyball
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Modern Paralympic sports
- Archery
- Athletics
- Boccia
- Cycling
- Equestrian
- Football (five-a-side)
- Football (seven-a-side)
- Goalball
- Judo
- Powerlifting
- Rowing
- Sailing
- Shooting
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Volleyball (sitting)
- Wheelchair Basketball
- Wheelchair Fencing
- Wheelchair Rugby
- Wheelchair Tennis
Some of the differences between the way athletes competed then and now include the fact that in ancient times, athletes competed naked. They did not compete as part of a national team – they just competed alone – and winners were given a crown of leaves rather than medals.
