The Olympic Games have a rich history spanning from ancient Greece to the modern international spectacle, revived in the late 19th century. The ancient Olympic Games were a series of athletic and religious festivals held every four years at the sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia, Greece. Origin: The first recorded Olympic champion was Koroibos, a Greek cook, who won the stade (a 192-meter sprint race) in 776 BCE. However, it is widely believed the Games had been in existence for some time before that. Purpose: The Games were held in honor of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. A temporary cessation of hostilities, known as the Olympic Truce, was announced to allow athletes and spectators safe passage to and from Olympia. Events and Participants: Initially, the Games consisted of only one running event. Over time, other sports like wrestling, boxing (pankration), long jump, discus, and chariot racing were added. Only freeborn Greek men were allowed to compete, and they typically did so in the nude. Decline: The Games began to lose importance after the Roman conquest of Greece and were eventually abolished around 393 CE by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I due to their pagan associations. Modern Olympics After a hiatus of nearly 1,500 years, the Olympic Games were revived in the late 19th century. Founder: Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator and historian, is credited as the driving force behind the modern Olympic movement. He founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. First Modern Games: The first modern Olympics took place in Athens, Greece, in 1896. This inaugural event featured 241 male athletes from 14 nations competing in 43 events. Winners received a silver medal and an olive branch, not a gold medal. Evolution: Women's Participation: Women first competed in the 1900 Paris Games, though only in a few sports. Winter Olympics: The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, in 1924, to feature snow and ice sports. Paralympics and Youth Games: The Paralympic Games for athletes with disabilities began in 1960 in Rome, and the Youth Olympic Games for younger athletes were introduced in 2010. Professionalism: The Games were initially limited to amateurs, but in recent decades most events have been opened to professional athletes. Today, the Summer and Winter Games alternate every two years and involve thousands of athletes from almost every nation worldwide, promoting a spirit of international peace and cooperation.