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Writing a Summary
The goal of this exercise is to be able to write a summary of the following article using around 130 words.
Of all the games held throughout Greece, those staged at Olympia in honor of Zeus are the most
famous. The Games, like all Greek games, were an intrinsic part of a religious festival. Held every four
years between August 6 and September 19, they occupied such an important place in Greek life that time
was measured by the interval between them --- an Olympiad. Although the first Olympic champion listed
in the records was one Coroebus of Elis, a cook, who won the sprint race in 776 BC, it is generally
accepted that the Games were probably at least 500 years old at that time. According to one legend they
were founded by Heracles, son of Alcmene.
The Games were held at Olympia in the city-state of Elis, on a track about 32 metres (35 yards)
wide. The racing length was one stade, a distance of about 192 metres (210 yards) which was one length
of the track. At the meeting in 776 BC, there was apparently only one event, the stade, but other events
were added over the ensuing decades. In 724 BC a two-length race, diaulos, roughly similar to the 400-
metre race, was included and four years later the dolichos, a long-distance race possibly to be compared
to the modern 1500-or even 5000-metre event, was added. Wrestling and the pentathlon were introduced
in 708 BC. The latter was an all-around competition consisting of five events --- the long jump, javelin
throw, discus throw, foot race, and wrestling.
Boxing was introducing in 688 BC, and in 680 a chariot race. In 648 the pancratium, a kind of all-
strength, or no-holds-barred, wrestling was included. Kicking and hitting were allowed; only biting and
gouging (thrusting a finger or thumb into an opponent's eye) were forbidden. Between 632 and 616 BC
events for boys were introduced. And from time to time further events were added including contests for
fully armed soldiers, for heralds, and for trumpeters. The program must have been as varied as that of the
modem Olympics, although the athletics (track and field) events were limited: there was no high jumping
in any form and no individual field event, except in the pentathlon.
Until the 77th Olympiad (472 BC) all of the contests took place on one day; later they were
spread, with, perhaps, some fluctuation, over four days, with a fifth devoted to the closing ceremony
presentation of prizes and a banquet for the champions. Sources generally agree that women were not
allowed as competitors or, except for the priestess of Demeter, as spectators. In most events, the athletes
participated in the nude.
The Olympic Games were originally restricted to free-born Greeks. The competitors, including
those who came from the Greek colonies, were amateur in the sense that the only prize was a wreath or
garland. The athletes underwent a most rigorous period of supervised training, however, and eventually
the contestants were true professionals. Not only were there substantial prizes for winning, but the
Olympic champion also received adulation and unlimited benefits from his city. Athletes became fulltime
specialists --- a trend that in the modem games has caused a long and bitter controversy over amateurism.
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