CHAPTER 1 TEAM SPORTS AT THE SUMMER GAMES Remains of the ancient Olympic stadium can still be found today in Olympia Greece
The ancient Olympic Games began more than 2 500 years ago lasted more than 500 years and included all kinds of fascinating events There was a running event called the stade For many years it was the only event at the Olympics Later there was horse racing chariot racing wrestling and boxing The stade was a foot race like a sprint
But one thing the ancient Olympics never had was team sports When the Olympics were permanently canceled in 393 AD it seemed as if there would never be any team sports in the Olympics But after a 2 000 year break the Olympics made a comeback The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens Greece in 1896 They featured 43 different events including track and field gymnastics swimming and much more But still there were no team sports A scene from the television miniseries The First Olympics Athens 1896
The rugby team from France won the Gold medal in 1900 All of that changed four years later In the 1900 Summer Olympics held in Paris France there were new team sports soccer water polo and rugby Finally FYL A new form of basketball is coming to the Olympics in 2020 It's called 3x3 because there are only three players per side
