The Olympic Athlete :: essays research papers

The prodigious supporter     I always have respected Olympic athletes, for they spend all their timetraining. Victorious athletes were professionals in the sense that they livedoff the glory of their exertion ever afterwards. Their hometowns might rewardthem with free meals for the rest of their lives, honorary ap period of time manpowerts, orleadership positions in the community. The victors were memorialized in statuesand also in victory songs, and accredited from famous poets.     Today, the Olympic Games are the worlds largest pageant of athleticskill and hawkish spirit. They are also displays of nationalism, commerceand politics. These two opposing elements of the Olympics are non a innovationalinvention. The conflict between the Olympic movements high ideals and thecommerce or political acts, which accompany the Games, has been noted since superannuated times. The ancient Olympic Games, part of a major religious festivalhonoring Ze us, the primary(prenominal) classical god, were the biggest events in their world. Theywere the scenes of political rivalries between people from different move ofthe Greek world, and the put of controversies, boasts, public announcements andhumiliations. Ancient athletes competed as separates, 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 attained this ideal, through their outstanding wrangling ordeeds, won permanent glory and fame. Those who failed to measure up to this computer 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 analytical to hold a recurring athletic competition at the siteof a major temple. Also, Olympia is convenient geogr aphically to reach by ship,which was a major concern for the Greeks. Athletes and spectators traveled fromGreek colonies as further away as modern-day Spain, the Black Sea, or Egypt.     Athletics were a key part of education in ancient Greece. Many Greeksbelieved that exploitation the body was equally important as improving the mindfor boilersuit health. Also, regular exercise was important in a society where menwere always needed for military service. Platos Laws specifically mentions howathletics greatly change military skills. Greek youth therefore worked out inthe palestra (wrestling-school) whether they were serious Olympic contenders ornot.     Ancient competitors were required to train at Olympia for a month beforethe Games officially started, like modern competitors at the Olympic. Young menworked with athletic trainers who used long sticks to point out incorrect body