The+History+of+the+Olympics

THE HISTORY OF THE OLYMPICS If we're going to go by Roman Legend, the Olympic games were founded by Heracles, one of Zeus' sons. However, the earliets record of Olympic games are from 776 BCE, though it it believed that the games had been held for many years beforehand. At the games in 776 BCE, only one event was held - the stade. This was a run of about 192 metres and was one by a naked runner, Coroebus, who then became the first (recorded) Olympic champion in history.

After that, the games grew, being played every four years for just under 1200. The Christian Roman Emporer, Theodosius the First, abolished the Olympic Games because he believed they had pagan influences.