The Olympic Games
Created | Updated Apr 27, 2002
The Olympic Games, like most traditions, began as the result of a small feud which quickly got out of hand. In ancient times, one of the most popular pastimes was trying to make feuds get out of hand, and many of the sports practiced in the games were variations on the theme of Things to Throw at Enemies or Getting Away From Things Being Thrown At You.
The Olympics, then, came about as an organised event at which disputes could be settled in a sensible, hopefully non-painful way.