Lesson 2 The Mission ofthe Olympics
Pam3
What do you know about the history ofthe Olympics? "The Brst apcient Olympic
Games date backto 776 B.C。 The ancient Olympic Games were held every four yeare as
they are no "The Games were originally a onerday event but in 684 BLC. they were
tended to three days。 In the 5th century BC。 the Games were extended again and
became a 5verday event。 The Games included running boxing the long jump, the shot
ut。 the javelin throw and other events。 "The sncient Olympics continued for nearly 12
enturies。 untilthe Roman Empire conguered Greece
It took another 1.500 years before the Olympic Games rose again。 A man named
Pierre de Coubertin a baron of France, dedicated himaelfto the promotion ofeducational
reform for his country First。 he isited and obaerved some public achools in England.
He was fascinared by the phyeaical edveation there and he came to behieve thatthe power
fsporte could create a peaceful socicty: He began to think no only ofthe people in his
rm cuntry but also ofall the people in the world.
In 1894, the young baron proposed the idea ofreviwing the Olympics at a meeting of
the Union of Sporte Athletics in Paris。 He wanted to make the Games an international
athletic eompetition to be The Internaticnal Olympic Committee。
oe rlein the modern Olympic Game
