Sport in the Ancient World

The sport as we know it today is very different from it origin. However, we still find similarities between the ancient sport in Greece and Rome, and today's.

Sport was first developed in ancient Greece, and was used as a religious spiritual. To look athletic was also a very important factor, so body perspective can also been seen as a reason for sport in ancient Greece. To be successful in sport was seen as a gift from God. Every forth year the greeks would hold the Olympics, just like today. Interesting enough the played the sports naked. They played sports like running, javelin throw, discus throw, triple jump, boxing, wrestling and horse racing. To be able to compete in the Olympics you had to swore to God that you had been training well for the past ten months, and were worthy a spot in the Olympics. What is interesting is that everyone who had made the commitment was allowed to participate in the games. It did not matter if you were poor or rich! This reminds us of the "American Dream": Everyone has the abilities and opportunity to achieve something.

In acient Rome the sport was mainly for entertainment, rather than for religion. Slaves and criminals were forced to become "gladiators" which competed against each other to death in the big stadium called Colosseum. If you won enough games you could win your freedom. However, most gladiators died in the Colosseum. The stadium is actually the smallest area where most people have died throughout history! As a successful gladiator you would many fans, and thereby honor and rewards. This is not so far from today's sport.

It is interesting how both today's and the ancient sport value winning, success, achievement, progression and honor. It shows that though the sport has been through radically changes throughout history, the core of sport still remains the same.