The Greeks lived to compete, and while a competitive spirit pushed them to greater heights, it also pulled them together.

Athletics in Ancient Greece was about much more than individual achievement. They saw that greater communities and a stronger sense of identity could be forged around athletic contests.

In 776 BC, the Greek world united around the first Olympic Games, and similar festivals throughout Greece became so important, city-states at war would enact temporary truces in order to attend.

Today, the modern Olympic Games brings nations together and spreads a message of peace, but could the Games somehow play a role in conflict resolution?

Scientists have found positive psychological correlations between fighting in a war and competing in combative sports. Could more organized conflict through sport lead to less conflict through war?

Video courtesy of The National Hellenic Society.