Ancient Olympic Games Ancient Olympic Games The ancient Olympic Games were originally a festival, or celebration of and for Zeus; later, events such as a footrace, a javelin contest, and wrestling matches were added. The Olympic Games (, "Olympia", "the Olympics"; also , , "the Olympiad") were a series of athletic competitions among representatives of city-states and one of the Panhellenic Games of ancient Greece. They were held in honor of Zeus, and the Greeks gave them a mythological origin. The first Olympics is traditionally dated to 776 BC. They continued to be celebrated when Greece came under Roman rule, until the emperor
London 2012 Olympic Torch easily carried by bearers of all ages; the youngest torchbearer in the relay was twelve, and the oldest 100 years. Its height allows it to be easily viewed over the top of crowds. The London 2012 Paralympic Torch is the same design, albeit with a mirror-finish. The design of the torch has been widely acclaimed. The Torch was named the Design Museum's 2012 'Design of the Year'. London 2012 Olympic Torch The London 2012 Olympic Torch was carried around the UK for 70 days in the London 2012 Torch Relay, from 19 May to 27 July 2012. Designed by British