The revival of the modern Olympic Games, by Oluwanifemi Olajide

The modern Olympic Games began in 1896. The opening games were held in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece. This marked the rebirth of the ancient Olympic Games, which were originally celebrated between 776 BCE and 393 CE. The Olympic Games have grown into a major international sporting event, held in major cities around the world such as Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Los Angeles, Beijing and Tokyo, and offering almost every country the opportunity to be represented.

The ancient Olympic Games began in a small town in Olympia, Greece, in 776 B.C.E. The event took place every four years and was a religious festival in honor of Zeus, the god of the sky and thunder in ancient Greek mythology, who ruled as the king of the gods of Mount Olympus. The statue of Zeus is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

In the early days, the original event of the Olympic Games was the Stade Race (Stade), a 192-meter running race. Over the years, other events were added, such as diaulos, wrestling, chariot racing, hoplitodromos (a race in which athletes run in full armor), and pentathlon (long jump, javelin throwing, etc.). Other events that were included were religious ceremonies, sacrifices, feasts, and cultural events such as readings, poetry, and music.

The ancient Olympic Games were both a religious and cultural festival as well as an athletic competition, dedicated to Zeus, in which competitors from different regions within the Greek states took part.

The modern era

The modern Olympic Games began in 1896. The opening games were held in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece. This marked the rebirth of the ancient Olympic Games, which were originally celebrated between 776 BCE and 393 CE. The Olympic Games have grown into a major international sporting event held in major cities around the world, including Paris, Berlin, Moscow, Los Angeles, Beijing, and Tokyo, and in which almost any country can be represented. The Games also provide the host city and country with an opportunity to showcase themselves to the world. This unique event is celebrated every four years. The Youth Olympic Games have been held in 47 cities and 27 countries on five continents. Host cities are selected by the members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), usually seven years in advance. However, hosting the Olympic Games can also bring significant economic and tourism benefits as well as challenges to the host city. This global event promotes cultural diversity and international cooperation.

Letsile Tebogo

One of the track and field champions who stood out at the 2024 Olympic Games was Letsile Tebogo. The rising star hails from Botswana, a landlocked country in southern Africa. History was made on August 8 when the young star won the gold medal for Africa in the 200-meter sprint, marking the continent’s first victory in the Olympic event in its 128-year history. Tebogo’s victory was dedicated to his irreplaceable mother who passed away in May. He proudly showed the world his spikes, which were engraved with his mother’s date of birth and her initials painted on his fingernails. He said his mother believed in him even when he doubted himself, noting that he was confident she would be proud of him in heaven. His victory gives hope, birth and resilience to the African sprinting community and to the next generation.

It is rather sad that Nigeria and her sister nation Ghana did not win a single medal in these Olympic Games. Many of their citizens represented Western countries. Yet I expressed the spirit of Pan-Africanism during the recently concluded Olympic Games by cheering and also celebrating both the victories and the participation of Africa and her diaspora in the Caribbean, America and Europe.

Believe Kipyegon

Kenya is home to world-class long-distance athletes. Faith Kipyegon was the Olympic and world record holder in the women’s 1500m in both Paris (2024) and Tokyo (2021). This phenomenal 30-year-old athlete is a four-time world champion, with titles in the 1500m (2017, 2022), 5000m (2023) and a two-time silver medalist in the 1500m (2015, 2019). She has proven herself to the world as a worthy defending champion.

Kaylia Nemour and Tatjana Smith

Algerian and African gymnast, future sensation Kaylia Nemour, who is 17 years old, was the first African to ever win a gold medal. Another notable African was Tatjana Smith, the 27-year-old woman who hails from South Africa, who won gold and silver in the women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke, within a few days.

Closing thoughts

It is rather sad that Nigeria and her sister nation Ghana did not win a single medal in these Olympic Games. Many of their citizens represented Western countries. Yet I expressed the spirit of Pan-Africanism during the recently concluded Olympic Games by cheering and also celebrating both the victories and the participation of Africa and her diaspora in the Caribbean, America and Europe.

The famous Mongolian uniform at the Paris 2024 Olympics also caught my attention and that of the world for its elegance and profound cultural symbol. Michel and Amazonka, the excellent sister designers, said in an interview that they were inspired by traditional Mongolian clothing, with intricate embroidery and motifs such as the Soyombo symbol and Mongolian folklore. Each uniform is a tribute to Mongolia’s rich cultural heritage. The elegant collection took more than three months to create. The photos of the traditional clothing went viral and I virtually traveled to Mongolia.

Oluwanifemi Olajide is a student at the Vaal University of Technology in South Africa.