Long ago ancient Greeks often waged wars. Small states suffered and lost much even if they did not take any side and stayed out of wars. The ruler of such a small state, Elis, wanted to live in peace with all neighbours. He was a good diplomat because his negotiations were successful and Elis was recognized a neutral state. To celebrate this achievement, he organized athletic games.
In the beginning this feast lasted one day, but later a whole month was devoted to it. All wars and feuds were stopped by special heralds who rode in all directions of Greece.
The games were held every four years in Olympia on the territory of Elis. The first games which later were called the Olympic Games were held about a thousand years before our era.
Usually the Olympic Games began before the middle of the summer^ Best athletes arrived from many Greek states to Olympia to compete in running, long jumps, throwing of discus and javelin and wrestling. In the course of time fist fighting (boxing) and chariot races were also included in the Games.
All athletes took an oath that they had been preparing well for the Games and promised to compete honestly and keep the rules of the sacred Olympics. The athletes took part in all kinds of competitions. Winners were called «olympionics», they were awarded olive wreaths and cups of olive oil. This tradition has survived. In our time sportsmen often get cups and wreaths for winning the first place in sports competitions.
The olympionics of ancient Greece became very popular. Best craftsmen were chosen to make honourary cups, many poets wrote and recited in public poems about the best athletes. Sculptors made their statues which were put up at the birthplace of the winners.
The Olympic Games were accompanied by arts festivals. Poets recited their poems, singers sang hymns dancers danced and orators pronounced speeches — all this in honour of the sacred Games.
Only men could take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not allowed even to watch the competitions at the stadium under the fear of death penalty. There was a single exception, when a woman coached her son and accompanied him to the stadium in men's clothes. That brave woman was spared the penalty because her son excelled in many events.
Magnificent strong bodies inspired artists and sculptors. They painted wall pictures and made statues of marble and bronze, so now we can admire the corporal beauty of ancient and eternally young discus thrower, javelin bearer and others.
The Olympic Games had been held for about eleven hundred years, until the emperor Theodosius banned them for religious reasons in 394 A. D.
The revival of the Olympic Games began long time afterwards, in 1892, when a young French teacher Pierre de Coubertin made a public speech before the Union of French sports clubs in Paris.
At that time many people in many countries practised various kinds of sports and games. They wanted to make friends and compete with sportsmen from other lands. Pierre de Coubertin understood the importance of sports which unified peoples of the world and served the cause of peace like in ancient time.
On the 23rd of June 1894 the International Congress of amateur sportsmen made an important decision: to revive the Olympic Games and to establish the International Olympic Committee which would be responsible for the administration of the modern-Olympic Games.
The first Committee consisted of 12 members. Now 82 members of the International Olympic Committee control the affairs of all member countries which joined the Olympic movement.
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Некоторые люди считают, что компьютерные игры лучше чем жизнь, но почему? они увлекаются параллельными мирами, графикой, самим компьютером, компьютерным параллельным миром. сюжеты игр привлекают людей, они заинтересовываются игрой, пробуют сам сюжет, пробуют сыграть в нее, а потом становятся зависимы. но ведь они не всегда хотели этого, как же так случилось? некоторые люди становятся заложниками компьютерных игр с детства, ими родители завлекают , чтобы они хоть немного спокойно посидели, не мешая. так дети привыкают, ищут все новые и новые возможности в играх, привыкают окончательно, так как в детстве они даже не знали, как хорошо играть с друзьями во дворе, на свежем воздухе, в веселые подвижные игры. другие же просто хотят отдалиться от своих проблем в жизни, они желают отмахнуться от них, делают вид, что для них это не важно, погрязнув в компьютерные игры с головой. из-за недостатка общения, может, из-за того, что они устали жить обыкновенной рутинной жизнью. ну, а третьи в компьютерный плен только по своей глупости. им лень заниматься обычными повседневными делами, лень ходить гулять и даже просто пообщаться с друзьями, они просто не понимают, как хорошо жить по настоящему, жить здесь и сейчас, а не где-то в небытие. эти людям просто лень жить в настоящем мире. многим людям мир компьютерных игр кажется привлекательней, да, может, и интересно победить своих врагов в игре, радостно обогнать кого-то в рейтинге, но а если задуматься? что они запомнят в конце жизни, что у них будет? первое место в рейтинге какой либо там игры, что скоро станет никому не интересной и статус самого лучшего игрока просто забудется или вообще исчезнет? в голове останутся воспоминания только о компьютере, мыши и клавиатуре, что не могла с никем из них поговорить, поиграть в подвижные игры? под конец жизни только это и останется, если вы не будете ценить жизнь. не нужны вам игры, что заполняют просторы интернета, не нужны вам первые места в них, они все равно исчезнут, воспоминаний о миллионе одинаковых и банальных играх исчезнут и что останется? совершенно. не надо сидеть за компьютером, лучше пробегитесь с друзьями до катка или игровой площадки. не надо играть в игры на компьютере, лучше сыграйте их в живую. и не надо занимать первые места в этих же компьютерных играх, лучше потрудитесь над первым местом в реальной жизни, потренируйтесь для этого, стремитесь к этому. многие считают, что компьютерные игры лучше реальной жизни, но это не что же дает вам такого компьютер, чего не может дать вам жизнь?
The History of the Olympic Games
Long ago ancient Greeks often waged wars. Small states suffered and lost much even if they did not take any side and stayed out of wars. The ruler of such a small state, Elis, wanted to live in peace with all neighbours. He was a good diplomat because his negotiations were successful and Elis was recognized a neutral state. To celebrate this achievement, he organized athletic games.
In the beginning this feast lasted one day, but later a whole month was devoted to it. All wars and feuds were stopped by special heralds who rode in all directions of Greece.
The games were held every four years in Olympia on the territory of Elis. The first games which later were called the Olympic Games were held about a thousand years before our era.
Usually the Olympic Games began before the middle of the summer^ Best athletes arrived from many Greek states to Olympia to compete in running, long jumps, throwing of discus and javelin and wrestling. In the course of time fist fighting (boxing) and chariot races were also included in the Games.
All athletes took an oath that they had been preparing well for the Games and promised to compete honestly and keep the rules of the sacred Olympics. The athletes took part in all kinds of competitions. Winners were called «olympionics», they were awarded olive wreaths and cups of olive oil. This tradition has survived. In our time sportsmen often get cups and wreaths for winning the first place in sports competitions.
The olympionics of ancient Greece became very popular. Best craftsmen were chosen to make honourary cups, many poets wrote and recited in public poems about the best athletes. Sculptors made their statues which were put up at the birthplace of the winners.
The Olympic Games were accompanied by arts festivals. Poets recited their poems, singers sang hymns dancers danced and orators pronounced speeches — all this in honour of the sacred Games.
Only men could take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not allowed even to watch the competitions at the stadium under the fear of death penalty. There was a single exception, when a woman coached her son and accompanied him to the stadium in men's clothes. That brave woman was spared the penalty because her son excelled in many events.
Magnificent strong bodies inspired artists and sculptors. They painted wall pictures and made statues of marble and bronze, so now we can admire the corporal beauty of ancient and eternally young discus thrower, javelin bearer and others.
The Olympic Games had been held for about eleven hundred years, until the emperor Theodosius banned them for religious reasons in 394 A. D.
The revival of the Olympic Games began long time afterwards, in 1892, when a young French teacher Pierre de Coubertin made a public speech before the Union of French sports clubs in Paris.
At that time many people in many countries practised various kinds of sports and games. They wanted to make friends and compete with sportsmen from other lands. Pierre de Coubertin understood the importance of sports which unified peoples of the world and served the cause of peace like in ancient time.
On the 23rd of June 1894 the International Congress of amateur sportsmen made an important decision: to revive the Olympic Games and to establish the International Olympic Committee which would be responsible for the administration of the modern-Olympic Games.
The first Committee consisted of 12 members. Now 82 members of the International Olympic Committee control the affairs of all member countries which joined the Olympic movement.