Why were the Greeks encouraged to participate in sports?
546363
The Olympic Games were held in four year intervals, and later the Greek method of counting the years even referred to these Games, using the term Olympiad for the period between two Games. The Greeks in historical times used the Olympiads to count years, much as we today use AD and BC. "Diodorus states that there was a solar eclipse in the third year of the 117th Olympiad, which must be the eclipse of 310 BC. This gives us a date of (mid-summer) 776 for the first year of the first Olympiad". Nevertheless, there is disagreement among scholars whether the games truly began at this time or not.
910419
Snap ~\n             It was the Greeks that held actual Fighting Competitions compared to the Romans who loved when men fought with swords, spears and shields and fought to the death. The Greeks thought there was mor honor in fighting with just ones hands instead of weapontry and let the beaten one live in the hopes he could redeem himself in fighting again.\n\n             The Greeks did everything naked back in the day and yes Snap, fighting was one of them.
312918
fencing was played by the greeks in the olympics, who first introduced it.
859618
a few years back, there was an olympic swimming event that had a european nation that was new to the olympics (at least in that event). it was one of the prequalifying runs, and the guy swimming was nowhere near finishing in time for the event, but he just wouldnt stop, and the crowd went NUTS. they didnt care where he was from, they didnt care that he wasnt going to win, they just were cheering on a guy who was clearly pushing himself, and didnt give in. even when he knew he lost, he was going to finish for him, and his ppl. THAT was a great moment in my book.
102734
I don't remember exactly, but it has something to do with guy in Greece running that far to give the news that they won the battle/war.  He got to the city (Marathon possibly) said, "Nike," which means victory, and died.
748587
The first Olympics took place in 776 BC at Olympia in the Greek district of Elis, on the banks of the Pinios River on the Greek penninsula.  It was some distance from the urban center of Athens and from other city-states, and most of the time was a sleepy backwater where nothing much happened.  This shows the location.  http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=4347\n\nThe ancient Olympic games were a sacred festival, and all enmities between city-states were suspended for the duration of the games.  A sacred truce held sway during the games.\n\nInitially the Games consisted of nothing more than a footrace, but gradually over time other events were added.  The events were built around the kinds of things that men might have to do in war:  javelin throws, discus, footrace, and the wrestling/fighting matches.  At first the games were deemed to be the test of a warrior and there were no specialist athletes, but over time that changed.  Athletes began to specialize in events, to the point where the all-around athlete of the type haled as the ideal when the games first started was essentially pushed out of competition by the specialists.  \n\nAthletic games were a part of Greek culture even before the Olympics began.  Homer cites the funeral games held during the Trojan war, and even then the tradition of having games as part of a religious celebration wasn't new.  Games of various sorts were held all over the greater Greek territories by all men of Greek heritage.  The Olympics were conceived as a pan-Greek religious festival where people came together to worship and compete.
211508
A History of the Olympics\n\nAccording to legend, the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Heracles (the Roman Hercules), a son of Zeus. Yet the first Olympic Games for which we still have written records were held in 776 BCE (though it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years already). At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, Coroebus (a cook from Elis), won the sole event at the Olympics, the stade - a run of approximately 192 meters (210 yards). This made Coroebus the very first Olympic champion in history.\n\nThe ancient Olympic Games grew and continued to be played every four years for nearly 1200 years. In 393 CE, the Roman emperor Theodosius I, a Christian, abolished the Games because of their pagan influences.\n\nApproximately 1500 years later, a young Frenchmen named Pierre de Coubertin began their revival. Coubertin is now known as le Rénovateur. Coubertin was a French aristocrat born on January 1, 1863. He was only seven years old when France was overrun by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Some believe that Coubertin attributed the defeat of France not to its military skills but rather to the French soldiers' lack of vigor.* After examining the education of the German, British, and American children, Coubertin decided that it was exercise, more specifically sports, that made a well-rounded and vigorous person. ....
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It is a physical activity played to a set of rules - that is the gist of the definition I found answering a previous question.\n\nThis means that pretty much anything from athletics to beer-chugging can be considered a sport.\n\nIf you want to get historical then it should conform to the Olympian ideas of running, throwing and fighting ... or "American football" :-)
263681
its fun?\nmost sports were invented for fun!
121640
Before the advent of inexpensive air travel, the U.S. was isolated from the Europe when it came to sports. It just took too long for athletes to travel to Europe or Asia to compete in sports.  Sports that were developed here, were played here. As with all culture, you tend to play the sports that you played growing up. Take a look at cricket and (men's) field hockey -- they are primarily played in countries that were once part of the British Empire, and not much in other places.
685109
Probably because it's relatively easy to play.  Only a ball is needed, and no other specialized equipment, so even children in poor countries can afford to play it, which builds its popularity.  It doesn't hurt that the teams are large and everyone gets involved, either.
341323
You speak about ancient Greece of course, because modern Greeks believe in Christianism (they are orthodox Cristians)\n\n\nGods in ancient Greeece (Olympians), are all part of a huge family, spanning multiple generations. The oldest of the gods were responsible for the creation of the world. \nIn many epic poems, the twelve Olympians are said to have appeared in person. The gods performed miracles, instructed people in various areas of practical knowledge, taught people methods of worship, rewarded good behavior and chastised immorality, and even had children with themselves or mortals.\nThe ancient Greeks imagined them as being very like humans  they also got married,  got angry and jealous, they were sometimes wise and good, but they were sometimes also foolish and full of tricks.\nThe Olympians are a group of 12 gods who ruled after the overthrow of the Titans. All the Olympians are related in some way. They are named after their dwelling place, Mount Olympus. The Olympian Gods are: Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Ares, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes, Artemis, Hephaestus. \n\nThe ancient Greeks believed in gods and goddesses to help them explain the way the world and the universe worked.
616579
Athletes don't compete in the Olympics to break records. They compete to celebrate sports, represent their countries and to win Olympic medals.\n\nSo long as there is sports, so long will the Olympic games flourish.
90018
Because the first gathering of athletes to determine who was the champion of their sport was held on Mount Olympus, in Greece in ancient times.
358736
Because people have differnt interests in sports.Football isn't the only sport most people play.Somedon't like it and some do.
485468
I think they are a reflection of the American economic system. Trying to gain an edge over your opponent by any means possible. Through use of superior technique,teamwork, leadership and making the best of ones natural gifts the opponent is outmaneuvered and defeated. \n\nIt's a healthy outlet for ones energy in a society where there are so many unhealthy choices.\n\nOver the years popularity grew and expanded until these days sports are a big, money earning form of entertainment.
399399
because most people don't consider it a main stream sport? or a sport at all for that matter!