OLYMPIC TRUCE

Just how far back in history organized athletic contests were held remains a matter of debate, but it is reasonably certain that they occurred in Greece almost 3,000 years ago. However, in ancient origin, by the end of the 6th century BC at least four Greek sporting festivals, sometimes called "folk games," had achieved greater importance: the Olympic Games, held at Olympia; the Pythian Games at Delphi; the Nemean Games at Nemea; and the Isthmian games, held near Corinth. Later, similar festivals were held in nearly 150 cities as far afield as Rome, Naples, Varna, Antioch, and Alexandria Of all the games held throughout Greece, the Olympic Games were the most famous.