The Rio Olympics will be the 31st Summer Games of the modern era, but they have a long way to go before they can compete with nearly 12 centuries of ancient Olympics.

Here’s a history lesson on the modern Games and their ancient origins. An exact date is unknown, but the International Olympic Committee cites 776 BC as the first recorded Olympic Games.

The Summer and Winter Olympics occur every four years to “respect the ancient origins of the Olympic Games.” A period of four years was called an “Olympiad,” in ancient Greece.

The first modern Olympics was held in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Like the ancient games, the first modern Games featured a field of all male competitors. Most Olympians were soldiers.

The Olympics: Ancient versus Modern. By Dr Stephen Instone Last updated 2011-02-17. Today's Olympic Games are based on what took place at Olympia, in Greece, nearly three millennia ago.

As a professor of classical studies, I’ve noticed some remarkable differences and similarities between the modern and ancient Olympic Games.The medals, the torch relay and events for females ...

In 776 B.C.E., spectators gathered in Olympia, Greece, to watch a simple footrace. Thus began the ancient Olympics, the classical sporting competition that continued for more than a millennium ...

The Olympics - both the long-gone ancient version and the modern equivalent unspooling this month - have deep religious and spiritual roots, which, some scholars say, are in jeopardy as every host ...

As the Tokyo Olympics get underway, take a look back at the first modern Olympic games over 100 years ago. ... just like in ancient Greece, involve fierce competition and drama on and off the field.

The Rio Olympics will be the 31st Summer Games of the modern era, but they have a long way to go before they can compete with nearly 12 centuries of ancient Olympics.

The Rio Olympics will be the 31st Summer Games of the modern era, but they have a long way to go before they can compete with nearly 12 centuries of ancient Olympics.