The first Olympic Games were held in Greece nearly three thousand years ago.
Every four years, men travelled from many cities to the town of Olympia.
While the Games lasted, wars between the cities had to stop.
At first there was only one race, a run of about two hundred meters.
Later came wrestling, boxing and chariot races.
Winners received no money, only a crown of olive leaves.
However, they became heroes in their home towns.
The Games ended in the fourth century, and they only returned in Athens in 1896.
Words in this story
- first
- number one in order
- Olympic
- of the Olympics
- be
- is / am / are / was
- hold
- to have in your hands or arms
- nearly
- almost
- year
- twelve months
- ago
- before now
- man
- an adult male
- travel
- to go to places
- city
- a large town
- town
- a place smaller than a city
- last
- the one before this
- war
- fighting between countries
- have
- to own; helper verb (has tasted)
- stop
- to end moving or doing something
- there
- in that place
- only
- no more than; just
- race
- a contest of speed
- run
- to move quickly on foot
- meter
- a unit of length
- later
- after some time
- come
- to move toward a place
- wrestling
- a sport of holding and throwing
- boxing
- a sport of fighting with fists
- chariot
- an old two-wheeled cart pulled by horses
- winner
- a person who wins
- receive
- to get
- money
- what you use to buy things
- crown
- a circle worn on the head
- olive
- a small fruit from which oil is made
- leaf
- a flat green part of a plant
- however
- but
- become
- to start to be
- hero
- a person admired for brave acts
- home
- the place where you live
- end
- the last part
- fourth
- number 4 in order
- century
- 100 years
- return
- to come back