The Olympic Games have a rich history dating back to ancient Greece. It is believed that the games were first held in Olympia, Greece in 776 BC in honor of the Greek god Zeus. The games were very important to the Greeks and were held every four years, marking a period of peace known as the Olympic truce. Originally, the Olympics consisted of just one event: a running race called the stadion. Over time, more events were added including wrestling, long jump, discus throw, javelin throw, and chariot racing. The games were open to male athletes from all Greek city-states, regardless of their social status. The ancient Olympics continued for nearly 12 centuries until they were abolished by Roman emperor Theodosius I in 393 AD. It wasn't until 1896 that the modern Olympic Games were revived by French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece and featured 241 athletes from 14 nations competing in 43 events. Today, the Olympic Games are the biggest international multi-sport event in the world, with thousands of athletes from over 200 countries competing in a wide range of sports. The games continue to promote peace, unity, and friendly competition among nations, carrying on the tradition of the ancient Greeks.