The Olympics started in ancient Greece, at Olympia in the Peloponnese, as religious athletic festivals held in honor of Zeus.

Quick Scoop

  • The first recorded Olympic Games were held at Olympia in 776 BCE, though athletic festivals there likely began earlier.
  • Olympia was a sacred site with temples and altars, and the Games were part of a religious festival dedicated to Zeus.
  • Athletes and spectators came from all over the Greek world to compete and watch every four years.
  • The word “Olympic” comes from Olympia, not Mount Olympus itself, though the name also evokes the home of the Greek gods.

In short: when you ask “where did the Olympics start,” the answer is the sanctuary of Olympia in southwestern Greece, nearly 3,000 years ago.

TL;DR: The Olympic Games began around 776 BCE at the sacred site of Olympia in ancient Greece, as part of religious festivals honoring Zeus.

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