The Olympic games where first held in 776bc,
they originated at least a century before that and possibly as early as the 13th century bc
One Greek legend said that Herakles won a race at olympia (a small state in Elis The race had been said that it will be held every four years.Another said that Zeus himself had originated the festival after defeating Cronus for the excellent of the power of heaven.
There where religious gatherings festivals to celebrate all the gods worshipped in common by all Hellenes, primarily Zeus. There were three other major pan-Hellenic festivals called:the Pythian, the Nemean, and the Isthmia.
The ancient Olympic where allot different from the modern games.
http://www.hickoksports.com/history/olancien.shtml
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/sports.html
