Title: The Olympic Games | Ancient Greece
Headings: The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games
The Olympic Sporting Events
The End and the Beginning

Content: The Romans allowed and enthusiastically supported the Olympic Games. Over the centuries, the Roman Empire slowly converted to the major force of the time, Christianity. Christians, once severely persecuted by the Romans for their rejection of Roman gods and their allegiance to a single God, became the official religion of the Empire when Emperor Theodosius converted to Christianity. In 394 AD, Emperor Theodosius outlawed the Olympic Games to help the Empire suppress pagan religions. The Games had lasted for twelve centuries. The Games were instrumental in the cultural development of the Western world. The influence of the Olympics were so powerful that the Games were reinstated in 1896. During the Renaissance, Europeans developed a new found fascination and admiration of ancient Greek culture. Later, some European countries began implementing informal athletic events and festivals using the old name of The Olympic Games. In 1892, a French baron, Pierre de Coubertin, a Greek and Olympic Games enthusiast, proposed to various sporting and political leaders that the Olympic Games should be reinstated.