Elia, in the Peloponnese, home to Olympia

Olympia, on the banks of the Olfios River is an archeological site rich in the remains of old buildings and history. The games began ‘officially’ in 776 BC and were held every 4 years though there is evidence that they actually began long before. During the games a truce in any wars or conflicts was declared and athletes competed on the playing field rather then the battlefield.



They were finally ended in 393 AD by Theodocious I but revived again in 1896 by the French Historian and Educator Pierre de Coubertin.

They have continued to this day and many Greeks feel the games should be returned to their ancient site to eliminate the corruption and competition which takes place as each city tries to host it. Though I doubt that would eliminate the corruption it would at least centralize it.

Besides that, the idea of turning this beautiful area into a modern Olympic village with all the commercial trappings that come with it is an obscene idea which I doubt many people would take seriously.

Click here to visit OLYMPIA.

Used with permission from Matt Barrett's Greece Travel Guide