The first ancient Olympic Games can be traced back to 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. The Games held significant religious importance and were celebrated in the honor of the Greek god Zeus. To keep athletes and spectators safe, an Olympic Truce was signed to allow safe travel during the Games and messengers journeyed from city to city to halt fighting.
After more than one thousand years of existence, the popularity of the Olympic Games began to decline as Christianity rose as the official religion of the Roman Empire. In 393 AD, emperor Theodosius banned the Games, which he considered a pagan festival.
The Olympic Games vanished until 1896, when Pierre de Coubertin revived the Games in Athens, Greece. The modern Olympic Games preserved many of the ancient customs while introducing some of its own. At their core, the modern Games retain the original values of friendship, fair play, joy in effort, hope and inspiration in an effort to achieve peace and harmony. Included in these modern traditions are the Olympic Rings, the Olympic torch relay, the introduction of the Winter Games in 1924 and the debut of the Paralympic Games for athletes competing with a disability in 1960.
The revival of the Olympic Games in 1896 attracted athletes from 14 nations; now, more than 200 countries participate. Keeping the Olympic tradition alive, the Olympic and Paralympic Games are held every four years, alternating summer and winter Games so that one is held every two years.