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Olympic Games
There is a great debate regarding the actual date the Olympics were created, although historical documents claim the original games first took place around 776 BC at Olympia, in ancient Greece, and consisted of only one race. The Olympic Games as we know them today, began in 1896 in Athens, Greece. Many historians believe that the games began as way to honour important individuals. Over the years more events were added until, in approximately 394 AD, the games officially ended. The Roman Emperor, Theodosius, thought the celebrations and events were too pagan in nature, and that the quality of the event had declined. Over the next 1500 years, the Olympics were virtually forgotten. In 1875 a team of archaeologists uncovered the ancient ruins of the Stadium of Olympia. Upon seeing the ruins, a French educator named Baron Pierre de Coubertin was inspired to organize a modern version of the games.

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