Shaun White (snowboarding star) withdraws from Slopestyle- Course too dangerous

[TorchTheWitch]

42. well, no - gladiators were Roman slaves

The Olympics came from Greece (the word "olympics" comes from the word "Olympia" the town in which the athletic competitions ("games&quot were originally held the purpose of which was to honor the Greek gods - particularly, Zeus - as well as to attempt to spread the corresponding religious beliefs though the Olympics of ancient Greece could be quite political. Athletes were the representatives of city-states within Greece as at the time Greece was a conglomeration of separate kingdoms rather than a single country, and no representative was allowed to participate without being able to prove they were in fact of Greek ancestry. Typical events were running and jumping competitions as well as feats of strength and wrestling, however, events of religious significance as well as artistic competitions were also part of the games. They were held every four years (called an "olympiad" which was an actual measure of time in ancient Greece).

Greece didn't have gladiators as the gladiator spectator blood sport was a Roman custom that made certain slaves into fighters called gladiators for the amusement of the people both commoners and the nobility (remember Spartacus?). Some people even those of the nobility became gladiators for the fame and possibility of great and relatively quick fortune giving up all human rights and becoming slaves in order to do so.

The Olympic games in Greece were halted when Christian Rome conquered and ruled Greece since Rome wanted to assert the new Christian religion upon the conquered peoples, therefore, a friendly competition the purpose of which was to honor the Greek gods and spread those religious beliefs besides the promotion of peace and friendliness between Mediterranean kingdoms was certainly counter-productive to Christian Rome.

So no, gladiators have nothing at all to do with the original Olympics of ancient Greece, nor did they involve any events that would permanently injure or kill the athlete representatives though there was more than likely a few unfortunate accidents that occurred here and there throughout the span of time. However, compared to the relatively tame athletic competitions of the Olympics of ancient Greece, at present competitions are FAR FAR more dangerous and likely to cause injury or even death. Further since the principle object of the original Olympics of ancient Greece was to promote peace and friendliness between Mediterranean factions there would not have been any games that even resembled anything threatening such as fighting and certainly would not have involved any events the could be in any possible way a blood sport... sword fighting or any other vicious or war-like events when gladiator fighting was ONLY for the purpose of entertainment for the watchers of a blood sport where competitors were MEANT to fight and even kill each other would in no way have occurred. In fact, the purpose of the Roman gladiator blood sport and the entire intention of the Olympics of ancient Greece are in fact polar opposites.

The continued tradition of the Olympics in more modern times was also begun for the purpose of the promotion of peace and friendliness toward other countries even those at war as just like in ancient Greece, there is and was an Olympic "truce" - in ancient times so that the representatives participating could safely travel to the games as well as their safety be ensured while participating and traveling back home which is also the same tradition adopted for the Olympic games of the more modern era... and why the massacre of the Israeli athletes at the games was viewed with more than horror (because of it happening during the games and to Olympics athletes) and how frowned upon it was for the USA to boycott the Olympics as well as the subsequent boycott of the USSR in retaliation as it went against the purpose of the continued Olympic tradition in more modern times.