Olympia, Greece

In a sunny valley in a country called Greece, the warm sun has been shining on my stones for thousands of years. I can feel the gentle breeze and hear the quiet gurgle of the Kladeos river flowing nearby. If you listen very closely, you might hear the echoes of things that happened long ago. Can you hear the sound of running feet? Can you hear the roar of a happy crowd cheering for their heroes? For a very long time, I was a place of joy, strength, and friendship. I am Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.

It all started as a special place to honor the Greek god, Zeus, way back around the 10th century BCE. People would come here to pray and celebrate. Then, in the year 776 BCE, we held the very first recorded Olympic Games. It was much simpler back then, with just one event: a footrace across my fields. The most wonderful part was the 'Olympic Truce.' This was a promise that all fighting between cities would stop during the games. It meant that athletes and their families could travel safely to compete with me. I wanted to be a place of peace. As I grew, people built a huge stadium for the races and a magnificent Temple of Zeus, which was finished around 456 BCE. Inside was a giant, sparkling statue of the god that was one of the wonders of the ancient world.

For more than a thousand years, athletes came to me to run, jump, and wrestle. But things change. In the year 393 CE, a Roman emperor decided the games must end. My crowds went silent. My fields became empty. I fell into a long, quiet sleep. Over hundreds of years, the river overflowed, and the earth slowly covered my beautiful temples and my stadium, keeping my stories safe. I slept and I dreamed of the cheers. Then, one day, people came looking for me. On October 22nd, 1875, archaeologists began to carefully dig, waking me from my slumber. They uncovered my secrets and brought my history back into the sunlight for the whole world to see.

My story of peaceful competition inspired people so much that they decided to start the games again. The modern Olympic Games began in 1896, and they still happen today. Before every single Olympics, a very special ceremony takes place right here where it all began. A flame is lit using the power of the sun, and this Olympic flame is carried by runners all the way to the city hosting the games. I may be ancient and my stones may be ruins, but my spirit is not. The flame that starts here carries a message of friendship, peace, and trying your best. I love knowing that my idea of bringing people together still burns brightly all around the world.