The Olympics are called the Olympics because they are an Olympia, and the birthplace of the games in 1776 B.C. With the Rio 2016 games in full swing here are seven historical games to remember what started it all.
1. Tug of War
First a team sport under Track and Field, teams are called Clubs and a country can enter multiple clubs to increase chances of winning a medal. As far as rules it's the exact same sport you remember for field day in fifth grade.
2. Jeu De Paume
Also known as "palm game" is a ball and court game that is known as the precursor to modern tennis. Imagine a game of tennis but instead of racquets it's your bare hands hitting a ball. Later versions use racquets and was the early version of Squash
3. Life Saving
Imagine Life Saving as your average lifeguard on duty at the beach. The sport originated in Sydney, Australia to combat the high number of drownings. Teams compete In a number of saving drills such as ski and boat races.
4. Distance Plunging
In this event athletes would dive into a pool and stay underwater using no limbs while on their stomach. After 60 seconds passed or the athlete floated to the top, whichever comes first, the winner would be announced based on how far the athlete drifted. This is an event that any lazy person could appreciate.
5. Single Synchronized Swimming
Despite being the biggest oxymoron in history, this sport required female swimmers to be synchronized with the music and perform gracefully in water. Since the sport didn't have much respect in the aquatic world it was later turned into a team sport.
6. Kite Flying
The same childhood pastime we know and love was a one time Olympic event. Kites were split into three categories - small, medium and large. Each category could be one by having the kite with the highest altitude and a kite that stated in the air the longest with 200-meters of cable. All events in each category were one by France
7. Prankration
The sport is a combination of boxing and wrestling. The only rules were that players are not allowed to make contact including gorging each other's eyes and biting one another. Not a event that will ever make a triumphant return any time soon.
