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Rodney Gross

Professor Golebiewski

Fundamentals of Communication 2025

24 September 2020

Central Idea: To Inform on the Events of the Ancient Olympic Games

I. Introduction

A. Attention Getters

1. Interesting Fact - The 2020 Summer Olympics would have held 339 events,

ranging across 39 sports.

2. Historical Background – “The first Olympics were held from 776 BCE at the

first full moon after the summer solstice (around the middle of July) in honour of Zeus. The

winner of the first and only event, the stadion foot-race was Koroibos of Elis…”

B. Purpose: The reason I’ve decided to share this is because I have a love for the Olympic

Games, and was motivated to share about it’s historic past.

C. Thesis: I will be informing you about the events of the Ancient Olympic Games, a

momentous period of sports and world history.

D. Three Main Points: In order to accomplish this I am going to break it into three

categories: the Pentathlon, the combat events, and the equestrian events.

E. Bridge: By a show of hands, how many of you run, specifically track and field?

II. Body

A. Anecdote: “If you are a runner, then would have done very well in the ancient

Olympics.”

B. Main Point #1: The first major category of the Olympics was the Pentathlon.
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1. Stade (stadion)

2. Diaulos

3. Dolichos

4. Jumping

5. Discus Throw

C. Interesting Fact: “The fighting contests, or ‘heavy sports’, as the Greeks called them,

were among the most popular events of the games… In each of these three sports, the athletes

fought naked.”

D. Main Point #2: The next major category of the Olympics were the combat events.

1. Boxing

2. Wrestling

3. Pankration

E. Interesting Fact: “Equestrian events were also unusual in that they were the only

discipline that allowed adult women to compete…  as long as a female contestant entered the

competition as an owner, this was considered to be within the rules.”

F. Main Point #3: The next major category of the Olympics were the equestrian events.

1. Four-horse chariot race (tethrippon)

2. Horseback races

3. Two chariot race

4. Apene

5. Kalpe

G. Bridge: “If I lived back then, without a doubt I would have been there.”

III. Conclusion
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A. Interesting Fact: “Even though there are many more games and no longer just 12

tribes, the Ancient Olympic Games have a foundational impact on the modern-day Olympiad.”

B. Inspirational Moment: “My biggest reason I wanted to share the events of these

Olympics with you is not only my love for the games, but impact it has when the world comes

together for a couple weeks in friendly sport.”

C. Restate Thesis: “Now that I’ve told you about the games: I hope you have a better

understanding and appreciation for these ancient games.

D. Summarize: “I explained a little bit of the history, expanded on each individual event,

and discussed the importance that they have on today’s games.”

E. Pertinent Information

1. Olympics Website

2. YouTube (reenactments)

3. 2021 Olympics: Friday, July 23 – Sunday, August 8 on NBC Networks

F. Final Words

1. Thank Audience: “Thank you for listening.”

2. Famous Quote: “I never lose, I either win or learn.” – Nelson Mandela

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Works Cited

“Ancient Olympic Sports - Running, Long Jump, Discus, Pankration.” International Olympic

Committee, 20 Dec. 2018, www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games/the-sports-events.

Bruner, Raisa. “Summer Olympics 2020: Where, When, What to Know, TV Schedule.” Time,

Time, 24 Mar. 2020, time.com/5689792/2020-tokyo-olympics-when-where/.

Cartwright, Mark. “Ancient Olympic Games.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History

Encyclopedia, 15 Sept. 2020, www.ancient.eu/Olympic_Games/.

“Combat Sports.” Ancient Olympics, ancientolympics.arts.kuleuven.be/eng/TC007EN.html.

“The Ancient Olympics: Bridging Past and Present.” OpenLearn,

www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/health/sport-and-fitness/the-ancient-

olympics-bridging-past-and-present/content-section-6.1.