The word Olympic comes from ancient Greece and has both historical and modern meanings. Historically, it refers to Olympia, a sanctuary site in the Peloponnese region of Greece where the ancient Olympic Games were held every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD in honor of Zeus, king of the Greek gods. The ancient Games were called Olympiakoi Agones, meaning contests at Olympia, and athletes from Greek city-states competed in running, wrestling, boxing, chariot racing, and pentathlon. In modern usage, Olympic refers to the modern Olympic Games revived in 1896 by French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, which are international multi-sport events held every four years featuring Summer and Winter editions, with over 200 nations participating. The term also describes the Olympic Movement, which includes the International Olympic Committee, National Olympic Committees, and the values of excellence, friendship, and respect that guide the Games. Linguistically, Olympic is an adjective meaning relating to Mount Olympus, the mythical home of the Greek gods, or relating to Olympia or the Olympics, such as Olympic champion, Olympic Village, or Olympic spirit. It conveys ideas of excellence, global unity, and the pursuit of human limits, and is protected as a trademark that cannot be used commercially without permission from the IOC.
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