The origin of the Olympic Games is linked with many myths referred to in ancient sources but in the historic years their founder is said to be Oxylos whose descendant Ifitos later rejuvenated the games. According to tradition, the Olympic Games began in 776 BC when Ifitos made a treaty with Lycourgos the king and famous legislator of Sparta and Cleisthenes the king of Pissa. The text of the treaty was written on a disc kept in the Heraion. In this treaty, that was the decisive event for the development of the sanctuary as a Panhellenic center, the "sacred truce" was agreed, the ceasing of fighting in all of the Greek world for as long as the Olympic Games were on. As a reward for the victors the cotinus, which was a wreath made from a branch of wild olive tree that was growing next to the opisthodomus of the temple of Zeus in the sacred Altis, was established after an order of the Delphic oracle.
The ancient Olympics games were held, after the completion of four years, during the month of July or August. The time in between two Olympic Games was called an Olympiad. In the beginning the games lasted only one day and only had one event, the foot race, but gradually more events were added resulting, towards the 5th century BC, in the games lasting for 5 days. In total, the Olympic Games consisted of 10 events: running, the pentathlon, jumping, discus, javelin, wrestling, boxing, the pancration, chariot racing and horse racing. All Greeks who were free citizens and had not committed murder or heresy, had the right to take part in the Olympic Games. Women were not entitled to take part, except as owners in the horse races but they were strictly forbidden from watching the games.

The athletes presented themselves one month before the games began at Elis, the organizing town, but the organization and supervision for the upholding of the rules was carried out by the Hellanodikes (jury), who were chosen by lot from the citizens of Elis. Two days after the beginning of the games, the procession of the athletes and the judges started from Elis to arrive in Olympia where it was received by the crowds who had come to watch the games. The ceremonies began with the official oath that was taken by the athletes at the altar of Chorkios Zeus, in the Bouleuterion, swearing that they would compete with honor and respect the rules. The victors enjoyed great honors and on returning to their cities. Their compatriots pulled down part of the walls for them to enter. They were also given special privileges and high office.
The Olympic flame or Olympic fire is a symbol of the Olympic Games. Commemorating the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus, its origins lie in ancient Greece, when a sacred flame was lit from the sun’s rays at Olympia and the fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics. The flame represented the "endeavor for protection and struggle for victory." It was first introduced into the modern Olympics at the 1928 Amsterdam Games. Since then, the flame has come to symbolize "the light of spirit, knowledge, and life."The torch relay also began in the ancient Olympics and was revived at the 1936 Berlin Games. Originally, the torch was lit at Olympia in Greece and then carried by relay to the host-city of the Games. The last runner carries the torch into the Olympic stadium during the opening ceremony. The Olympic flame is then lit from the torch and will remain lit until it is extinguished during the closing ceremony. The torch relay symbolizes the passing of Olympic traditions from one generation to the next. The Olympic torch is nowadays ignited several months before the opening celebration of the Olympic Games at the site of the ancient Olympics in Olympia. Eleven priestess, played by actresses, light the fire by placing a torch in a concave parabolic mirror which concentrates rays from the sun. The torch is then transported to the host city of the upcoming Olympics by means of a torch relay.
Though traditionally, the fire is carried on foot, other means of transportation have been used as well. The runners have included athletes and celebrities but many previously 'unknown' people have also carried it. The Olympic torch relay ends on the day of the opening ceremony in the central stadium of the Games. The final carrier is often kept secret until the last moment and is usually a sports celebrity of the host country. The final bearer of the torch runs towards the cauldron, usually placed at the top of a grand staircase, and then uses the torch to start the flame in the stadium. It is considered a great honor to be asked to light the Olympic flame. After being lit, the flame continues to burn throughout the celebration of the Olympics and is extinguished at end of the closing ceremony of the Games. Baron de Coubertin designed the Olympic Flag in 1913-14. It has five interlocking rings (blue, yellow, black, green and red) on a white background. The ring's colors were based on the knowledge that at least one of these colors is on every flag of each participating country. The five interlocking rings represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of the athletes of the world at the Olympic Game. The Olympic Flag was used for the first time in the 7th Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920. It is paraded during the opening ceremony of each Game. At the end of the Games, the Olympic Flag is presented to the next host city by the Games host city.