Purpose of Sport in Ancient Greece

Winning was everything in ancient Greek sports.The Greeks were primarily into individual sports in which there was only one winner.Contestants did not bother to enter events in which they thought they were going to lose.Winners received a crown ofwild olives branches and prestige—that was sometimesworth a lotofmoney.Losers did not shake the hands of the victor and they returned to their hometowns“by back ways…sore smitten bymisfortune.”

1-2　The Award of the Winner in Ancient Greek Sport

Sport was seen as more than just sport.In his book Ancient Greek Athletics Stephen G.Miller wrote：“Athletics was not simply about competition；it concerned winning a prize.Sport for sport's sake was not an ancient concept…There was an acceptance at both popular and philosophical levels，of prime imaginative and imitative purpose in play，an understanding，essentially that，all games were war games.”

In addition to sport there was athletics for exercise.This was carried out at gymnasiums and the primary purpose was preparing and training and keeping them in shape afterwards（every citizen under 60 could be called up for military service）.Physical fitness was only viewed as something one did for himself；itwas a civic duty integral to preservation of the state.At the gymnasiums，older men taught boys about their duties to the community，proper behavior and how to carry oneself as a man.