(I) The modern Olympic Games have been held every four years since 18(II) The first competitive event held in the ancient Olympian and other Greek games was the short footrace, or sprint. (III) This was run over a single length of the stadium, a distance of approximately 200 metres. (IV) This race was called, approximately, the stade. (V) For the first thirteen Olympiads, the stade was the sole athletic event staged in the stadium.