As stated in the passage, the Olympic Games….

The Olympic Games are an international sports festival that began in ancient Greece. The original Greek games were staged every fourth year for several hundred years until they were abolished in the early Christian era. The revival of the Olympic Games took place in 1896, with the efforts of a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin. It was decided that the first modern Olympics would be held in Athens, and that every four years, a different country would have the honour of hosting the games. Since then the games have been staged every fourth year, except during World War I. and World War II. The basic difference between the ancient and modern Olympics is that the former was the ancient Greeks' way of saluting their gods, whereas the modern games are a manner of saluting the athletic talents of citizens of all nations. The original Olympics featured competition in music, oratory, and theatre performances as well.
The modern Games have a more expansive athletic agenda, and for two and a half weeks they are supposed to replace the hatred of international conflict with friendly competition. That lofty ideal, however, has not always been attained.