Final answer:
The modern Olympic Games were named after the ancient Greek version to honor their historical significance and the unifying nature of the games. Similarities between both include athletic events and a spirit of fair play, while differences include participation scope, the role of religion, and award practices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Similarities and Differences Between Ancient and Modern Olympic Games
The organizers of the modern Olympic Games named their contest after the ancient Greek version due to the significant historical impact and unifying spirit of the ancient Olympics. These games facilitated bonds among dispersed Greek city-states and celebrated shared language, religion, and culture through athletic competition.
Similarities between the ancient and modern Olympic Games include the variety of athletic competitions, with some events like running and wrestling span both eras. Additionally, both games emphasize fair play and sportsmanship as crucial elements.
Differences include the exclusive participation of Greek city-states in the ancient games, while modern Olympics feature international participation. Unlike the ancient games which were deeply rooted in religious significance and allowed only men to participate, modern games are secular and include female athletes. Moreover, the ancient Olympics had no practice of awarding gold, silver, or bronze medals, with winners receiving an olive wreath, and lacked the grandeur of elaborate opening and closing ceremonies witnessed in contemporary times.
In conclusion, while the modern Olympic Games have evolved significantly from their ancient counterparts, they retain the essence of bringing athletes together in a spirit of competition, excellence, and mutual respect.