But is tradition sacred? The Olympic Games are in trouble among younger viewers. Some say it is time to modernise or die — but others think old customs are worth keeping.
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The new sports pressing for Olympic status
But is tradition sacred? The Olympic Games are in trouble among younger viewers. Some say it is time to modernise or die - but others think old customs are worth keeping.
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The first ever Olympic Games took place in 776 BC. At this time they were dedicated to ZeusThe king of the gods, known to the Romans as Jupiter., king of the gods. The main events were running, wrestling, boxing, and horse-riding. The athletes were all male and did almost all of it naked.
When the modern Olympics were established in 1896, they did not preserve all of these traditions. The athletics and wrestling were kept, but alongside them were several events the Greeks could never have dreamed of, including fencing, shooting and tennis.
Zeus-worship and nudity went out the window. The organisers felt these would not appeal to modern audiences.
They were right. The games, held in Athens, attracted the biggest crowd ever to watch a sporting event. With the right mix of the old and the new, the Olympic Games had hit a perfect formula.
Today the games again need some of that magic. At the last Olympic Games, in Tokyo, viewing figures were 50% down compared with those of the 2016 Rio Games.
The Olympic Committee is especially worried that it is losing younger viewers. Most fans are in their late fifties or older. Younger people are simply not tuning in.
This is why it is trying to shake up the running order. Paris 2024 will include the Olympic debut of breakdancing, which organisers hope will bring in a younger audience.
Other sports that fire up younger people are also in the running for future games, including teqballA ball sport played on a curved table without arms or hands., ultimate (ultimate frisbee), and dodgeball.
Defenders of the idea say that modern viewers expect something more stimulating than running, jumping and diving, but others argue chasing younger viewers with new sports will only put off existing, older fans.
Some say that suggesting young people can only get into more visually stimulating sports is patronising and it will put them off.
Is tradition sacred?
Yes! People like the Olympics because it feels so timeless and established. Olympics organisers are not dependent on advertising, so they can afford to lose some viewers.
No! The Olympics have always adapted to their times, adding new events and shedding old ones.
Zeus - The king of the gods, known to the Romans as Jupiter.
Teqball - A ball sport played on a curved table without arms or hands.
The new sports pressing for Olympic status
Switch-off: The median age of an Olympics TV viewer is now is nearly 59. Younger people are not tuning in. Glossary
Zeus - The king of the gods, known to the Romans as Jupiter.
Teqball - A ball sport played on a curved table without arms or hands.