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Everything changes. Each Olympics has been a testament to how everything changes, sometimes with passing fad and popularity. While some of the Olympic sporting events have flourished, leading to changes within that sport, other sports have been added and some have been eliminated to the pages of history. Ancient Olympics held sporting events that reflected the time and history just may repeat itself with some of the events that have disappeared.

Pankration
The pankration was a combat event that was a mixed boxing and wrestling and had no rules, except against biting and eye gouging. The match lasted until one of the participants signaled his defeat by raising his hand, passed out or died. A small area was designated as the combat zone and officials were present to enforce the only two rules. There were no weigh divisions either. The word pankration comes from two Greek words that mean "all powers" or "all encompassing" (Telus, n.d., p. 1). While no longer in the Olympics, the event may have been the birth place of mixed martial arts and as the popularity for mixed martial arts grows future generations may see this sport come back to the Olympics.

Chariot Races
Ancient Olympic Games held chariot races that ran up to nine miles and included between two to four horses per chariot. These races were not safe, were often quite wild and quite popular.

Races in armor
While little is mentioned about the type of foot race that was held with the contestants in armor one can only imagine the strength and endurance that would be needed for running in any armor, let alone racing in it.

The start of what is called the Modern Olympics in 1896 also led to many events being initially played and then eliminated. Events such as tug of war, golf, rugby, polo, cricket, croquet and lacrosse all reflect games that were popular at the time. Jeu de paume was a popular French lawn tennis game played without racquets. Pelote basque is a popular game in some countries that was once played in the Olympics. Power boating and water skiing were Olympic Games for a short time.

Games today, such as the recently added trampoline competition may come and go as an Olympic fad consistent with the times as well, but as long as there are competitors there will be a competition.

Resources:
Schaap, Dick. An illustrated History of the Olympics. 3rd Edition. 1975. Random House, New York.

http://1113.telus.net/kev inotoole/history.html.
http://w ww.olympic.org/uk/sports/past/ index_u.asp.

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