The origin of the Olympic games is shrouded in the mistry past. There were various traditions as to its origin. Acording to one the first race was between Pelops and Oanomaus. Another attributed the festival to Heracles. Traditionally the first celebration of the games was in 776 B.C. The list of Olympic victors begins with Coroebus of Elis (776 B.C.), and this list is often cited by ancient authors for purpose of dating. Olympia, a place in Greece, was the scene of the games. The fstival occured every four years and was held in high summer at the time of full moon. A sacred truce was declared so that even in the time of war any who wished might have safe conduct to the games. It occupied such an imporant position in the life of Greece that time was measured by the four-year interval between them an "Olympiad". The games were aboished in circa A.D. 393 by the Roman emperor Theodosius I after Greece had lost its independence.

At first the programme considered only of a single event, a race the length of the stadium. Afterward, additional races, the discus throw, the javelin throw, the broad jump, wrestling, the pentathalon, chariot racing and other events were added. Participation i the games was at first restricted to Greeks, but competitorscame from all the Greek colonies. The victor's prize was a crown of wild olive made from the tree called "the olive of the fair crown" which grew behind the temple of Zesus, the most important building at Olympiad and one of the largest Doric temples in Greece. Kings completed alongside commoners; even the Roman Emperor Nero (A.D. 37-38) sought Olympic honours. Winners became national heroes; odes were composed and sung in their praise and sculptors preserved their strength and beauty in marble.

The Olympic Games were revived through the efforts of Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937) of France. He summoned an international conference at Paris in 1894 which was attended by the representatives of 12 nations. The games of the I Olympiad of the modern cucle were held under the patronage of the King of Greece i 1896 in Athens. Subsequent games were held in Paris (1900), St. louis (1904), London (1908), Stockholm (1912). Antwerp (1920), Paris (1924), Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932), Berlin (1936), London (1948), Helsinki (1952), Melbourne 1956), Rome (1960), Tokyo (1964), Mexico city (1968), Munich (1972) and Montreal (1976). The games of VI, XII and XIII Olympiads scheduled for 1916, 1940 and 1944 were not held because of war. The games of XXII Olympics are being held in Moscow. A sepearte cycle of winter games was intiated in 1924 at Chamonix, France; the 1980 winter games were held at Lake Placid, USA. Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is happy to commemorate the XXII Olympics by issuing a set of two stamps.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India