ive leaves, and was entitled to have a statue of himself set up at Olympia. Although hedid not receive money at the Olympics, the victor was treated much like a modern sportscelebrity by his home city. His success increased the fame and reputation of his community inthe Greek world. It was common for victors to receive benefits such as having all their mealsat public expense or front-row seats at the theater and other public festivals. One city evenbuilt a private gym for their Olympic wrestling champion to exercise in. When an Olympicvictor from Crotona re-entered the Games as a native of Syracuse (to impress the ruler ofSyracuse) and won both times, the citizens of Crotona were so angry about being robbed oftheir rightful victories that they tore down the athlete's statue in their city and condemned hishouse to be a prison." Today we encounter those same conflicts, except with a lot morepaper work. Being in society today, has been greatly impacted by the Olympic games alone. If one needs to use the actual word "icon" then this is it...An Icon represents a picture, not necessarily an actual photograph or painting, but adrawn image that has been formed by the active imagination. No one is totally certain on howthe Olympics actually looked, but as far as the feeling, I feel it. I know the rush as a spectatorto see my home team going for the gold, showing the rest of the nations that we are apowerful force. We are showing this power by competition not war. That's what theOlympics represent, peace through showmanship. I have shown that the Ancient Olympicsput a stop to war and destruction for almost two months. If we think about that, the society inwhole belives that war comes second to athletics. If only we could have the Olympicseveryday......
