Swimming |
Swimming history
Swimming as an organized activity goes back as far
as 2500 B.C. in ancient Egypt and later in ancient Greece, Rome, and Assyria.
In Rome and Greece, swimming was part of the education of elementary age
boys and the Romans built the first pools (separate from bathing pools).
The first heated swimming pool was built by Gaius Maecenas of Rome in the
first century BC. Gaius Maecenas was a rich Roman lord and considered one
of the first patron of arts - he supported the famous poets Horace, Virgil,
and Propertius, making it possible for them to live and write without fear
of poverty.
However, swimming pools did not became popular
until the middle of the 19th century. By 1837, six indoor pools with diving
boards were built in London, England. After the modern Olympic Games began
in 1896 and swimming races were among the original events, the popularity
of swimming pools began to spread - Reference Britannica
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Gymnastics |
Gymanastics history
Gymnastics, like a number of Olympic sports, has
it roots in warfare. In ancient times, the Greeks, Mesopotamians and Egyptians
used gymnastic-style exercises to prepare their warriors for battle. The
ancient Chinese also practiced group gymnastic exercises, a tradition which
continues today.
Gymnastic, as an activity sport, began in ancient
Greece more than 2000 years ago. Men gathered at the centers of activity
"gymnasiums" to practice sport and debate about art, literature and philosophy.
Plato, Aristotle and Homer advocated strengthening qualities of gymnastic
activity and finding symmetry between the mind and body.
The evolution of modern gymnastics began in the
19th century with the fusion of disciplines popular in Germany and Scandinavia.
In 1830s, gymnastics was introduced to United States and its school systems
by some of the famous immigrants.
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