Missouri History Museum

The 2012 Summer Olympics are beginning in London.  Learn where these famous games began as we return to ancient Greece and witness the Bacchanalian excess and raw competition of the first Olympics.  While the gods looked down, brutal contests of boxing, wrestling, chariot racing, and an early form of no-holds-barred fighting called Pankration raged within the bloodied arena.  In this History Channel production, visit the ruins of ancient Olympia, see the stadium that once hosted the games, and discover the essential role of this epic festival played in ancient Greece.