Olympic Games History

Set against the backdrop of the turbulent late 1960s and early 1970s, this compelling audiobook provides the first comprehensive history of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, notorious for the abduction of Israeli Olympians by Palestinian terrorists and the hostages' tragic deaths after a botched rescue mission by the German police. Drawing on a wealth of newly available sources from the time, eminent historian David Clay Large explores the 1972 festival in all its ramifications.

While they are still well-known, the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece are more relevant today than most people know, and the ways in which athletic sports pervade contemporary culture is comparable only to the spirit of athleticism in Hellenic Greece. Today, a large section of the media industry is devoted exclusively to sports, and in some nations sports even figures as a critical component of their identity.

Trace an epic sports history where the pursuit of global peace collides with the fierce reality of political power. Perfect for an educational commute or an inspiring workout, this tense, reflective journey explores how a sacred ancient Greek ritual evolved into earth's most-watched spectacle...

Uncover the sports history of how a quirky Victorian parlor game conquered the globe to become a modern Olympic titan. Perfect for a morning commute or focused learning, this energetic narrative transports you from British drawing rooms to fierce international arenas. Experience the geopolitical...

From “the master of new journalism [who always] hits it over the fence” (The New York Times) and “one of the finest writers on sports anywhere” (USA TODAY), the scintillating story of lacrosse—the game invented by the Haudenosaunee, played with more passion than any other, that...

Trace the dramatic evolution of sports history from sacred ancient Greek rituals to intense modern geopolitical rivalries. Perfect for an inspiring daily commute, this sweeping narrative explores how a fragile truce in a violent world became a massive cultural spectacle. Experience the...

The Pan-Hellenic Games is the collective term for the four major sports festivals held in ancient Greece. These include the Olympic Games, held in honor of Zeus at Olympia every four years; the Pythian Games in honor of Apollo, held at Delphi every four years; the Nemean Games, held to celebrate Zeus and Heracles at Nemea near Corinth every two years; and the Isthmian Games, honoring Poseidon at Isthmia every two years. The main events at all of the games were chariot racing, wrestling, boxing, the pankration, the stadion, various other foot races, and the pentathlon.

Eager to celebrate its history, and display its athletic potential, the United States hosted the nation’s first Olympic games in 1904 St. Louis. But within a few years, the publication of Coubertin’s memoirs turned the praised Olympics into the failed Olympics. America’s First Olympics corrects common misconceptions that began with Coubertin’s memoirs, and presents a fresh view of the 1904 games, which featured first-time African American Olympians, an eccentric and controversial marathon, and documentation by pioneering photojournalist Jessie Tarbox Beals.

*"Rivaling the nonfiction works of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat....Even readers who don't appreciate sports will find this story a page-turner." --School Library Connection (starred review) "An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias." --Kirkus...

Step into the ancient history of the first Olympic Games, where brutal athletic combat collides with sacred ritual. Perfect for an engaging daily commute, this visceral audio journey transports you to the dust-choked roads of a fractured Greece. Experience the roar of the crowds and the smoke of...

Chronicling the stories of fifty of India's leading Olympians for the first time ever in one comprehensive edition, Digvijay Singh Deo and Amit Bose bring you the Games through the eyes of some of the best sportspersons in the country. These first-person accounts of Olympic medallists...

Bloomsbury presents Terrible True Tales: Greeks written and read by Terry Deary. Featuring exciting activities for listeners to enjoy alongside the stories! 'Deary's storytelling is simple, historically accurate and compelling.' – The i newspaper on The Silver Hand From the author of the...