131 The first Games in Olympia were held for the first time in 776 bC. Search the web to find out what the Pok Ta Pok consisted of. PHILOSOPHY AND OBJECTIVES OF SPORT Sport differs from just playing games for the value that it gives to competition. The objectives of sport are not just victories: through competitions, athletes pursue personal development, social cohesion, and excellence. Ancient purposes of sport Sports originated as practical activities of past civilisations. In ancient Greece, for example, athletic events like wrestling, javelin throwing, and running were part of the paideia system, which was the set of rules aiming to create citizens with strong minds and bodies and to prepare young men for the physical and mental demands of war. The Spartan society, in particular, focused a lot on the importance of sports to train soldiers, concentrating on combat sports and races in full armour. Other sports, such as archery and spearfishing, derived from human activities, like fishing and hunting, aimed to get food for survival. Sport was also linked to religious rituals. As an example, the ancient Olympic Games were meant not only to show the performances of athletes, but also to honour Zeus, that is why they included sacrifices and other religious rites. Also, the ball game matches of the Pok Ta Pok , played by ancient Central American civilisations, such as the Maya and Aztec, were ceremonial events with religious symbolism, which often ended in human sacrifice. armour: armatura to pursue: ricercare spearfishing: pesca subacquea 240 HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, AND CIVIC EDUCATION Modern philosophy and objectives The philosophical view of sport has changed over time; today, sports practice is no longer focused on practical purposes but has acquired recognised social values. Objectives and philosophical ideas in modern sport include: pursuit of excellence: excellence for an athlete is not only winning, but exploiting their full physical and mental potential in every situation; character development: sport is often seen as a way of forging character; through competition, athletes learn virtues like discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and resilience; aesthetics: the beauty and grace of athletic performance can be appreciated as an art form, regardless of the final result of the competition; ethics: sport defines moral obligations for athletes, coaches, and spectators, guaranteeing that people engage in a fair and honourable activity.