The Olympic Games are held every four years in a different city in the world. Athletes from many countries compete in a variety of sports which are divided into winter and summer games. The Olympics began in Greece more than 2,700 years ago. The games were originally part of a religious festival in honour of the Greek gods. Eventually, the games became the most important festival in all of Greece. The first recorded Olympic competition was held in 776BC. It was held in an outdoor stadium which was about 200 meters long and 30 metres wide. The stadium was in a valley and about forty thousand people watched the event. The first thirteen Olympics consisted of only one race—running. Since 776 BC the games were held regularly for about 1,200 years. In the year 397AD the Olympics were prohibited by the Roman Emperor. It was not until 1896 that the first Olympics of modem times were held in Athens. From then on the games have been held every four years regularly. The Olympics have become the world's most important athletic event and a symbol of the sporting friendship of all the people of the world. The Olympic Games are held ______ .