/ProfBumblebrainChampions

P

’S

R BUMBLEBR O S S E AI F N O R

aBsolutely

Bonkers

champ1ons Well, young person, 2012 has finally arrived and with it the eagerly awaited Olympics Games in Great Britain. If you would like to find out a multiplicity of fascinating facts about these world famous games and what it means to be a champion, then this comic is just what you are looking for.

Oh, all right, I’ll buy it then!

If, on the other hand, you have not the slightest interest in the subject then may I politely suggest you put down this comic immediately so that it does not get creased and dog-eared for someone who does intend to part with their money for a copy!

We will begin our Olympic exploration by travelling back in time to ancient Greece and to the year 776 BC, to be precise. It was in this year that the very first Olympic Games are thought to have taken place, in the beautiful wooded Valley of Olympia.

Unlike today’s games, where there are 26 sports and 39 disciplines to choose from, the first Olympics consisted of just one solitary event, the 180-metre dash, otherwise known as the ‘stadium’.

I paid all that money for just one measly race? What a rip-off!

In those days of long ago, running tracks were very much wider.

This meant that twenty people could run at the same time.

Maybe it’s a tad too wide!

For your information, tradition has it that the winner of this very first race was a chap named Coroebus, a cook from the city of Elis.

I’d forget about running with an egg and spoon so that people know you’re a cook, Coroebus. It’ll never catch on.

If you were fortunate enough (like Coroebus) to win your event then you were crowned with a wreath of leaves and more than likely given a champion’s welcome when you returned home.

A positive improvement, Professor!

Much like today, success in the Olympic Games could set you up for life. The perks for the winners of these ancient Olympics included marrying rich women, enjoying free meals …

He might be the Olympic pole vault champion, but why can’t he use the front door of the theatre like the rest of us?

… and tiptop theatre seats.

Professor Bumblebrain’s Fascinating Facts The games were held every four years and this was known as an Olympiad.

Very fascinating!

Athletes had to wait until 724 BC for a ‘two stadium’ race and then another eight years for the first pentathlon in which contestants took part in five disciplines.

These were running, wrestling, leaping, throwing the javelin and throwing the discus.

Yikes, I think I’m going to need to do my running sooner than I thought!

Over time loads more events were added to the list, including chariot racing, horse racing and boxing.