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140 In ancient Creece, athletic festivals were very important and had strong religious associations. The olympian athletic festival, 1 every four years in 2 of Zeus, eventually lost its local character,became first a national event,and then, after the rules against foreign competitors had been given up, 3 No one knows exactly how far 4 the olympic Games go,but some official records 5 from 776B. C. After an 6 history of almost 1,200 years, the Games were put an end 7 in A.D. 394, the Christian era. It was over 1,500 years 8 there was 9 such international athletics gathering. The Greek institution was restored in 1896 and the first small meeting 10 place in Athens. After the 1908 London olympics, success was re-established and nations sent their best rep-resentatives. In 11 of peace, the Games have taken place 12 since at four-yearly 13 . In Munich in 1972,competitors from more than 120 countries were watched by 14 crowds. | 
