IDEALS OF OLYMPIA AND OLYMPIC GAMES INSTITUTIONAL DIMENSION - PERSPECTIVE.

This article examines the institutional and symbolic dimensions of the Olympic Games, contrasting their ancient origins at Olympia with the modern international Olympic movement. It highlights that the ancient Games were a multifaceted institution grounded in religious worship, interstate law, and shared cultural education among Greek city-states, emphasizing moral and communal values beyond physical competition. The modern Olympic Games, revived in the 19th century, are critiqued for losing much of this symbolic and legal framework, becoming increasingly commercialized and focused on physical performance, which diverges from the original ideals. The article calls for a re-establishment of the Olympic Games' institutional and moral foundations rooted in ancient Olympia, proposing cultural, legal, and international reforms to restore their role as a global symbol of peace, education, and human dignity.