Growth of the Olympic Games
Sidebar to: When the Games Began
During the span of 1,200 years, from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D., only 23 events were contested as a part of the festival at Olympia. They fall into four categories: men’s competitions (8 events), boys’ competitions (5 events), equestrian races (8 events), and specialty competitions for trumpeters and heralds (2 events). These 23 events were not introduced all at once but gradually over time. Following is a list of what events were added when, according to the Olympic Register:
| Date | Event |
| 776 B.C. | stadion (600-foot sprint) |
| 724 B.C. | diaulos (1,200-foot sprint) |
| 720 B.C. | dolichos (distance race of 2-3 miles) |
| 708 B.C. | wrestling, pentathlon |
| 688 B.C. | boxing |
| 680 B.C. | tethrippon (4-horse chariot race) |
| 648 B.C. | pancratium, horse race |
| 632 B.C. | stadion and wrestling for boys |
| 628 B.C. | pentathlon for boys (discontinued same year) |
| 616 B.C. | boxing for boys |
| 520 B.C. | hoplitodromos (race in armor) |
| 500 B.C. | apene (mule-cart race; discontinued 444 B.C.) |
| 496 B.C. | calpe (race for mares; discontinued 444 B.C.) |
| 408 B.C. | synoris (2-horse chariot race) |
| 396 B.C. | competitions for heralds and trumpeters |
| 384 B.C. | chariot racing for teams of 4 colts |
| 268 B.C. | chariot racing for teams of 2 colts |
| 256 B.C. | races for colts |
| 200 B.C. | pancratium for boys |
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