• The Old Order.
• About Africa.
• About Europe.
• About the Caribbean.
• African Slave Trade.
• Scramble for Africa.
• Ancient colonisation.
• Christopher Columbus.
• David Livingstone's 3Cs.
  
  Transition Period
• The Transition
• Abolish Slave Trade.
• Imperialism and Benefits.
• Neo-colonisation.
• Industrial Revolution.
• British Empire.
• OAU- the origin
• Kwame Nkrumah
• Ahmed Sekou Toure.
• Wretched of the Earth
• Apartheid.
• Nelson Mandela's Peace.
• Pan African Congress.
• African Union- AU.

The Origins of the sport and the early days.
Olympics- the History.

Swimming: The primitive man, as they say, was compelled to learn swimming to avoid drowning. A little development, in the method of swimming was brought out by the natives of South America. There are evidences of swimming as a competitive sport.

As in the case of many sports and games, development and popularity in swimming as a competitive sport came through Modern Olympics. USA, USSR, the GDR and Australia are the makers of superstars in the world swimming.

Table Tennis: It is believed that the credit for origin of table tennis goes to England. In the later part of the 18th century cork balls were used. Subsequently they were replaced by celluloid balls.

When International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) was formed in 1926, rules, which were introduced then, have since been modified. Later on, this game became very popular in Asian and European countries. China is the "Ping-Pong" king in the world of TT, had its Olympic debut in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Tennis: There are different opinions regarding the origin of Tennis. While some link its origin to Persia and Greece, some attribute it to Egypt. There are reasons to believe that French people invented and developed this game in the middle of the 15th century when no nets or rackets were invented as we see today.

Later on, an Englishman named Walter C Windfield modernized this game by introducing rackets and nets and measurement of court. The game soon became popular among the royal families of England. Tennis was introduced in the Olympic Games as a medal event in 1988.

Track And Field: Events like walking, running, jumping, throwing, etc. which are competitive sports in track and field in Modern Olympics, were essential to pre-historic man to move from one place to another, to save himself from wild animals for his food.

Individual ability in these important events became the origin of the athletic competitions. Ancient Olympics started in 776 B C with five disciplines, i.e., races like 200 yards, half mile, two and half miles, jump like long jump. In the Modern Olympics, however athletics hold the pride of place with a string of events. ocking the entrance of the caves where he lived, there are evidences in ancient Egypt that strong lifters were required to lift big stones for the construction of pyramids which were the pride of expired kings of Egypt.
One-hand lift and two-hand lift were popular at that time. There were no body weight categories. Weight lifting as we see it today, was introduced by Europeans. The first Modern Olympics in 1896 at Athens saw only two weightlifting events, i.e., one-hand lift (dumb bell) and Two-hand lift (bar bell).

When the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) came into being in 1920, strict rules and procedures were formed by eliminating dumb bell (one-hand lift) and established five body weight classes with three actions of lifts, namely the press, Snatch and Clean and Jerk.

When press action was eliminated from weightlifting competitions from 1976, the following 10 weight classes were introduced in Modern Olympics.

Fly: upto 52kgs, Bantam: upto 56kgs, Feather: upto 60kgs, Light: upto 67.5kgs, Middle: upto 75kgs, Light-Heavy: upto 82.5kgs, Middle-Heavy: upto 90kgs, 100-kg Class: upto 100kgs, Heavy: upto 110kgs and Super-Heavy: over 110kgs. USSR and some East European countries like Bulgaria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia are the Olympic and world record supermen in this field. Yachting: Yachting is of English origin in the middle of 16th century, with Lords and Kings essentially lured to it. Later on, many changes were made in the design of yachts rules and regulations of the yacht racing. The sport of yachting was introduced in 1990 Paris Olympics. The International Yachting Federation was formed in 1907 and the rules and regulations were last revised in 1964. Modem Olympics has six different categories of yachting. Finn (Two Men). Flying Dutchman (Two Men), Star (Two Men), Sailing (Three Men), 470 Category (Two Men) and Tornado Category (Two Men)
Athletics has long been a part of British social history. There are no records of when informal competitions started but many early facts are known:

In the early 1800’s village sports were a part of rural life and later in the century certain major educational establishments took to organising athletics style competition. The first universities recorded meeting was at Exeter College, Oxford in 1850.

Tracks were first built in the late 1830’s with a narrow two man gravel track being laid at Lords Cricket Ground in 1837. Distances of 110 yds, 440 yds, I mile, 2 miles, 4 miles, 6 miles and 10 miles were the more common racing distances. Times in the early days were recorded in 1/4 seconds and records included a 440 yd in 48.5 seconds in 1849 and 1 min 58 seconds for 880 yds in 1854.

On 27 March 1866 at Beauford House, London, the first Amateur Athletic Championships were organised. Of the eleven events contested, nine of these are still contested in the Olympic Games. Another significant step by the Amateur Athletic Club was to introduce a definition of an "amateur" and their definition formed the basis of the future of the sport until the mid 1980’s.

The popularity of athletics was quick to spread and a number of fine grounds were laid. The first recorded international fixture was held on 5th June 1876 between Ireland and England in Dublin.

The first English Cross Country Championships were held in 1877.

The Origin of Marathon
The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C., bringing news of a Greek victory over the Persians. Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the momentous message "Niki!" ("victory"), then collapsed and died, thereby setting a precedent for dramatic conclusions to the marathon.

When the modern Olympic games were inaugurated in 1896 in Greece, the legend of Pheidippides was revived by a 24.85 mile (40,000 meters) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens. Traditionally the final event in the Olympics, the first organized marathon on April 10, 1896 was especially important to all Greeks. Greece was hosting those first modern Olympic Games. The Greeks had yet to win a medal, and had one final chance to bring glory to their nation. Twenty-five runners assembled on Marathon Bridge. The starter mumbled a few words and fired the gun, and the race was on. "The excitement of the crowd waiting at the finish line at the newly constructed replica of Athens' ancient stadium was beyond description" writes the Greek historian Quercetani. Spiridon Louis, a Greek postal worker from the village of Marusi and veteran of several long military marches, crossed the finish line a full seven minutes ahead of the pack. His time was 2 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds for the 40 kilometer distance (average pace of 7:11 minutes per mile). When it was all over nine runners finished, 8 of them Greeks. The host nation was ecstatic, and the marathon was born.

The United States was one of 9 nations at the 1896 Athens Olympics, thanks to sponsorship of athletes by the Boston Athletic Association. Middle distance runner Arthur Blake was the only American to enter the first marathon. Blake won a silver medal in the 1500 meters 3 days before the marathon but unfortunately this left him exhausted and he dropped out after about 14.5 miles. Planning for North America's first marathon began on the boat back to United States. The first annual Boston Athletic Association marathon was conducted on April 19, 1897, the date chosen to commemorate the famous ride of Paul Revere in 1775.

The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C., bringing news of a Greek victory over the Persians. Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the momentous message "Niki!" ("victory"), then collapsed and died, thereby setting a precedent for dramatic conclusions to the marathon.When the modern Olympic games were inaugurated in 1896 in Greece, the legend of Pheidippides was revived by a 24.85 mile (40,000 meters) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens. Traditionally the final event in the Olympics, the first organized marathon on April 10, 1896 was especially important to all Greeks. Greece was hosting those first modern Olympic Games. The Greeks had yet to win a medal, and had one final chance to bring glory to their nation. Twenty-five runners assembled on Marathon Bridge. The starter mumbled a few words and fired the gun, and the race was on. "The excitement of the crowd waiting at the finish line at the newly constructed replica of Athens' ancient stadium was beyond description" writes the Greek historian Quercetani. Spiridon Louis, a Greek postal worker from the village of Marusi and veteran of several long military marches, crossed the finish line a full seven minutes ahead of the pack. His time was 2 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds for the 40 kilometer distance (average pace of 7:11 minutes per mile). When it was all over nine runners finished, 8 of them Greeks. The host nation was ecstatic, and the marathon was born. The United States was one of 9 nations at the 1896 Athens Olympics, thanks to sponsorship of athletes by the Boston Athletic Association. Middle distance runner Arthur Blake was the only American to enter the first marathon. Blake won a silver medal in the 1500 meters 3 days before the marathon but unfortunately this left him exhausted and he dropped out after about 14.5 miles. Planning for North America's first marathon began on the boat back to United States. The first annual Boston Athletic Association marathon was conducted on April 19, 1897, the date chosen to commemorate the famous ride of Paul Revere in 1775. At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City stadium, with 385 yards added on so the race could finish in front of royal family's viewing box. This added two miles to the course, and is the origin of the Marathon tradition of shouting "God save the Queen!" (or other words relating to the Queen) as mile post 24 is passed. After 16 years of extremely heated discussion, this 26.2 mile distance was established at the 1924 Olympics in Paris as the official marathon distance.

Source: www.athensmarathon.com "http://www.reggaemarathon.com/mar_history.htm"

April 20, 2004 Marathon
Timothy Cherigat and Catherine Ndereba winners in Boston
Apr 20. Kenya's runners dominated one more Marathon race this year. Timothy Cherigat clocked 2:10.37 in Boston yesterday, while Catherine Ndereba won the women's race with 2:24.27 MEN: 1) Timothy Cherigat (KEN) 2:10:37; 2) Robert Cheboror (KEN) 2:11:49; 3) Martin Lel (KEN) 2:13:38; 4) Stephen Kiogora (KEN) 2:14:34; 5) Hailu Negussie (ETH) 2:17:30; 6) Benjamin Kosgei Kimutai (KEN) 2:17:45; 7) Joshua Kipkemboi (KEN) 2:18:23; 8) Andrew Letherby (AUS) 2:19:31; 9) Fedor Ryzhov (RUS) 2:21:45; 10) Elly Rono (KEN) 2:22:45 WOMEN: 1) Catherine Ndereba (KEN) 2:24:27; 2) Elfenesh Alemu (ETH) 2:24:43; 3) Olivera Jevtic (SCG) 2:27:34; 4) Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) 2:30:16; 5) Nuta Olaru (ROM) 2:30:44; 6) Lyubov Denisova (RUS) 2:31:17; 7) Malgorzata Sobanska (POL) 2:32:23; 8) Victoria Klimina (RUS) 2:33:20; 9) Ramillia Burangulova (RUS) 2:34:08; 10) Ai Yamamoto (JPN) 2:34:32

[Athletics News Archives]....[IAAF Press Releases]
London Marathon results
Apr 18. Evans Rutto beat fellow Kenyan Sammy Korir to win the London Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 18 seconds. Korir, who paced Paul Tergat to the marathon world record in Berlin last September, was second in 2:06:48. World champion Jaouad Gharib was third in 2:07:02. Earlier, Margaret Okayo won the women's race in 2:22:35 seconds. Russian Lyudmila Petrova finished second, with mid-race leader Constantina Tomescu-Dita third. Amog the Greek participants, Nikos Pollias was the best with 2.15.02, while Labros Zaragkas clocked 2.19.21 , Gerasimos Kokotos 2.21.19 and Konstantinos Gougousis 2.22.47. Spiridoula Souma was the better woman with 2.40.34, followed by Paraskevi Gratsani 2.44.35 and Magda Karimali 2.46.01 MEN: 1 Evans Rutto (KEN) 2:06:18; 2 Sammy Korir (KEN) 2:06:48; 3 Jaouad Gharib (MAR) 2:07:02; 4 Stefano Baldini (ITA) 2:08:37; 5 Tesfaye Tola (ETH) 2:09:07; 6 Benoit Zwierzchiewski (FRA) 2:09:35; 7 Abdelkader El Mouaziz (MAR) 2:09:42; 8 Lee Troop (AUS) 2:09:58; 9 John Yuda (TAN) 2:10:13; 10 Joseph Kadon (KEN) 2:11;30 WOMEN: 1 Margaret Okayo (KEN) 2:22:35; 2 Lyudmila Petrova (RUS) 2:26:02; 3 Constantina Tomescu-Dita (ROM) 2:26:52; 4 Albina Ivanova (RUS) 2:27:25; 5 Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 2:28:01; 6 Svetlana Zakharova (RUS) 2:28:10; 7 Sun Yingjie (CHN) 2:28:32; 8 Alina Ivanova (RUS) 2:28:48; 9 Svetlana Demidenko (RUS) 2:33:06; 10 Tracey Morris (GBR) 2:33:52 Results from SA Championships in Durban Results from the Greek Clubs Championships Lisbon Marathon results Apr 18. 1. Stephen Rerimoi KEN 02:13:34; 2. Lebo Nelson KEN 2:14:55; 3. Yuriy Hychun UKR 2:15:03; 4. Mitei Kipchirchir KEN 2:15:28; 5. Moses Kemei KEN 2:15:41; 6. Onesmo Ludago 2:16:24; 7. Kiplagat Albert KEN 2:16:58; 8. Lokira Paul KEN 2:19:01;9. Too Kirwa Daniel KUW 2:20:39; 10. Carlos Valente POR 2:21:12

Hamburg Marathon results
Apr 18. Men: 1. Vanderlei de Lima BRA 2:09:39; 2. Thomas Chemitei KEN 2:11:27; 3. Fred KiptumKiprop KEN 2:11:45; 4. Benjamin Rotich KEN 2:11:49; 5. Wilfred Kigen KEN 2:11:52; 6. Georgiy Andreyev RUS 2:11:53; 7. Leonid Shetsov RUS 2:12:28; 8. Azat Rapikov BLR 2:12:32; 9. David Ruto KEN 2:12:33; 10. Dmitri Baranovski UKR 2:12:34 Women: 1. Emily Kimuria KEN 2:28:57; 2. Alice Chelangat KEN 2:28:58; 3. Larissa Malikova RUS 2:32:17; 4. Stine Larsen NOR 2:32:53; 5. Liza Hunter-Galvan NZL 2:36:27; 6. Manuela Zipse D 2:36:51; 7. Marcio Narbock BRA 2:37:19; 8. Leila Aman ETH 2:38:01; 9. Maija Kukkohovi FIN 2:42:33; 10. Lilian Chelimo KEN 2:45:30
Tzoumeleka smashes walk record

Apr 17. Athanassia Tzoumeleka won the 10000m walk race in Patra in 44.10.02 to smash the national record for Greece, by about 30 seconds. On the second day of the Greek Clubs Championships very good marks set also by the shot putters Michalis Stamatogiannis (19.46m) and Andreas Anastassopoulos (19.41m), while Stefanos Konstas had a discus throw at 61.41m. Angeliki Tsiolakoudi sent the javelin to 60.70m and made the standard for Athens.
...more news Latest Results Boston Marathon Greek Clubs Championships London Marathon Durban 10000m EuroChallenge World XC Championships European Throwing Challenge Nagoya Marathon Balkan XC Championships World Masters Championships Port Elizabeth World Indoor Champs: [day1][2][3] Leipzig Lievin Balkan Championships US Championships Chemnitz Australian Open Championships Tallinn Hungarian Open Champs Athina 2004 Swedish Championships German Championships French Championships Polish Championships Birmingham Pretoria (RSA) Russian Championships Karlsruhe European Indoor Cup Fayettville Stockholm Melbourne GPII Greek NC IAAF Grand Prix series 2004. ...more 2004 results 2003 World Championships ...more 2003 results News Archives | Credits......"

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