For his presentation, Peter Duras, a retired Sports Physiotherapist, took us on a fantasy trip to Ancient Greece and the city of Olympus, to the first Olympic Games in 376BC.

Some 40,000 citizens from Greece and beyond travelled to the Games by boat and over bad roads resembling ours in Victoria!

The Games took place over six days with exotic food and drinks for all on the first and last days. A total of eight bullocks were slaughtered to feed the revellers. Competitors were limited to males only, all competing in the nude. The winners were presented with a laurel crown as their only reward but, away from the games, many participants were fully professional.

Competitions included running (maximum four kms), javelin and discus throwing, chariot races (two and four horse rigs), free style wrestling and boxing. The champion wrestler who won the first five events trained on twenty kilos of steak and nine litres of wine per day and was virtually unbeatable. Swimming events involved an obstacle course comprising two 200meter swims, including swimming under several moored ships.

Peter brought along one of the two existing brass miners lamps when flying became necessary to transport the ‘Olympic Flame’ for the torch relays in other countries.

An interesting and entertaining talk