The sports such as running, wrestling and pentathalon are pretty well known and so is boxing, but boxing was played differently in Ancient Greece.
Ancient Boxing: The boxers didn't wear gloves, only strips of leather wrapped around there fists. They fought in an open area rather than in an arena. There was no rounds or breaks during the match, the game was only over if a man was knocked out or could not physically fight anymore. This was thought to have mimicked Zeus' fight with his father.
Pancretium: This was a sport that was a mix of boxing and wrestling. The only rules are you are not allowed to gouge your opponents eyes, your are not allowed to dislocate your opponents limbs and you are not allowed to bite. Due to the lack of rules some athletes died during these fights. It is thought that Hercules and Theseus fought their opponents with this method and that is how it came to be in the Ancients Games.
Chariot Racing: This sport consisted of a chariot pulled by four horses racing around two poles 24 times. There was no set direction so chariots regularly crashed. Unlike the other sports men didn't need to be fit and strong to compete. It is thought that this was put in to allow fat noblemen to compete in the games.
This is Hercules using pancretium to defeat his opponent
Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pankration
Information: http://period8dolzall.tripod.com/olympics.html
Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jastrow
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