If you watched the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, I’m guessing you were stunned and mortified by the grotesque display of debauchery mixed with the mockery of Jesus’ Last Supper. The Closing Ceremony continued the dark and twisted display by paying homage to the transmutation of humanity. This brazen display opened the eyes of millions of people to the truth that the Olympic Games are a pagan ceremony honoring false gods – namely, the Olympian gods. How does the Olympic Spirit impact those who have participated or watched the Games? This question requires an examination of the origins of the Olympics.
Ancient Olympics
The earliest record of the Olympic Games is 776 B.C., but there is some indication that the Olympics started many years before that. The ancient Games were held in honor of Zeus, the preeminent god of the Greek pantheon. Athletes and spectators not only attended the athletic competition, but they made pilgrimage to Altis, the sacred grove in Olympia dedicated to the worship of Zeus.[i] The Greek name ‘Olympia’ means “mountain of the gods.” This location had long been established as a high place of false worship.
In the ancient Greek culture, there were 12 Olympian gods and goddesses. They held council on Mount Olympus and were considered the most powerful of the Greek gods. They are:
- Zeus – god of lightning and thunder, ruler of Mount Olympus
- Poseidon – god of the sea, water, and storms
- Hermes – messenger of the gods known for his speed, god of travel and commerce
- Aphrodite – goddess of love, pleasure, passion, and beauty
- Apollo – god of sun, light, music, poetry, arts, and medicine
- Ares – god of war, bloodthirst, and slaughter
- Athena – goddess of wisdom
- Artemis – goddess of the hunt, wilderness, virginity, and fertility
- Demeter – goddess of harvest and agriculture
- Hera – goddess of marriage, women, childbirth, and family
- Dionysus – god of wine, festivity, ecstasy, and madness
- Hephaestus – god of the forge and craftsmen
The ancient Games were an act of worship to these Olympian gods and the sacred grove of Altis became the home to the Games. The worship of Zeus was predominant in the grove. It was adorned with temples, halls, and statues commemorating victories of athletic and military achievements. The Greeks incorporated sport into their worship because “Physical perfection… meant an approximation to the gods.”[ii]
The first few Olympics only featured one event, but as soon as the Spartans began to compete, more events were added. In 632 B.C., the Games expanded to five days of competition in which the victors were glorified alongside the gods. Statues were erected in honor of the Olympians. In preparation for the games, “The priests who resided at Olympia carried out sacrifices at sixty-nine of the altars regularly each month of every year and, furthermore, there was a programme of daily offerings of libations of wine for Zeus alone.”[iii] Days before the Games began, organizing officials, athletes, and trainers made the 58 km journey along the Sacred Way from Elis to Altis. Along the way, they would sacrifice pigs and perform other ceremonial rites.
As part of the Opening Ceremony, competitors and judges were sworn in before the altar and statue of Zeus. Prayers and sacrifices were offered in Altis. Athletes would take an oath sworn upon the flesh of the pig to not “sin against the Olympic Games.” Oracles consulted, philosophers orated, and poets recited; it was a prominent event in Greek culture.
Over the course of the Games, funerary rites honored the hero, Pelops; victors of the Games paraded around Altis; victory hymns were sung; one hundred oxen were sacrificed by the participants upon the altar of Zeus; a public banquet was held; and finally, the victors went in procession to the Temple of Zeus where they were crowned with wreaths of sacred olive branches from Altis. Music always accompanied the sacrifices and ceremonies. It was believed that Nike, or Victory personified, was present at the thank offerings.
The Olympic torch was an important symbol of the ancient Games. Fire was considered sacred in the Greek culture because of the sacrifice Prometheus made to steal the flame from Mount Olympus and give it to man. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus paid a heavy price for this act. He was chained to a mountain so an eagle could feast on his liver daily for eternity.[iv] The Olympic flame burned continuously during the ancient Games. It was lit by the rays of the sun using a parabolic mirror.
For about a millennium, the Olympic games were held every four years from 776 B.C. to 393 A.D. The Olympics were officially ended by Roman Emperor Theodosius, who disapproved of the pagan ceremonies. Archaeological records show that in the 4th century A.D., the Olympic site was destroyed by natural forces. Two massive earthquakes tore the sanctuary apart, toppling columns and shattering walls. A river burst its banks, destroyed the gymnasium, and never returned to its former course. Winter storms moved rocks and earth – flooding the sanctuary, washing away the hippodrome (horse-track), and leaving several meters of silt. The location of the sanctuary became forgotten.[v]
Modern Games
Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France revived the Olympic Games in 1894. The first modern Games were held in Athens in 1896 (see Figure 1). Coubertin aspired to institute an educational program in France that approximated the ancient Greek ideal of the balanced development of mind and body. His determination and organizational genius provided the impetus for the modern Olympic movement. Coubertin was asked why he re-instituted the Olympic Games. He responded by saying,
1896 Athens Olympic Stadium. Picture taken by Laura Sanger.
“To ennoble and strengthen sports, to assure them independence and duration, and to enable them better to fill the educational role which falls to them in the modern world. For the exaltation of the individual athlete, whose existence is necessary for the muscular activity of the community, and the prowess displayed, to encourage general emulation.”[vi]
Some of the fundamental principles of the modern Olympic movement according to the I.O.C. Olympic Charter (September 11, 2000) are:
“Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind… Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.”[vii]
“The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind in the Olympic Spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play.”[viii]
“The activity of the Olympic Movement, symbolized by five interlaced rings, is universal and permanent. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of athletes of the world at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games.”[ix]
Ceremony and Symbolism
The rituals and traditions of the Olympic ceremonies continue the legacy of the Spirit of the Olympics throughout the world and invite the Olympic Spirit to the host city. The Spirit of the Olympics, also referred to as Olympism, The Force, or the Ideal, is a very real spirit acknowledged by Olympic founders and participants worldwide.
“Each Olympic Games is a great rite of passage, in which millions and millions of people are, so to speak, taken on a voyage; away from their routine and daily lives; through a special time and space; and then returned. Some, like the athletes, who are now ‘Olympians’ are changed permanently by this voyage. (John MacAloon, University of Chicago).”[x]
Essentially, MacAloon is describing the Olympic ritual. It’s akin to astral projection which is the ability of the soul to leave the body and travel through realms, time, and space. The Spirit of the Olympics is rooted in humanism (the belief that man is not sinful, but merely imperfect, and so can redeem himself through good works) in the worship of sport and body, and in an antichrist proclamation of peace. If you have taken part in the Olympics as an organizer, volunteer, athlete, or spectator, it may be beneficial to ask Jesus to break the stronghold of humanism released through the Olympic rituals.
In the modern Olympics, the flame is first lit in a ceremony led by women dressed as ancient Greek priestesses (see Figure 2). The rays of the sun, reflected by a parabolic mirror, ignite the
Actresses playing the role of priestesses during the Olympic flame lighting ceremony. Photo taken by Jeffrey Bing, US Embassy, Athens. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_flame#/media/File:Olympia_flame1.jpg
“fire from the sky,” and the High Priestess is the first to receive the Olympic Flame. In a triumphant gesture, she offers the flame back to the sky. The flame is then placed in the cauldron and carried by solemn procession toward the stadium, passing through the Crypt Door. The procession then continues by foot to the stadium with two adolescents at its head, carrying olive branches symbolizing honor to Zeus. The procession is followed by two girls playing the flute.
The cauldron is placed in the center of the ancient Olympic stadium, near the starting blocks the runners used in the Ancient Games. This is the spot the first torch is lit. After invoking the gods of Olympus, the High Priestess passes the burning torch to the first runner, who is escorted by six other athletes as far as the exit of the sacred circle of Olympia.
The origin of the torch relay began during the Berlin Games in 1936 under the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler. Hitler was an avid reader of Greek mythology and compared Nazi’s to the ancient Greeks because both cultures sought after the perfect human specimen. Hitler used the torch relay as propaganda and appointed Joseph Goebbels to maximize the Nazi fanfare. The Olympic Spirit that fuels humanism and physical prowess bolstered Hitler’s ethos of the superior “Aryan” race. The torch relay drew great attention to his ideologies.
2024 Paris Games
I do not recommend watching the Opening or Closing Ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. Even if curiosity gets the best of you, it’s not worth it. The spirits released during these ceremonies travel through our technology and can ride frequencies to enter our homes. Here is a great summary from Amy with eyesontheright4.0:
If you did watch, participate, or compete in the Paris Olympics, here is a prayer that will help cleanse you from the spirits that may have attached themselves to you (written by Andrea Rynberk with www.fourcornersfree.com).
“I exalt God Most High as Creator of the heavens and earth and all that is in them. I declare that at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow of things in heaven, in earth and under the earth; that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
“In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth who came in the flesh, I renounce and repent of all connections and activities with any other spirit including the Olympic spirit, the Olympian gods, particularly Zeus. I renounce any unholy connection with people, places and events that have honored false gods and the pursuit of attaining human perfection.
“I renounce the cauldron, the fire from the sky, the ushering in of the antichrist and the New World Order. I renounce the calling forth of demons from under the sea, the powers of the pyramid and Babylon. I renounce the worship of self and any connection to Nazi ideals of human perfection. I renounce every ritual, ceremony, incantation, or activity that would further the cause of the antichrist.
“In Jesus name, I renounce the mockery of Christianity, of the Last Supper, and of sexuality. I renounce the unholy being exalted. I renounce the release of Dionysus and the pressure to conform to the debauchery and ritualistic sexuality. I renounce the ancient Ephesian mindset that would stir up mob like behavior and compel others to worship false gods. I renounce all bloodshed and madness invoked and any call to participate in occult activities in any time, space, or dimension. I reject connections to any human spirit aligned with these activities or false gods.
“I thank you, Lord Jesus for separation from all of these and I declare that I am a child of the Most High God, created in Christ Jesus for good works and that all honor, glory and praise belong to Him alone. Amen.”
Power of Prayer
In 2002, Salt Lake City hosted the Winter Olympics. The Utah Games Network (a network of Utah Christian leaders and pastors) hosted a prayer initiative at Rice Eccles Stadium and asked Utah’s spiritual mapping team to write a prayer brief that would fuel intercession for the Olympics. Our spiritual mapping team conducted research on the spiritual roots of the Olympics and provided strategic prayer points to equip intercessors with insight to fervently pray for the land, its people, and its visitors. Our desire was to see Jesus exalted during the Olympics rather than the Olympian gods.
We witnessed significant answers to the targeted prayers identified in the spiritual mapping brief. Intercessors were equipped with the prayer points to strike at the root of the issues. Along with the united effort of the Utah Games Network and participating ministries, many believers from all backgrounds joined together to pray for the Games in Utah. The prayer brief allowed nations to come together and pray in agreement for the Lord’s purposes to be accomplished during the Olympics. Our goal was to spiritually host our guests with the blessings of God.
Jesus answered our prayers. Our city and our visitors were richly blessed by the 2002 Winter Olympics. NBC Sports Commentator, Bob Costas, said in his closing remarks, “These Games now have a place in Olympic history, where it will be written that Salt Lake staged of one of the best Winter Olympics ever held – many say THE best.”[xi]
Some of the targeted prayer points from the spiritual mapping brief included:
- Pray for peace and protection from terrorism, especially on the heels of 9/11 and being at war with Iraq.
- Pray for effective evangelism from the Christian ministries and individuals planning to come to the Olympics.
- Pray for wisdom for the Utah Games Network to educate visiting ministries about Utah culture.
- Pray for the distribution and reception of the Bridges Training Series so that the message of salvation through Jesus Christ can be done with grace, clarity, and respect.
- Pray for protection and blessing of peace on the host cities, families, and venues so that the nations may see Jesus and hear the good news of salvation.
- Pray that hidden things come to light.
- Pray that wherever the torch relay goes, the light of Christ will shine instead of the light of the Greek gods.
Answered prayer:
- Security efforts were the largest for any sporting event ever. Despite the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996 and the heightened level of terrorism in the nation during the Salt Lake Olympics, there were no issues. Everyone involved in the 2002 Games remained safe.
- The “More Than Gold” evangelistic tools were very effective. The Olympic trading pins opened up conversation about the gospel.
- Over 1,200 people participated in the Bridges Seminar, a tool designed to educate Christians, especially those visiting during the Olympics, on how to be an effective witness in our culture. This seminar, along with the outreach efforts of the Utah Games Network, had such a positive impact that “visiting evangelists from Athens and Torino, Italy…met to ask how the principles could be adopted to their own cities in order to share their faith and not offend local residents.”[xii]
- As host cities, Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas experienced peace and were served by over 25,714 volunteers. Only 77 volunteers dropped out or were terminated. Newsweek reporter Sharon Begley wrote “The hosts shone. The last time the United States held an Olympics was in the summer of 1996 in Atlanta, and the contrast with Salt Lake City could not have been starker. Atlanta looked like a tacky flea market, with wall-to-wall sidewalk vendors and omnipresent in-your-face corporate logos.”[xiii] Bob Costas stated, “These games worked because a multitude of citizens…were relentlessly efficient and cheerful.”[xiv]
- The Salt Lake Games brought to light scandals that were previously hidden in the shadows. The 2002 Olympic bribery scandal was exposed even before the Games began. Previously, bribing I.O.C. officials was common practice; however, the practice was brought to the light in Salt Lake City. Major overhauls in the bidding process have occurred because of what happened.
- The judging of figure skating had been suspect for years leading up to the Salt Lake Games, but it was finally brought to light. “The scandal may also prove a stunning turning point in the history of one of the most popular sports in the Winter Olympics. ‘This is not an end,’ Sale said. ‘The truth still has to come out and they have to solve it.’ International Skating Union President Ottavio Cinquanta has pledged to do just that, proposing radical changes in the scoring system for figure skating.”[xv]
- The torch ceremony involving the Greek High Priestess receiving fire from the sun’s rays was thwarted. The weather prevented the lighting of the torch directly from the sun during the ceremony. There is an empowering that happens during an official ceremony that is lacking at other times (marriage ceremony vs rehearsal). Mike Gorrell reported that the priestess “performed a modified lighting ceremony because cloudy weather had ruled out using the sun’s rays to kindle the Olympic flame.”[xvi] Additionally, the torch went out on several occasions along the way and had to be re-lit, and no tribute was paid to the ancient Greek pantheon when it was re-lit.
We rejoice at what God did during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. May this be an encouragement to those who live in cities that will be hosting the Olympics.
James 5:16 “…The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Written by Laura Sanger, Ph.D.
References
[i] Swaddling, J. (1980). The Ancient Olympic Games. Austin: University of Texas Press in cooperation with the British Museum.
[ii] Andronicus, M (1979). Introduction. In The Eternal Olympics: The Art and History of Sport. New Rochelle, NY: Caratzas Brothers Publishers
[iii] Swaddling, J. (1980). The Ancient Olympic Games. Austin: University of Texas Press in cooperation with the British Museum.
[iv] Origin of the Sacred Flame (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.thionvilletourisme.co.uk/stay/highlights/the-origin-of-the-sacred-flame/
[v] Ibid.
[vi] The Olympic Studies Centre (Nov 21, 2018). The Olympic Movement, the IOC, and the Olympic Games. Retrieved from https://stillmedab.olympic.org/media/Document%20Library/OlympicOrg/Factsheets-Reference-Documents/Olympic-Movement/Reference-Documents/The-Olympic-Movement.pdf
[vii] Ibid
[viii] Ibid
[ix] Ibid
[x] I.O.C. (January 31, 2002). Opening Ceremony. Retrieved from https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reports/EN/en_report_268.pdf
[xi] Costas, B. (February 22, 2002). Closing Remarks. NBC Olympic Coverage.
[xii] Moore, C. (March 16, 2002). Some Evangelists Rue Salt Lake Tactics. Desert News.
[xiii] Begley, S. (March 4, 2002). What a Gold Rush. Newsweek.
[xiv] Costas, B. (February 22, 2002). Closing Remarks. NBC Olympic Coverage.
[xv] Lewis, M. (February 23, 2002). Turning Point. Salt Lake Tribune.
[xvi] Gorrell, M. (November 19, 2001). Flame’s Journey Begins. Newsweek.