Three out of the five days were devoted to the games. On the first day, religious sacrifices, the registration of athletes, and making the oath were completed. Sacrifices to offer thanks were made on the fifth day. .
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All Greek men had the right to participate unless they had committed murder or heresy and customarily ran naked. Winners were crowned with a modest prize of a wreath of wild olive at the temple of Zeus after a great procession. The Eleans traced the establishment of the Olympic games to their King Iphitos (mentioned above), who was told by the Delphic Oracle to plant the olive tree from which the winners" wreaths were cut. There were also usually some unofficial prizes awarded by the individuals" city-state. For example, Athens allowed an Olympic champion to live free of charge in a special hall set aside for distinguished citizens called a Pyrtaneum. Other city-states exempted winners from taxes for four-years (an Olympiad), and in some cases citizens contributed to a cash award.
Women were were prohibited from watching the games. This however, was not due to the nudity of the males, it was because in essence, Olympia was dedicated to Zeus and was therefore a sacred area for men. They were however allowed to attend the chariot races, which were held outside the sacred grounds.
One month before the games, the athletes gathered at Elis, the organising town, to undergo spiritual, moral, and physical training under the supervision of the judges. It was these judges who then decided which of the athletes were genuinely qualified to compete. Each competitor had to swear an oath that he was a free-born Greek who had committed no sacrilege against the gods.
Two days before they were due to start, the contestants made their way to Olympia and were received by immense crowds who were there to attend the 5 day event. One more thing that took place during this time was the lighting of the Olympic Flame.
