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Sport is an old activity of man.in fact it is an old as mankind ,practiced by all ancient societes ,who considered it vital for self defense,a reference to activities that embrace force and physical skill. They also saw in sport a way of entertainment and recreational activities. Although the greeks were not the inventor of ancient games they were certainly the first to organize major festivals in which sport made the most important events in these festivials. Initially sport was practiced randomly with no rules and without time limits, it gradually was organized to be held periodically and in a specific times with rules and judges to supervise the events. In ancient Greece these periodical sporting events and festivals succeeded in uniting the greeks in a time when treaties and alliance failed to do so the gathering of crowds for these event was an important occasion that has political,social and cultural significant religion played important role in highlighting the importantce of these sporting events. Gods to whom these festivals were dedicated had an important place in the heart and minds of the greeks. In Cyrenaica like mainland Greece sport was practiced as a recreational and entertainment activity as well as religious ceremonial. The Cyrenaens organized various sporting events locally and participated in the pan-Hellenic festivals overseas and their athletes won prizes,literary sources record this. It is important to record the fame of the Libyan horses which were nurtured on the pasturage of the green Mountain.Libyan horses were well known and valued in most parts of the ancient world.they crossed the Mediterranean as export items or to take part in the athletic competion which were held at various part of Greece. Connected to the horses are Cyrenaican chariots drawn by two or four horsed the Libyan charioteers won victories and fame.the classical writer pindar (518-438 B.C)wrote about two races wan by the chariots of Cyrenaean king Arecsilaus IV(475-449 B.C)the Olympic and the Pythian games. Sports buildings in ancient Cyrenaica stand as witness to the sport activities in the region.these include the stadia,gymnasia and hippodromes,nearly all identical in structure and size to those in the ancient cities of the mainland Greece. Sport activities of the Cyrenaeans of the pentapolis locally and overseas prove that they were culturally as integral part of the ancient greek world.
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