Organized athletic contests in ancient Greece date back nearly 3,000 years, with significant festivals emerging by the 6th century BC. Four major events gained prominence: the Olympic Games at Olympia, the Pythian Games at Delphi, the Nemean Games at Nemea, and the Isthmian Games near Corinth. These festivals not only celebrated athletic prowess but also spread to around 150 cities, including Rome and Alexandria, with the Olympic Games becoming the most renowned of them all.
Movement is essential for learning and development, particularly in children, who explore their environment and establish connections between actions and reality. The book delves into motor learning, highlighting how the brain processes skills through practice and experience, leading to lasting changes in the central nervous system. It emphasizes the importance of the cerebellum and basal nuclei in coordinating these motor skills, providing a scientific framework for understanding how individuals improve their movement capabilities over time.