Book excerpt: From its beginnings in Ancient Greek antiquity, right up to its arrival in Great Britain, the home of so many modern sports and favoured pastimes, the Olympic Games have always been a grand and exciting spectacle, whether you're watching a no-holds-barred wrestling match or a mesmerising, freewheeling gymnast. 'The Olympics, A Very Peculiar History' gives an overview of the strange, the unbelievable and the downright bizarre events that have occurred over the many years that this esteemed competition has seen. This ebook features amazing athlete statistics, biographies and records, and well as quirky stories and fascinating facts from the world of the Olympiad.