International sport traditions began with which civilization?

• A. Roman
• B. Greek
• C. Chinese
• D. Egyptian

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how organized, cross-city athletic competition began. The ancient Greeks created the first broad tradition of sport that linked multiple polises through official festivals and competitions. They formalized events, often with standardized rules, and held gatherings where athletes from different Greek states came together to compete. The Panhellenic Games, especially the Olympic Games at Olympia, illustrate this clearly: they brought competitors from across a region to participate under shared rituals and honors, laying down a template for international sport that goes beyond a single city or tribe. While other civilizations such as the Egyptians, Chinese, or Romans had rich athletic cultures, it was the Greek model of interconnected, standardized competition that established the international framework later generations drew on as modern sport traditions developed.