In ancient Olympic history, the first recorded Olympic Games were held at Olympia in Greece. In which year (BCE) did this inaugural festival occur?

Introduction / Context:
The origin date of the ancient Olympic Games is a foundational fact in sports history and general knowledge. The Games began in Greece at Olympia and became a recurring Panhellenic festival with athletic, cultural, and religious significance.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Location: Olympia, Greece.
• Nature: Ancient Olympic Games (not the modern Olympics which began in 1896 CE).
• Task: Identify the first recorded year.

Concept / Approach:
Ancient chronologies often use notable events as anchors. The earliest reliably recorded Olympiad is historically fixed at a specific BCE date by Greek historians and later classical scholars. The commonly accepted anchor year is 776 BCE, from which Olympiads were counted in four-year cycles.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Classical texts and standard reference works list the first Olympiad in 776 BCE. This date is used in many timelines of ancient Greece and sports history curricula worldwide.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• 876 BC / 898 BC / 798 BC: Not used as the official starting point for the Olympic cycle in most academic references; 776 BCE is the accepted benchmark.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing the date of the first recorded Olympiad with other ancient Greek festivals or with the start of the modern Olympics. Also, mixing CE (AD) with BCE (BC) is a frequent error—note the minus timeline for BCE dates.

Final Answer:
776 BC