Delphic Games: Venue and Winners of 2014

About the Olympics for sure everyone knows, but the Delphic Games for many are unfamiliar and incomprehensible. What are they and how often are they conducted? Who are the participants in these events? You can find out all this by reading this article.

What is the Delphic Games? A bit of history

A set of festivals, competitions, exhibitions and presentations in various arts are called Delphic games. Once in ancient Greece, in addition to the famous Olympic sports competitions, Pythian games were also held, which were dedicated to Apollo - the god of sunlight, sciences and healing. They were held at the foot of the sacred mountain Parnas near the town of Delphi. Why are these games called Pythian? The thing is that the supreme god Apollo, according to legend, defeated Python (the mythical dragon), who guarded the prophet and himself began to possess the gift of prophecy. In honor of this victory, the golden-haired god established the new Agon and the Delphic oracle.

The rules of the first Delphic Games

Initially, the competitions were conducted not only around the arts, but also represented sports (athletic) competitions, including "races" in chariots. In Delphi, at the foot of the sacred mountain, everyone gathered to demonstrate their special talents. A great emphasis was put on musical competitions, in particular, performances under the accompaniment of cithara - Apollo's favorite stringed instrument . According to the established rules, the Pythian games were held every four years, and one year before the Olympic sports competitions.

Certificates of Delphic Games

About Pythian (Delphic) games we have received reliable written evidence. These sources indicate that the games were held from 582 BC. There is also information that after the First Holy War the management of the Games passed to the Council of 12 Greek tribes. In addition to written testimonies, one can also learn about Pythian games from some illustrations. For example, preserved vases, dating from 6-5 centuries BC, which depicts stories from ancient games. It is known from sources that in 394 AD the Christian Emperor Theodosius the First, along with the Olympic Games, was prohibited from holding the Pythian games, since they were dedicated to pagan gods and could not take place in the United Roman Empire.

Revival of traditions

1912 thanks to Baron Pierre de Coubertin was marked by the revival of the Olympic Games. Until 1948, along with the sporting competitions in the framework of this grandiose event, art contests were also held, but all of them in one way or another were connected with sports. In the 20-ies of the twentieth century in Greece, an attempt was made to revive the Pythian games, and in the ancient theater in the ancient city of Delphi, an arts festival was held. The organizers of this event were the Greek poet Angelos Sikelianos and his wife, an American Eva Palmer. But since this initiative did not have state support, then, after having existed for three years, these games were suspended until 1997, and only in 1997 the First International Youth Delphic Games were held in Tbilisi. Three years later, the First World Delphic Games were held in Moscow by the decision of the international committee. Representatives of 27 countries took part in them. Now the headquarters of the Delphic Committee is in Berlin. After the first games, youth dolphiades were held in Albania, Georgia, Belarus, the Philippines and other countries. The cities where the Delphic Games take place are prepared in advance for this event. For each of them this is a big responsibility. After all, this event attracts representatives from all over the world, and the meeting party should be sufficiently prepared to adequately meet the guests and organize cultural competitions in a proper way. These cities should have the necessary number of concert halls, exhibition pavilions.

Participants in the Delphic Games

There are no strict criteria for selecting members of delegations participating in the games. They are not divided into professionals and amateurs. The main condition is compliance with the requirements of the program, as well as having a high performing talent. In youth games, people from 10 to 25 years can participate, while in categories there are three age categories.

Russian Delphiades

A few years after the revival of the world's delphic games, the Russian council separated from the International. And if the world passes once in four years, then Russian games are every year. They are held in one of the many cultural centers of Russia in late spring. Young talents from different parts of our country come to them. At the same time, foreign delegations can take part in competitions, and Russian artists, in turn, often participate in the World Delphic Games. Before the games, from the end of the autumn to the beginning of the spring, qualifying rounds are held first at the regional, and then at the municipal, regional and regional levels.

Competitions and competitions

Modern delphiades include competitions in almost all types of modern, classical and folk arts. This can be as a web design, culinary or hairdressing art, and theater, dance or symphonic music. In total, there are about forty nominations. And since the competitions are held not as Olympic, that is every four years, but annually, then each time the competitions take place in 20-30 types from the total number of nominations.

The Delphic Games: Volgograd 2014

In early May this year in the city-hero of Volgograd, the cultural project "Delphi Volgograd - 2014" was launched. In the framework of this event, games were held among young talents. The total number of participants in the games was 2600 people (however, about one million participated in the qualifying rounds). They represented not only Russia, but also the countries of near and far abroad. The average age of the participants was 16 years. Volgograd Delphi Games were the number thirteenth. A lot of famous artists from all over the world came to the city on the Volga, many of them entered the authoritative jury.

Opening of the Delfiad-2014

The grand opening of this grand event took place on the central embankment of the city of Volgograd. Delphic games gathered about 70 000 spectators, before which the parade participants of the Delphic Games paraded, during the event a theatrical performance was shown. According to the established tradition of the guests, members of the jury and the delegation greeted the International Space Crew from orbit. There, in the immediate vicinity of the great Russian river, a fire was lit, and a national flag was raised under the Russian national anthem.

Competition program of Volgograd Delphic Games

At 13 Youth Delphic Games prizes were played in 29 nominations. Here are some of them: instrumental music (piano, violin, saxophone, flute, guitar, balalaika, accordion), vocals (academic, folk, variety, solo and choral singing), dances (modern, folk and classical), arts (culinary , Hairdressing, design, including web design and other types), folk art handicrafts and crafts, circus. According to the rules, participants were divided into three age groups. About 30 cultural objects of Volgograd and Volzhsky were prepared for the competitions. The high level of the organization of the event was evidence of the seriousness with which the administration of the region and the Volgograd municipality treated this cultural holiday, known as the "Delphic Games". The winners, of course, were determined by the jury.

Prizes and awards

For five days in Volgograd there were battles between representatives of delegations in various kinds of art. A few days before the announcement of the closure of the festival "Delphic Games 2014" the results of the competition were already known. By the way, bronze, silver and gold medals were played between the participants , a total of 62 sets. According to the results of the contest program, laureates and diploma winners were determined. The first in the award went to medals, and the second - diplomas and incentive awards. However, the winners in the nomination "Classical Guitar" were expecting a joyful event: the official partner of the Games, the company "Gibson Guitar" presented golden winners with acoustic instruments. From the laureates, a national team was formed to participate in the European, and then in the World Delphic Games.

Winners

The first place in the number of won prizes was won by the Moscow team, in the second place was the team of the Samara region, in third place - the players from the Primorsky Territory. The host team, that is, the Volgograd region, also entered the top five.