The gymnasium at Olympia was constructed adjacent to the Palaistra in the 2nd century BC. The large rectangular building (120 x 222 m) was built around a courtyard, and surrounded on at least three sides by colonnades. Like the Palaistra, the building contained arenas for athletes to practice their sport. Under the eastern colonnade was a two-lane track for athletes to practice running events in hot or rainy weather: the track measured 192.28 meters: the exact length of the stadium. The dimensions of the courtyard were quite large, and provided space for javelin and discus practice (N. Yalouris). Nothing remains of the western half of the building, which was destroyed by flood. However, it is likely that the western gymnasium contained living quarters for the athletes during the games (E. Gardiner).

References

Biers, William R. The Archaeology of Greece. Cornell University Press, Ithica; 1996

Gardiner, E. Norman. Olympia: Its History and Remains. Clarendon Press, London; 1925

Schobel, Heinz. The Ancient Olympic Games. D. Van Nostrand Compay, Princeton; 1965

Swaddling, Judith. The Ancient Olympic Games. British Museum Press, London; 2004

Valavanis, Panos. Games and Sanctuaries in Ancient Greece. Getty Publications, Los Angeles; 2004

Yalouris, Nikolaos. Olympia: Altis and Museum. Verlag Schnell & Steiner Munchen, Zurich; 1976