Empower 25. Birth of the Olympics. Extra Cloze

Complete the following text by writing the missing words. Use ONLY one word for each space.

BIRTH OF THE OLYMPICS

It all began in 776 BC, with a simple foot race of about 200m held at Olympia in Greece. __________ (1) four years from then, athletes as well __________ (2) poets and artists met there for a festival in honour of the god Zeus. __________ (3) from foot racing, the event came __________ (4) include wrestling, boxing and the pentathlon. Winners became overnight heroes and __________ (5) festival merited a permanent place in the Greek calendar to mark a span of four years __________ (6) they called the Olympiad.
The games __________ (7) for nearly 1200 years, until 394 AD, ____________ (8) the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius 1 banned all such “pagan” celebrations. A millennium and a half later, a French baron began a campaign to recreate that spirit __________ (9) good-natured but serious competition. Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s family wanted __________ (10) to become an officer in the French Army. But de Coubertin believed that the cause of peace __________ (11) be better served __________ (12) a regular meeting of amateur, world-class athletes and dedicated his energy __________ (13) realising his dream. During the 1890s he __________ (14) speech after speech to international sports associations, and __________ (15) last persuaded them to revive the name and spirit of the ancient Olympic Games.
KEY

BIRTH OF THE OLYMPICS

It all began in 776 BC, with a simple foot race of about 200m held at Olympia in Greece. EVERY (1) four years from then, athletes as well AS (2) poets and artists met there for a festival in honour of the god Zeus. APART (3) from foot racing, the event came TO (4) include wrestling, boxing and the pentathlon. Winners became overnight heroes and THE / THIS (5) festival merited a permanent place in the Greek calendar to mark a span of four years WHICH / THAT (6) they called the Olympiad.
The games LASTED / CONTINUED (7) for nearly 1200 years, until 394 AD, WHEN (8) the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned all such “pagan” celebrations. A millennium and a half later, a French baron began a campaign to recreate that spirit OF (9) a good-natured but serious competition. Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s family wanted HIM (10) to become an officer in the French Army. But de Coubertin believed that the cause of peace WOULD (11) be better served BY(12) a regular meeting of amateur, world-class athletes and dedicated his energy TO (13) realising his dream. During the 1890s he MADE (14) speech after speech to international sports associations, and AT (15) last persuaded them to revive the name and spirit of the ancient Olympic Games.