The Greeks believed that athletic skills and prowess were gifts of the gods, and all their sports events were therefore held in honour of a god.
The four major events were the Games of Apollo at Delphi, Poseidon at Nemea and Corinth, and most important and prestigious of all, the Games in honour of Zeus at Olympia.
The major Panathenaic Games were also held at Athens, in honour of Athena. Collectively the Games were known as the periodos, or circuit, and throughout them all, prayers and sacrifices were offered to the gods.
