Racing

Racing is a competition of speed, against an objective criterion, usually a clock or to a specific point. The competitors in a race try to complete a given task in the shortest amount of time. Typically this involves traversing some distance, but it can be any other task involving speed to reach a specific goal.

Through time, many cultures used racing as a way of training, entertainment or sports competitions.

History

Classical Era

In Ancient Greece, the myth of the chariot racer Pelops became the origin of the Olympic Games, where competitors participated in many types of races as running or horseracing at the Sanctuary of Olympia. Even if at the beginning women weren't allowed to participate, the victory of the Spartan princess Cynisca in 396 BCE permitted other women to participate at chariot competition. Women also competed in footraces during the Heraia.

Throughout Greece, many cities possessed a stadium, a dromos, or a hippodrome to train their athletes.

In Egypt during the end of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, chariot racing was a popular event in Alexandria's hippodrome. By 48 BCE, the Veneta Blue and the Prasina Green competed to become the best chariot racing team. The Medjay Bayek of Siwa joined the Prasina Green after he quarreled with his old friend Claridas, a member of the Veneta Blue. Due to his winning streak, Bayek became a famous chariot racer.

In Roman Empire, chariot racing was also a popular activity. In Rome, the Circus Maximus could hold 250,000 people, which was roughly one quarter of the city's population. In Constantinople, the classical Greek hippodrome was enlarged and improved by Constantine I and remained in use for nearly 800 years.

Crusades

During the Third Crusade, the Levantine Assassin Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was tasked by his informers to accomplish races in exchange of information about his targets. During some of them, he needed to collect flags or only reach his informants before they left the city.

Italian Renaissance

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Thieves' guils from Italian city-states organized races in Florence, Venice, Forlì, San Gimignano and Rome to test the speed of the competitors. The Italian Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze participated in numerous races, becoming a legend and a role model among the thieves for his speed and agility.

During the Carnevale of Venice, a competition of four games was organized for the Golden Mask, which provided entry to the Doge's personal ball. One of the games was a speed race while another was a capture the flag race.>

Victorian London

By 1868, the bookie Robert Topping organized illegal street racing events, principally carriage racing, in London. The twin British Assassins Evie and Jacob Frye regularly participated in his racing competitions, becoming the champions of London.

Modern Times

During his time in the Animus, the Assassin Desmond Miles trained himself in simulations to develop his skills through the Bleeding Effect.

Apperance

• Assassin's Creed
• Assassin's Creed II
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
• Assassin's Creed: Syndicate
• Assassin's Creed: Origins
• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey