The Olympic Games - History
• Known as the World’s Greatest Sports Competition• 1st Held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th Century BC to the 4th
Century BC• Not Really Known How they Started• Held between athletes from cities & kingdoms in Ancient Greece• Events included Running, Pentathlon, Javelin, Boxing & Chariot
Races• Poems Were Written About the Winners & Statues of Them Were
Created• As the Romans Gained Power from The Greeks The Games
Officially Ended (Around 426 AD)
The Olympic Games – History
• There Are 5 Categories of Games:1. The Ancient Olympics Games• Held in Greece
2. Summer Olympic Games• Every 4 Years
3. Winter Olympic Games4. Paralympic Games• For People With Disabilities
5. Youth Olympic Games• For Teenage Athletes
The Olympic Games – Modern Games
• The International Olympic Committee was set up in 1890
• Decided the Olympics would be held every 2 Years – Rotating Winter & Summer – Winter Every 4 Years– Summer Every 4 Years
• 1st Olympic Games Held in Athens in 1896– 14 Countries ; 241 Athletes; 43 Events
• 2nd Games Held in Paris • Host Countries Are Chosen 7 Years in Advance
The Olympic Games – Modern Games
Some Host Cities
Paris
St. Louis (USA)
London
Barcelona
Antwerp
Athens
The Olympic Games - Modern Games
• French & English are the Official Languages of the Olympics
• If the Language of the Host Nation is Different that is Used Too
• The Olympic Flame Stays Lit During the Whole Olympic Games
• It is lit in Greece and Carried to the Country Hosting the Games
• There is a Different Mascot for Each Games
The Olympic Games – Modern Games
• The Olympic Rings Represent the Olympics• 5 Connected Rings to Represent the 5 Inhabited
Continents– America, Africa, Asia, Australasia & Europe- 2 Continents not included: the Arctic & Antarctica
• Each Ring A Different Colour:- Blue, Yellow, Black, Green, Red- Every Country Has At Least One of Those Colours in Their Flag
• They Are Linked to Show Friendship• The Olympic Motto Means ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’
The Olympic Games - Ceremonies
• Opening Ceremony:– Starts by Raising Flag of Host Country– There is A Show – Dancing / Singing– All Countries Taking Part March into Stadium• Greece Normally Marches 1st
• Countries Then Come in Alphabetical Order • The Host Country Comes in Last
– Speeches Are Made– Last Thing Is To Light The Torch
The Olympic Games - Ceremonies
• Closing Ceremony:– Held After All The Events Are Over– All the Athletes Enter Together– Flags Are Raised
• Greece• Current Host • Host of Next Winter & Summer Olympics
– More Speeches !!!– The Flame is Put Out– Some Artistic Displays from The Next Host Nation
The Olympic Games - Events
• Only One Event Has Men & Women Competing Against Each Other : Equestrian
• Women 1st Took Part in the Games in 1900• Some Countries Still Don’t Send Women!!• There Are Almost 400 Events• Medals Are Awarded for 1st (Gold) , 2nd (Silver)
& 3rd Place (Bronze)
The Olympic Games – London 2012
• Next Year the Summer Olympics Will Be Held in London
• This is the 3rd Time London Has Hosted the Games
• Most Events Will Be in London– Some Soccer Matches Will Be Held Outside London
• They Will Start in July & Finish on 12th August• I am Going to 2 Events (Maybe 3 If We Are
Lucky !!)
The Olympic Games – London 2012
• These are the Olympic mascot they are called • Wenlock and Mandeville