SAEDNEWS: The Olympics are a sports festival believed by archaeologists and historians to have been held in ancient Greece and revived in the late 19th century.
The Olympic Games originated as sports festivals in ancient Greece and were revived in the late 19th century. Initially, most of these celebrations were religious, held to honor Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, at a temple site called Olympia. Located in Greece, this plain has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Participants in the ancient Olympics were exclusively men with sufficient wealth and time to dedicate to sports. These festivals were often held every four years to celebrate victories in wars or commemorate the births and deaths of kings and nobles.
Modern Olympics, including the Summer, Winter, and Paralympic Games, are major international sporting events. Thousands of athletes from over 200 countries participate, making the Olympics the most prestigious sports competition globally. The games are held every four years, alternating every two years between the Summer and Winter Olympics.
The Olympics began as a religious celebration to honor Zeus, first held in 776 BC in Olympia, where his sanctuary was located. According to Greek mythology, Hercules, a demi-god, created the event to celebrate his extraordinary victories. Another legend claims that the games were initiated to commemorate Zeus' triumph over Kronos, another Greek god, in their battle for dominance over Olympia.
According to 7News, the Olympic Games include the following sports:
Basketball 3×3
Archery
Artistic Gymnastics
Synchronized Swimming
Badminton
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Beach Volleyball
Boxing
Canoe Slalom
Canoe Sprint
BMX Cycling
Mountain Biking
Track Cycling
Road Cycling
Diving
Equestrian
Fencing
Football (Soccer)
Golf
Handball
Hockey
Judo
Karate
Marathon Swimming
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Rowing
Rugby Sevens
Sailing
Shooting
Skateboarding
Sport Climbing
Surfing
Swimming
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Tennis
Trampoline Gymnastics
Modern Pentathlon
Volleyball
Water Polo
Weightlifting
Wrestling
Athletics
From 394 AD, when the ancient Olympics ended, to 1896, the games were forgotten. However, archaeological excavations in Olympia and the efforts of French and Greek governments, along with Pierre de Coubertin, led to their revival.
In 1889, Coubertin organized a conference in Paris to establish the foundation of modern Olympic Games. By 1896, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was formed, and the first modern Olympics were held in Athens.
The Olympic torch symbolizes continuity between the ancient and modern games. Months before the games begin, the torch is lit in Olympia, Greece, and transported to the host city for the opening ceremony. It burns throughout the event and is extinguished during the closing ceremony.
The Olympics occur every four years. The Winter and Summer Olympics alternate every two years within this four-year cycle. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Athletes or teams achieving first, second, or third place in each event receive medals: gold for first, silver for second, and bronze for third. Initially, gold medals were made of pure gold until 1912, but today they are silver with gold plating.
The tradition of awarding three medals began in 1906. Initially, only silver and bronze medals were awarded to first and second place winners.
The Winter Olympics focus on sports performed on snow and ice. The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. Since then, the event has evolved, with sports being added and removed. Currently, Norway holds the record for the most medals won in the Winter Olympics.
1948 London: 1 silver, 1 bronze
1952 Helsinki: 3 silver, 4 bronze
1956 Melbourne: 2 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze
1960 Rome: 1 silver, 3 bronze
1964 Tokyo: 2 bronze
1968 Mexico City: 2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze
1972 Munich: 2 silver, 1 bronze
1976 Montreal: 1 silver, 1 bronze
1988 Seoul: 1 silver
1992 Barcelona: 1 silver, 2 bronze
1996 Atlanta: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
2000 Sydney: 3 gold, 1 bronze
2004 Athens: 2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
2008 Beijing: 1 gold, 1 bronze
2012 London: 4 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze
2016 Rio: 3 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze
