the olympic games the history of the world’s most famous competition

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The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition.

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Page 1: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

The Olympic Games

The history of the world’s most famous competition.

Page 2: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

When were the first Olympic Games?

• The first known Olympic Games was recorded in around 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. They were celebrated until 396 AD.

Page 3: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

What events took place in the Ancient Olympic Games?

• The Ancient Olympic Games consisted of only one race, the "stade" race, which was the length of the stadium and between 180 and 240 meters long (we don't know for sure). Over the years more running races and other events were added, including boxing, wrestling, chariot racing, long jump, javelin and discus throwing.

Page 4: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Who took part in the Ancient Olympic Games?

• Only young men could take part. They had to be free men, and speak Greek. They usually competed nude, and the prize was a crown of olive leaves (a sign of hope and peace).

Page 5: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Were women allowed at the Ancient Olympic Games?

• Women were not allowed to take part. Married women were not even allowed to watch!

Page 6: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Who revived the idea of the Olympic Games?

• A French nobleman, Pierre Fredy, the Baron de Coubertin, born in 1863. When he was young, Coubertin was a very keen sportsman. As he grew older he developed a passionate belief that sport could encourage peace throughout the world and bring people from all over the world together.

• Coubertin was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games and traveled around the world, spending his own money, trying to persuade people to revive them. Eventually he managed to bring together representatives of many different countries in Paris, in 1894, and the Olympic Movement was begun.

Page 7: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

When and where were the first modern Olympic Games held?

• The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896.

Page 8: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Did women compete in this first modern Olympic Games?

• No! Women began to compete in 1900. For many years there were problems for the women athletes about what to wear, because it was considered very rude to show any part of the body or even the shape of the body! Can you imagine trying to run and jump covered from head to foot in clothes?

Page 9: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Who supervises the Olympic Games?

• When Baron de Coubertin founded the Olympic Movement he established the International Olympic Committee (the IOC) to supervise it, in 1894. He himself served as its president for 29 years, and there have been 8 presidents since then. There were originally 14 members but the Committee has now grown to over 130 members, all of whom must speak either French or English. Existing members elect new members as required. The IOC is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Page 10: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

What is the aim of the Olympic Movement?

• "The goal of the Olympic Movement is to contribute to building a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play."

Page 11: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

What is an Olympiad?

• An Olympiad is the period of four years which starts with a summer Olympic Games. Each Olympiad is counted with Roman numerals, and the year of the Games cannot be changed (although Games have been skipped out, as in 1916 during the First World War).

Page 12: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Who chooses the next host for the Olympic Games, and how?

• Members of the IOC choose the next venue for the Olympic Games, which must be a city rather than a country. So, for example, the next Olympics, in 2012, will be hosted by London, rather than England. Any city which wishes to host the Games put their bid to the IOC. Only one city from each country can bid, and even putting forward a bid takes a huge amount of work and is very expensive.

Page 13: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Who selects each country's team of athletes?

• Each country has their own National Olympic Committee (NOC). The NOCs represent their countries at the Olympic Games and select their own national teams.

Page 14: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

What is the Olympic torch?

• Prior to each Games, the Olympic Torch or Flame is lit in Olympia, Greece and brought to the host city by runners carrying the torch in relay.

Page 15: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

What is the Olympic creed?

• "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."

Page 16: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Who wins medals?

• The athletes or teams who come first, second and third win medals: respectively gold, silver and bronze.

Page 17: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Are the gold medals real gold?

• No! They were solid gold until 1912, but are now silver covered with a thin layer of gold.

Page 18: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

Why do we have the Olympic rings as the emblem of the

Olympic Games?

• The five interlocking rings (blue, yellow, black, green, and red respectively) of the emblem was originally designed in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin, to symbolize the five continents of the world taking part in the Olympic Games (the Americas are viewed as a single continent, and Antarctica is omitted).

Page 19: The Olympic Games The history of the world’s most famous competition

What is the Olympic motto?

• "Citius, Altius, Fortius.", which is Latin for "Swifter, Higher, Stronger"