The Olympics

The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia by women wearing ancient-style robes and using a curved mirror and the sun. The Olympic flame is one of the most visible symbols of the modern games. The flame represents purity, the endeavor for perfection and the struggle for victory. It also represents peace and friendship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv7XnrCksZA&feature=related

The Olympic Flame

The tradition of the modern Olympic Torch Relay began in 1936 at the Berlin Games in Germany.

The Olympic Torch is then passed from runner to runner from the ancient site of Olympia to the Olympic stadium in the hosting city. The Olympic Torch relay represents a continuation from the ancient Olympic Games to the modern Olympics. Its an honor and once in a lifetime experience to carry the torch. Once it arrives at the host city the flame from the torch is used to light the cauldron at the Olympic Stadium during the Opening Ceremony. The flames burns throughout the Games, and it is extinguished at the Closing Ceremony.

The Olympic Torch

In 1921, Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father Henri Didon, for the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius ("Swifter, Higher, Stronger").

The Olympic Motto

The Olympic Creed

Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for this phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The Olympic Creed reads:

"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."

The Olympic Oath "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these

Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams."

Written by Baron de Coubertin, the oath is taken by an athlete from the host nation while holding a corner of the Olympic flag. The athletes' oath was first

taken by Belgian fencer Victor Boin at the 1920 Antwerp Games.

The Olympic Athlete’s Oath

The Official Olympic Flag

Created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914, the Olympic flag contains five interconnected rings on a white background. The five rings symbolize the five significant continents and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be gained from these international competitions. The rings, from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. Blue is for Europe, Yellow is for Asia, Black is for Africa, Green is for Australia and Red is for North & South America. The colors were chosen because at least one of them appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games.

The Olympic Rings

Women participating in the Olympic Games

Women

Women were first allowed to participate in 1900 at the second

modern Olympic Games.

Winter Games The winter Olympic Games were first held in 1924,

beginning a tradition of holding them a few months earlier and in a different city than the summer Olympic Games. Beginning in 1994, the winter Olympic Games were held in completely different years (two years apart) than the summer Games.

Winter Games

Cancelled Games

Because of World War I and World War II, there were no Olympic Games in 1916, 1940, or 1944.

Cancelled Games

http://www.olympic.org/london-2012-summer-olympics

Announcing of the 2012 Olympic Games

When will the London Olympics take place? The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held in London from 27

July to 12 August 2012, followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games from 29 August to 9 September.

How many times has London hosted the Olympics? London hosted the Olympic games in 1908 and 1948.

How many countries are expected to take part in the London 2012 Olympics?

We expect 205 nations to take part in 300 events at the Olympic Games in 2012.

147 nations will take part in the Paralympic Games.

London Olympic 2012

•Aquatics •Archery •Athletics •Badminton •Basketball •Boxing •Canoe and Kayak •Cycling •Equestrian •Fencing •Football •Gymnastics •Handball •Hockey •Judo •Modern Pentathlon •Rowing •Sailing •Shooting •Table Tennis •Taekwondo •Tennis •Triathlon •Volleyball •Weightlifting •Wrestling

The 26 Olympic sports at London 2012 will be:

•Boccia •Football (5-a-side) •Football (7-a-side) •Goalball •Paralympic Archery •Paralympic Athletics •Paralympic Cycling •Paralympic Equestrian •Paralympic Judo •Paralympic Powerlifting •Paralympic Rowing •Paralympic Sailing •Paralympic Shooting •Paralympic Swimming •Paralympic Table Tennis •Volleyball (sitting) •Wheelchair Basketball •Wheelchair Fencing •Wheelchair Rugby •Wheelchair Tennis The sports will take place in 21 venues

The 20 Paralympic sports at London 2012 will be:

Map of the Torch Relay 2012 Olympic Games

London

Ancient –Modern1896-2012