That time is upon us again. The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. I have always loved watching the olympics, I think it's my competitive spirit. When I watch I often feel an adrenaline surge. The Olympics is one of those thing that I think, "In a different life I could've been in the Olympics." Of course, I would have had to have a much more obsessive mother and completely given up my childhood and teenage years in pursuit of a gold medal. And then if I didn't win a gold... can you imagine? It would haunt me the rest of my life. (but of course I would've won a gold) Hmmm, maybe I couldn't have been in the Olympics. Regardless, I still love to watch. So in the Olympic spirit, I have gathered some terrific trivia.
-In ancient Olympic Games the winners were awarded a crown of wild olives. However, they were richly rewarded by their cities or states, including being given a lifetime pension to great monetary rewards.
-In the ancient Olympic Games Greeks were the only ethnic race allowed to enter in the competition.
-At the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, silver medals were awarded to the winners and bronze to the second place getters.
-The first recorded Olympic Games was 776 BC. It consisted of only one event, the "stade" race (about 220 yards), and the first winner was Coroibis of Elis.
-At the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, silver medals were awarded to the winners and bronze to the second place getters.
-The first recorded Olympic Games was 776 BC. It consisted of only one event, the "stade" race (about 220 yards), and the first winner was Coroibis of Elis.
-All athletes competed nude at the ancient Olympics. (glad they changed that!)
-More athletes than spectators attended the 1900 Paris Olympic Games.
-Pigeon shooting was one of the sports on the program in Paris in 1900. Fortunately this shooting event was short lived. It was the only time animals were killed on purpose during an Olympic event.
-The Olympic Motto is 'Citius, Altius, Fortius', Which means 'Swifter, Higher, Stronger'.
-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."
-During the Opening Ceremony, doves are released to symbolize peace.
-In the Closing Ceremony Parade, the athletes are not separated into national teams as they enter the stadium. This is to symbolize the unity and friendship of the Games. It is a tradition which started at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
-Countries to have won the most Olympic Medals:
1. United States----2,112
2. USSR----1,234
3. United Kingdom----665
4. France----601
5. Germany----573
6. Italy----478
7. Sweden----471
8. Hungary----442
9. East Germany----410
10. Australia----352
-More athletes than spectators attended the 1900 Paris Olympic Games.
-Pigeon shooting was one of the sports on the program in Paris in 1900. Fortunately this shooting event was short lived. It was the only time animals were killed on purpose during an Olympic event.
-These are some of the discontinued Olympic events from the past:
- croquet
- motor boating
- polo
- tug-of-war
- plunge for distance
- underwater swimming
- obstacle race for swimming
- cricket
- golf
- lacrosse
- racquets
-The first Games to be televised were Berlin in 1936. The events were shown on large screens around Berlin. The first Olympic Games to be covered by television worldwide was the Rome Olympics in 1960.
-The first athlete to win gold medals in five consecutive Olympics was British rower Steven Redgrave in 2000.
-The youngest ever Olympian is Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras, who competed in the 1896 Athens Olympics. He was 10 years old.
-The oldest ever Olympian is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who won his sixth Olympic medal at the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72 years and 280 days old.
-American Mildred "Babe" Didriksen won medals in high-jumping, hurdling, and the javelin in 1932 Los Angeles Games. She is the only athlete to ever medal in all three events.
-The Olympic Rings were adopted by Baron Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Movement) in 1913 after he saw a similar design on an artifact from ancient Greece. The five rings represent the five major regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors.
-The Olympic Flag made its debut at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. At the end of each Olympic Games, the mayor of that host-city presents the flag to the mayor of the next host-city. It then rests at the town hall of the next host-city for four years until the Opening Ceremony of their Olympic Games.
-Emil Zatopek of Chechoslovakia is the only man to win gold metals in the 5000 meters, the 10,000 meters, and the marathon in the same Olympiad.
-The first athlete to win gold medals in five consecutive Olympics was British rower Steven Redgrave in 2000.
-The youngest ever Olympian is Greek gymnast Dimitrios Loundras, who competed in the 1896 Athens Olympics. He was 10 years old.
-The oldest ever Olympian is Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who won his sixth Olympic medal at the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72 years and 280 days old.
-American Mildred "Babe" Didriksen won medals in high-jumping, hurdling, and the javelin in 1932 Los Angeles Games. She is the only athlete to ever medal in all three events.
-The Olympic Rings were adopted by Baron Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic Movement) in 1913 after he saw a similar design on an artifact from ancient Greece. The five rings represent the five major regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors.
-The Olympic Flag made its debut at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. At the end of each Olympic Games, the mayor of that host-city presents the flag to the mayor of the next host-city. It then rests at the town hall of the next host-city for four years until the Opening Ceremony of their Olympic Games.
-Emil Zatopek of Chechoslovakia is the only man to win gold metals in the 5000 meters, the 10,000 meters, and the marathon in the same Olympiad.
-Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci scored perfect 10's seven times at the 1976 Montreal Games.
-The Olympic Torch Relay symbolizes the passing of the Olympic traditions from one generation to the next. The Olympic Flame symbolizes 'purity, the endeavor for perfection and the struggle for victory', as well as representing peace and friendship.
-The Olympic Torch Relay symbolizes the passing of the Olympic traditions from one generation to the next. The Olympic Flame symbolizes 'purity, the endeavor for perfection and the struggle for victory', as well as representing peace and friendship.
-The Olympic Motto is 'Citius, Altius, Fortius', Which means 'Swifter, Higher, Stronger'.
-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."
-Greece is always the first country during the Opening Ceremony's Parade of Nations. The host city is last, and the others are in alphabetical order.
-During the Opening Ceremony, doves are released to symbolize peace.
-In the Closing Ceremony Parade, the athletes are not separated into national teams as they enter the stadium. This is to symbolize the unity and friendship of the Games. It is a tradition which started at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.
-Countries to have won the most Olympic Medals:
1. United States----2,112
2. USSR----1,234
3. United Kingdom----665
4. France----601
5. Germany----573
6. Italy----478
7. Sweden----471
8. Hungary----442
9. East Germany----410
10. Australia----352
