Olympic Games
The Origin of the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games started in ancient Greece over 2,700 years ago, around 776 BC. They were held in a city called Olympia, which is why they are called the "Olympic Games."
The Games were created to honor the Greek god Zeus. Every four years, athletes from different Greek cities came to compete in various sports. The main event was a foot race called the "stade," which was about 192 meters long.
The first Olympic champion was a man named Coroebus, who won this foot race. As time went on, more events were added, like wrestling, boxing, and chariot racing. The Games became very popular, and many people would travel to Olympia to watch.
In 393 AD, the Roman Emperor banned the Olympic Games because he wanted to stop pagan festivals. For many years, the Games were forgotten.
In 1896, a man named Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games. He wanted to promote peace and friendship through sports. The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, and many countries participated.
Today, the Olympic Games happen every four years, and they include many sports like swimming, gymnastics, and athletics. The Olympics are a symbol of unity and competition among nations from all over the world.
As of today, the Olympic Games include a wide range of disciplines. Here's a list of the main sports featured in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games:
Summer Olympic Sports
- Athletics (Track and Field)
- Swimming
- Gymnastics
- Artistic Gymnastics
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Trampoline Gymnastics
- Basketball
- Football (Soccer)
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Indoor Volleyball
- Beach Volleyball
- Rowing
- Cycling
- Road Cycling
- Track Cycling
- Mountain Biking
- BMX
- Wrestling
- Boxing
- Judo
- Taekwondo
- Fencing
- Shooting
- Archery
- Handball
- Field Hockey
- Rugby Sevens
- Surfing
- Skateboarding
- Sport Climbing
- Baseball/Softball (returning in Tokyo 2020)
- Equestrian
- Dressage
- Jumping
- Eventing
Winter Olympic Sports
- Alpine Skiing
- Biathlon
- Bobsleigh
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Curling
- Figure Skating
- Freestyle Skiing
- Ice Hockey
- Luge
- Nordic Combined
- Short Track Speed Skating
- Skeleton
- Ski Jumping
- Snowboarding
- Snowboard Cross
- Halfpipe
- Slopestyle
15. Speed Skating
Additional Information
- The Youth Olympic Games also include a variety of sports aimed at younger athletes.
- New sports and disciplines can be added to the Olympic program, reflecting changes in popular sports around the world.
The symbol of the Olympic Games consists of five interlocking rings. Each ring represents one of the five continents: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. The colors—blue, yellow, black, green, and red—were chosen because at least one of these colors appears on every national flag in the world. The rings symbolize unity and friendship among nations through sport.