Every four years, the Olympics are a great and exciting sporting event. The Olympics were an important part of life in ancient Greece. From 776 BC to 393 AD, thousands of people from all over the Greek world came together for the games.
So many people went to the Olympics that when the Persians invaded Greece in the summer of 480 BC, the united Greek city-states could not immediately prepare for war because so many people were at the Olympics. But, unlike the modern Olympics, there was no transfer of the torch, no women could compete, and the games often turned violent.
Here are 10 facts about the Olympics that you probably haven’t heard about.
- Each year’s medals look different.
The city that will be hosting the event will design the awards. They change each time the Olympics are held, so there is a new form of award given every four years. Olympic awards are not made of gold; The gold has just ended. Nowadays, most of these are made of silver. The last time they won all the gold was in 1904 at the Olympic Games.
- Only Athens, Greece, has a backup for the Olympic torch.
People think that the Olympic torch is very important. It is a big part of the opening ceremony and is lit throughout the event. You can watch the game on rojadirecta for free. But there is a backup flashlight that is lit only in Athens, Greece.
- The Olympics may be canceled.
Apart from World War I and World War II, there has never been a reason to stop the Olympics. Even though the outbreak pushed back the Olympics in Tokyo, they were not canceled.
- Five Rings
The five blue, yellow, black, green, and red rings fit together to form the Olympic symbol. These rings show how Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania are all linked together.
- Summer and Winter Sports
The Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics are two types of Olympic sports. The Summer Games feature more sports such as swimming, running, and gymnastics, while the Winter Games include skiing and ice hockey.
- Olympic Motto
The official motto of the Olympics is “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, which in Latin means “Faster, Higher, Stronger.” It shows the fighting spirit and how far the players are willing to go.
- The USA has won almost 2000 medals.
America is proud that its athletes have won more than 2,000 medals in the Olympics. In fact, it’s closer to 3000! No one else comes close. The United Kingdom has more than 850, the most of any country and closest to the United States.
- Multi-medal Paralympics
Greg Westlake is an ice hockey player who had part of his leg amputated when he was a child. He started playing parice hockey when he was a teenager. Her hard work and dedication certainly paid off, earning her three medals!
- The US has hosted the most Olympics.
From 1904 to 1996, the United States was the host nation four times. This international sporting event is a fun way for people from different countries and sporting events to learn how to be more competitive.
- Winners’ portraits are engraved on the stadium walls.
The names of medal winners are not only recorded in the history of their country and the Olympics, but they are also honored in the region where that year’s Olympics were held. Their names are inscribed in stone on the walls of the stadium, so that their memory will live on forever.
The Olympics are a global event that brings people together through the power of sport. It showcases the incredible talent and dedication of athletes around the world.