Have you heard of the Olympics? If you love sporting competitions then you have definitely heard of it. The Olympic Games, which is also known as the Olympics, is the world’s biggest sporting event. Over 200 nations across the globe participate in it. Furthermore, this sporting mega-event takes place every 4 years. People all over the globe come to support their respective countries. In this article, we will look further into the information about the Olympic Games, its meaning, the Olympics history, the first Olympic Games, and much more. We will also look at the ceremonies that take place during the Games.
To begin with, we shall take a look at the history of Olympics.
History And Revival Of The Olympics
Ancient Origin Of The Olympics
Firstly, the history of the Olympic games goes way back to ancient Greece. Firstly, the Olympic Games were religious and athletic events. The Greek city-states and kingdoms took part in the events.
One of the most famously known mythical information claims that Heracles and his father Zeus were the founders of the Olympic Games. Also, according to ancient Olympic History, it is said that Heracles first called the sports competition the ‘Olympics’. He also set the custom of holding the Games every 4 years.
776 BC is widely regarded as the date during which the first Olympics took place. However, these facts are based on ancient Greek inscriptions.
Revival
The revival of the Olympics came up during the Greek War Of Independence in 1821. When a Greek poet and newspaper editor, Panagiotis Soutsos, suggested the revival of the Olympic games. Subsequently, King Otto of Greece received a funding proposal from a wealthy Greek philanthropist, Evangelos Zappas, in the year 1856. Evangelos Zappas then sponsored the 1859 Olympic games. However, this was only for the people of Greece and the Ottoman Empire. The 1859 Olympic games were held in Athens.
Then in 1890, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was inspired and motivated after attending the Olympics that year. Coubertin carefully examined the work and information about the Olympic games sponsored by Zappas. Then after careful administration and management, in 1896, the first Olympics under the IOC came to life. It was hosted in Athens, Greece.
Winter Olympic Games
Later on in the year 1924, the concept of the Winter Olympic Games came to life. This was because it was impossible to host games like ice skating and other snow sports during the summer. Also, the IOC wanted to expand the list of sports activities. Therefore, during the 1921 Olympic Congress, it was decided that a Winter Olympics would be held. Consequently, in 1924 the first Winter Olympics was held. The IOC also stated that the Winter games would be held every 4 years.
Paralympic Games
The concept of the Paralympic Games came to life because of the persistence of Sir Ludwig Guttman. Then, in 1960, the first Paralympic Games was held. Later in 2001, the IOC signed an agreement with the International Paralympic Committee stating that the host nation would be contracted to host the Paralympics as well.
Additionally, click here to read more about the International Paralympic Committee
Governing Body Of The Olympic Games
To begin with, the main governing body of the Olympic Games is the International Olympic Committee. Furthermore, their main objectives include:
- Updating and approving the Olympic sports programs,
- Overseeing the planning of the Games, and selecting the host city.
- They also negotiate broadcasting rights.
- The IOC also looks after the sponsorships.
The Olympic Movement consists of the following 3 major parts.
- Firstly, we have the International Federations (IFs). They are the governing bodies that supervise a sport at an international level.
- Then the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) represent and regulate the Olympic Movement within each country.
- Lastly, we have the Organizing Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOGs). They are temporary committees responsible for the organization of each Olympic Games. OCOGs are dissolved after each game once the final report is delivered to the IOC.
Additionally, click here for more information about the Olympic Games governing body, IOC.
Cost Of The Olympic Games
Studies show that since 1960, the average sports-related cost around 5.2 billion USD and 3.1 Billion USD for the summer and winter Olympics respectively. However, these costs exclude infrastructural costs. Moreover, infrastructure costs amount to a little bit more than the sport’s costs.
Beijing 2008 was the most expensive Olympic Games till date. Moreover, it cost around 40-44 billion USD. In the case of the winter Olympics, Sochi 2014 was the most expensive till date. This also cost a whopping amount of 51 billion USD.
Olympics Symbols And Their Meaning
Symbols play an important role during the Olympics. They represent the true meaning as well as ideals of the Olympics.
- To begin with, we have the Olympic Rings. They are basically 5 rings intertwined. They not only represent the 5 inhabited continents but also the unity between them.
- Then comes the Olympic Flag. It is completely white in color and it has 5 colored rings on it. Additionally, each color was chosen because every nation had at least one of the colors on their national flag.
- After that is the Olympic flame that is lit up at every opening ceremony.
- Lastly, we have the Olympic motto ‘Citius, Artius, Fortius’ a Latin expression which means Faster, Higher, Stronger. Moreover, it truly gives out the meaning and purpose of the Olympics.
“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.”
– Baron Pierre de Coubertin, Founder, IOC
List Of Sports In The Olympic Games
| Sport (Discipline) | Body |
|---|---|
| Diving Marathon swimming Swimming Synchronized swimming Water polo | FINA |
| 3-on-3 basketball Basketball | FIBA |
| Canoe/kayak (sprint) Canoe/kayak (slalom) | ICF |
| BMX freestyle BMX racing Mountain biking Road cycling Track cycling | UCI |
| Artistic Rhythmic Trampoline | FIG |
| Volleyball (beach) Volleyball (indoor) | FIVB |
| Equestrian / Dressage Eventing Jumping | FEI |
| Freestyle wrestling Greco-Roman wrestling | UWW |
| Baseball Softball | WBSC |
| Archery | WA |
| Athletics | WA |
| Badminton | BWF |
| Boxing | AIBA |
| Fencing | FIE |
| Field hockey | FIH |
| Football | FIFA |
| Golf | IGF |
| Handball | IHF |
| Judo | IJF |
| Karate | WKF |
| Modern pentathlon | UIPM |
| Rowing | FISA |
| Rugby sevens | WR |
| Sailing | ISAF |
| Shooting | ISSF |
| Skateboarding | WS |
| Sport climbing | IFSC |
| Surfing | ISA |
| Table tennis | ITTF |
| Taekwondo | WT |
| Tennis | ITF |
| Triathlon | ITU |
| Weightlifting | IWF |
Additionally, sports like handball and Rugby have been discontinued. Cricket, Croquet, and Polo are also part of the list.
Click here for the complete lists of sports in the Winter Olympics.
Ceremonies
Firstly, the Olympic ceremonies are part of the tradition. The following are the three major ceremonies that play a huge part in the Olympic Games.
Opening Ceremony
To begin with we have the opening ceremony. This takes place at the start of the Olympic games. Furthermore, the ceremony begins with the entrance of the President of the host nation. Then, the host nation’s flag is hoisted. After that, the host nation performs its national anthem.
Then the host nation puts up a series of performances that portray its culture. Following that the athletes parade into the stadium. Traditionally, Greece enters first to honor the Olympics history and origin. Then come the other nations in alphabetical order. Lastly, the host nation’s athletes enter. After that, the torch is passed and the Olympic flame is lit.
Closing Ceremony
After all the sporting events end, the closing ceremony begins. Firstly, each participating country’s flag bearers and athletes enter. Then three national flags are hoisted. First the host nation’s, then the flag of Greece to honor the Olympics history and origin. Lastly, the flag of the next host nation. After that, the closing speeches are given. Then the Olympic Flame is extinguished. The final medal presentation is held as part of the ceremony.
Presentation of Medals
Medals are presented to the athletes at the end of every event. The first second and third place winners then stand on the 3 tiered podia. Then the flags of the athletes’ respective nations are hoisted. During that time the Gold medalist’s national anthem plays in the background.
Additionally, click here to read more about the ICC World Cup.
FAQs Regarding Olympic Games
According to inscriptions containing information about the Olympic Games, the Olympics history originates from ancient Greece. It was first considered as a religious tradition more than a highly competitive sports event as it is considered now.
The Olympic rings signify the unity between the 5 inhabited continents. Furthermore, the flag of every nation has at least one of the colors that are on the 5 rings.
The Olympic Games are held every 2 years. Furthermore, they alternate between the summer and winter Olympics that occur every 4 years.
The Olympic motto is ‘Citius, Artius, Fortius’ which means Faster, Higher, Stronger. Moreover, it truly gives out the meaning and purpose of the Olympics.
The first modern Olympics took place in the year 1896. It was hosted in Athens, Greece.
Editor’s Note | Olympic Games
To begin with, the Coronavirus has drastically affected sports all around the world. Furthermore, major sports leagues were either put to a standstill or played behind closed doors. Similarly, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which were supposed to start in July were postponed and delayed by an entire year. The Games are now set to start in 2021 according to information released about the Olympic Games. However, this is in anticipation that the situation gets better with time.
Furthermore, sportsmen all around the world have taken pay cuts to help deal with financial losses. India’s premier cricket league (IPL) was also forced to relocate. Furthermore, it is being organized in Dubai behind closed doors. Hopefully, soon enough we can all enter the stadiums and support our favorites. For now, we can all hope that we recover from this pandemic soon enough so that we can witness the Olympics live from the stands.
