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Interesting facts about Olympic Games

This is a gathering of the world's best amateur athletes who meet in friendly rivalry in a variety of tests of prowess based on the ancient games held at Olympia in Greece. The revival of the Games was initiated by the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, and the first Games of the modern era took place in Athens on April 6, 1896. It was intended that the Games should take place every four years, but they have been interrupted by two World Wars.

A sculpture of the great Finnish athlete Paavo Nurmi stands by the Olympic Stadium at Helsinki, Finland	The Olympic torch is carried from Elis in Greece, where the games were first held. Interesting facts about Olympic Games

Modern Olympic Games have subsequently been held in Paris (1900), St. Louis (1904), London (1908), Stockholm (1912), Antwerp (1920), Paris (1924), Amsterdam (1928), Los Angeles (1932), Berlin (1936), London (1948), Helsinki (1952), Melbourne (1956), Rome (1960), Tokyo (1964) and Mexico City (1968).

Munich, Germany, has been chosen for the 1972 Olympic Games. Separate Winter Games have been held since 1924. In the XlX’th Olympiad at Mexico City, 112 countries took part in 172 different events for 19 different sports. The sports were: Track and Field Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Gymnastics, Hockey, Modern Pentathlon, Rowing, Shooting, Soccer, Swimming, Volleyball, Water Polo, Weight-lifting, Wrestling and Yachting. Gold medals are awarded to event winners, silver and bronze to those placed second and third. The United States has won most golds, and Ray C. Ewry (U.S. high and long jumper 1900-1908) has won the most individual golds - eight. In 1968 Al Oerter (U.S.) won the discus throw event for the fourth successive time.

Tommy Smith won the men's 200 meters	Bob Beamon jumped 29 ft 2Óã in, setting a new world record for the long jump

The greatest number of women's golds (four) was won by Francina Blankers-Koen (Netherlands) for sprints, hurdles and relay events in 1948, and Betty Cuthbert (Australia) in 1956 (three golds) and 1964 (one gold).

The Marathon race of 26 miles 385 yards, commemorates the epic run of Pheidippedes who in ancient times was said to have run this distance to bear news of a Greek victory over the Persians.

The most coveted prize of the Ancient Games was the Pentathlon, combining long jump, javelin throw, running, discus throw and wrestling. One of the toughest events in the Modern Games is the Modern Pentathlon, consisting of riding, fencing, pistol shooting, swimming and running competitions. The athletes who compete at the Games are under oath to participate only for the honor and glory of sport.

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