What is the History of the Olympics?

Originating in Ancient Greece in 776 BC and revived in the 19th century, the Olympic Games are the world’s most significant sporting competition. From Greek gods to world records and some of the most critical moments in history, Olympics history is genuinely fascinating, and you can learn all about it with the help of this Teaching Wiki.

The History of The Olympic Games

The earliest evidence of the Olympic Games taking place is in the form of written records from nearly 3,000 years ago.

Olympics History – Ancient Greece

How Did the Olympic Games Begin?

Legend has it that Heracles, son of Zeus, founded the Olympic Games, eventually becoming the most famous sporting festival in Ancient Greece. So, the Games were initially held every four years during the religious festival that honored the Greek god Zeus. This is where the Games get their name, as they were held in the sanctuary of Zeus, located in Olympia, Greece. The first officially recorded Olympic Games were held in 776 BC in Olympia.

Early sporting events included:

• Athletics
• Combat sports
• Horse and chariot racing

The names for the races were: the diaulos, the dolichos, and the pentathlon.

Who could compete in the Olympic Games? Only freeborn Greek men could compete; women were not allowed to compete. These men represented the different city-states of Ancient Greece

Why Did The Ancient Olympics End?

The decline of the Olympics in the Roman Empire

After the Roman Empire conquered Greece, the Olympic Games began to decline in importance. In 393 AD, Emperor Theodosius I banned all “pagan” festivals and events, ending the Olympic Games. Theodosius II, his successor, then called for the destruction of all Greek temples.

Revival of the Olympics – 1,500 Years Later

As with the revival of interest in the Ancient World and it’s philosophers, architecture, art, and much more, it was in the 19th century that the Olympic Games were revived.

Who Invented The Olympic Games?

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who dedicated himself to promoting physical education, became interested in reviving the Games after visiting an ancient Olympic site in Greece. Many also spurred this interest during the Greek War of Independence in 1821. In 1892, Coubertin proposed his ideas, arguing for the Olympic Games as a leading international sporting competition. This was approved, and the International Olympics Committee (IOC) was founded.

In 1896, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. The Games brought together 14 nations and 280 participants, competing in 43 sporting events. Sporting events included:

• Track and field
• Swimming
• Tennis
• Wrestling
• Gymnastics
• Cycling
• Weightlifting
• Shooting
• Fencing

The Olympic Games continued, held in a different host city and country every four years during the summer. However, 1924 is commonly believed to be the year in which the Games became the leading sporting event they are today, with 44 nations and 3,000 athletes competing.

Where Were The First Olympic Games Held?

After their revival, the first modern Olympic Games were held in its historic birthplace, Greece. The 1896 Olympic Games were held in the capital city of Athens.

Who Designed the Olympic Symbol?

In 1913, Pierre de Coubertin, the inventor of the modern-day Olympics, designed the Olympic symbol – the Olympic rings.

What Do The Five Olympic Rings Represent?

The five interlocking rings colored blue, red, black, green, and yellow on a white background represent the five continents united by the Olympics. Each color represents the colors present in every nation’s flag.

What Are The Official Olympic Sports?

There are 35 official Olympic sports. The Summer Olympic Games now consist of 28 sports and 38 disciplines. The Winter Olympics consists of 7 sports with 15 disciplines.

Summer Olympic Sports

How Many Olympic Games Have There Been?

Since their revival in 1896,  28 Summer Olympic Games have been held in 23 cities.

List of Olympic Games (1896 -)

• Athens – 1896
• 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
• Mexico City – 1968
• Munich – 1972
• Montreal – 1976
• Moscow – 1984
• Seoul – 1988
• Barcelona – 1992
• Atlanta – 1996
• Sydney – 2000
• Athens – 2004
• Beijing – 2008
• London – 2012
• Rio de Janeiro – 2016
• Tokyo – 2020
• Los Angeles – 2028

Winter Olympic Games

A significant moment in the history of the Olympics was the first Winter Games held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. The Winter Games were born out of a desire to feature more snow and ice sports that couldn’t be held during the summer and, therefore, couldn’t feature in the Olympic Games. The Winter Olympics are held every four years, two years after the Olympic Games.

Here’s a list of sporting events that are included in the Winter Olympics:

• Alpine skiing
• Biathlon
• Bobsleigh
• Cross country skiing
• Curling
• Figure skating
• Freestyle skiing
• Ice hockey
• Luge
• Nordic combined
• Short track
• Skeleton
• Ski jumping
• Snowboard
• Speed skating

Paralympic Games

Another important event in Olympics history originating in 1948, the Paralympics, was born by Sir Ludwig Guttmann, promoting the rehabilitation of injured soldiers after World War II.

Guttmann held a sporting event between hospitals that coincided with the 1948 London Olympics. Then, in 1960, 400 athletes went to Rome to compete in what was known as the “Parallel Olympics”; this was the first Paralympics. This continued, and since 1988, the host city for the Olympic Games has also hosted the Paralympics.

Essential Events in Olympics History

Being the world’s leading sporting event, bringing together nations and competitors from around the world, and being televised since 1948, the Olympics has been host to some of the most significant sporting achievements. Along with this, the Olympics has seen critical political events taking place:

• 1900 – Women were allowed to compete in the Olympic Games. Hélène de Pourtalès, from Switzerland, became the first woman to compete and the first female Olympic champion.
• 1916 – The Olympic Games are canceled due to World War I. This is the first time the Olympic Games have been canceled.
• 1936 – Nazi Germany hosts the Olympics. Many chose to boycott the Games due to the racist policies of the Nazi party and the fact the Nazi party saw the Olympics as an opportunity to fuel their Aryan racial supremacy beliefs. This was the year African American athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals. Jesse Owens’s victory has been one of the most significant moments in Olympics history.
• 1940, 1944 – The Olympic Games are canceled due to World War II.
• 1948 – Germany and Japan are banned from competing in the first Olympic Games, held in London, post World War II.
• 1968 – U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos performed the Black Power salute to protest their country’s treatment of Black citizens during the award ceremony. This year also saw protests in the host city of Mexico City; students opposed the use of government funding for the Games.Top of Form
• 1980 – The U.S. boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games with the Cold War ongoing.
• 1996 – The 100th Olympic Games are held in Atlanta. During the opening ceremony, Olympic gold medallist Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic flame.
• 2008 – During the Beijing Olympic Games, American swimmer Michael Phelps, and his teammates break the world record in the relay event. In addition, Phelps won the most gold medals won in a single Olympic Games – eight gold medals.
• 2020 – The Tokyo Olympics are canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the third time in history that the Olympics have been canceled.

10 Facts About Olympics History

• The symbol for the modern Olympic Games is five interlocking rings. These represent the continents of North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia.
• The 2012 Olympic Games were the first in which all participating countries sent female athletes.
• Olympic gold medals are mostly made of silver.
• Two thousand twenty marks the first year the Olympics have been canceled since World War II.
• Some of the most prosperous countries in the Olympic Games include the U.S., China, the U.K., and Russia.
• The Olympic flame is always lit. Several months before the Olympic Games begin, the Olympic flame is an important symbol of the Olympics and is lit throughout the ceremony. The Olympic flame symbolizes the continuity between ancient and modern Olympic Games, lit in Olympia, Greece, and burning for the duration of the games.
• The 2012 Olympic Games allowed women to compete in every sport.
• The longest Olympic record has been held for over 50 years. Bob Beamon won the long jump in 1968 in the Mexico Olympics. His jump measured 8.90 meters, and he still hasn’t been beaten.
• During the ancient Olympic Games, an Olive wreath was the prize for the winning athlete. This is still an important symbol in the Olympic Games.
• British long-distance runner, Sir Mo Farah, is the most successful British track athlete in Olympics history. He holds gold medals for the 5,000-metre and 10,000-metre races.