Here are a few facts about the Olympic Games that you may not know.
Every four years (barring a global pandemic of course), nations of the world gather and root for athletes representing their countries.
Athens, Greece hosted the first modern Olympics.
The Olympics have been hosted by 19 different countries since 1896.
The Olympic Flag has five intertwined rings on a white background. The five linked rings represent solidarity and unity among continents of Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe.
Every 2 years the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia on the Peloponnese peninsula in Greece before going to the host nation. The host nation then displays flame around the country before it is used to light Olympic Cauldron at opening ceremony.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were not awarded until 1904. During ancient Olympics, winners were awarded with an olive wreath.
The United States has won more than 2,800 medals. Entering the 2021 Games, no other country has won more than 1,000 medals.
Michael Phelps is the most successful Olympian. The U.S swimmer earned 28 medals, including 23 gold, over four Olympics.
Originally, the Games were only held in the summer. The Winter Olympics began in 1924.
Greece, Australia, France, Great Britain, and Switzerland are the only countries to be represented by athletes in every single summer games.
After a 112 year hiatus, golf made a comeback at 2016 Olympic games. The four new sports in this year’s Olympics are surfing, sport climbing, karate, and skateboarding. In addition, baseball and softball are returning to Olympics for the first time since 2008 due to popularity of those sports in Japan. They will not be included at 2024 games in Paris.
Each Olympic games have a specific motto. This year’s motto is “United by Emotion.”
The host city designs Olympic medals for their games.
The United States is only country in world that has hosted the Summer Olympics four times. In 2028, the United States will host the games for the fifth time, including the third time in Los Angeles. St. Louis (1904) and Atlanta (1996) are the other American cities that have hosted the Summer Games.
