The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events. Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894, leading to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority.
About Olympic Games in brief
The modern Olympic Games or Olympics are leading international sporting events. Their creation was inspired by the ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894, leading to the first modern Games in Athens in 1896. The IOC is the governing body of the Olympic Movement, with the Olympic Charter defining its structure and authority. Over 14,000 athletes competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2018 Winter Olympics combined, in 35 different sports and over 400 events. The first, second, and third-place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals: gold, silver, and bronze, respectively. The Olympic Games are normally held every four years, alternating between the Summer and Winter Olympics every two years in the four-year period. Every two years the Olympics and its media exposure provide athletes with the chance to attain national and sometimes international fame. The Games also constitute an opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world. The origin of the Olympics is shrouded in mystery and legend; one of the most popular myths identifies Heracles and his father Zeus as the progenitors of the Games. The most popular date for the Ancient Olympics is 776BC; this is based on inscriptions found at Olympia, listing the winners of a footrace held every 4 years. The Ancient Games featured running, a pentathlon, wrestling, boxing, pankration, horse and chariot racing events.
These Games featured mainly athletic but also combat sports such as wrestling. The Olympics were both fundamental importance, featuring religious ritualing events alongside sporting events alongside honouring the champion of the city of Elis, Elisis, or Coroebus, who was the first Olympic champion of both Elis and Elis. The modern Olympics have grown so much that nearly every nation is now represented. This growth has created numerous challenges and controversies, including boycotts, doping, bribery, and a terrorist attack in 1972. World wars led to the cancellation of the 1916, 1940, and 1944 Olympics; large-scale boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Olympics; and the 2020 Olympics were postponed until 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are several Olympic rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag and torch, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. As the decision-making body, the IOC is responsible for choosing the host cities for each Games, and organises and funds the Games according to the Olympic charter. The IOC also determines the Olympic programme, consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games, including the Winter Olympic Games for snow and ice sports, and the World Games for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. It also endorses the Deaflympics and the Special Olympics. According to legend, it was Heracles who first called the Games ‘Olympic’ and established the custom of holding them every four year.
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This page is based on the article Olympic Games published in Wikipedia (as of Dec. 06, 2020) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
