Olympic Games are one of the most awaited athletic events in the world today. The history of Olympic games date back to the 776 BC, when they were considered more of a religious festival than a competition. However, the ancient Olympic Games came to an end in 393 AD. It was only in late 19th century that interest in Olympic Games was again renewed. The first modern Olympics were held in 1896, in Athens, Greece. The international multi-sport event of Olympics stands subdivided into summer and winter sporting events. These two events are held at a two-year gap. In case you want to know more about Olympics, check out the fun facts and interesting trivia given below.
Olympics Facts and Trivia
- From 776 BC to 393 AD, the early Olympic Games were organized, being celebrated as a religious festival.
- It was 1894 that Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator, proposed the revival of the ancient tradition of Olympics, giving birth to modern-day Olympic Summer Games.
- The first Olympic Summer Games were held in Athens, in 1896. In those games, Greece won the most medals (47).
- The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix (France), in the year 1924.
- Till date, Norway has won the maximum medals, numbering 263, at the Olympic Winter Games.
- In case of Olympic Summer Games, United States claims the distinction of having maximum medals, numbering 2189.
- The five Olympic rings represent the five major regions of the world - Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceana.
- Every national flag in the world includes one of the five colors of the Olympic rings, which are blue, yellow, black, green, and red.
- Till 1994, Olympics were held after every four years. Since then, Winter and Summer Games have alternated every two years.
- The 1960 Summer Games in Rome were the first Olympics to be covered by U.S. television. They were covered by CBS.
- Till date, not even a single country in Southern Hemisphere has hosted a Winter Games.
- Olympic Games have never been organized in three continents - Africa, South America and Antarctica.
