Olympic Games

every four years

The Summer Games have been held every four years since 1896: only the world wars cancelled 1916, 1940 and 1944.

💡 Did you know? Today the Summer and Winter Games are two years apart.

Athens

Athens 1896 deliberately echoed the ancient games: around 240 athletes from 14 nations took part, all men.

💡 Did you know? The first modern Games were held in Greece in 1896.

Pierre de Coubertin

French baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the IOC in 1894 and revived the ancient games.

💡 Did you know? The Frenchman revived the ancient Games in the late 19th century.

five

Coubertin himself designed the five interlocking rings in 1913: symbolising the union of the continents.

💡 Did you know? The interlocking rings symbolise unity.

the five continents

Five rings for five continents: the Americas count as one; the colours were chosen so every flag contains at least one.

💡 Did you know? The rings represent the five inhabited continents.

blue, yellow, black, green, red

Blue, yellow, black, green and red on white: together they hold the colours of all national flags of the time.

💡 Did you know? At least one of these colours appears in every national flag.

Citius, Altius, Fortius

„Faster, higher, stronger“: in 2021 „communiter“ (together) was officially added.

💡 Did you know? Latin for 'faster, higher, stronger'; 'together' was added in 2021.

gold, silver, bronze

A gold medal today is mostly silver: the last solid-gold medals were awarded in 1912.

💡 Did you know? The gold medal is actually mostly silver, only gold-plated.

Olympia

In Greek Olympia the flame is lit by parabolic mirror from the sun and carried by relay to the host city.

💡 Did you know? The flame is lit at ancient Olympia using a curved mirror.

IOC

The International Olympic Committee, based in Lausanne, awards the Games and guards the Olympic movement.

💡 Did you know? The International Olympic Committee is based in Lausanne.

Berlin

The 1936 Games were exploited as Nazi propaganda: yet the black US sprinter Jesse Owens won four golds.

💡 Did you know? The 1936 Games were abused for propaganda.

Chamonix

Chamonix in the French Alps hosted the first Winter Games in 1924: recognised as such in hindsight.

💡 Did you know? The first Winter Games were held in France in 1924.

Munich

Munich's cheerful Games were overshadowed by the attack on the Israeli team.

💡 Did you know? The 1972 Games were overshadowed by a terrorist attack.

Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps amassed 23 gold medals: more than most entire nations in their history.

💡 Did you know? With 28 medals in total, Phelps is the most successful Olympian ever.

Parade of Nations

At the opening ceremony all teams parade in: by tradition Greece leads and the host nation closes the procession.

💡 Did you know? Traditionally Greece leads the parade and the host nation closes it.

two years

Since 1994 the Summer and Winter Games are two years apart: before, they fell in the same year.

💡 Did you know? Since 1994 the Summer and Winter Games alternate every two years.

Tokyo

Tokyo 2020 was held in 2021 due to Covid: the first Games largely without spectators.

💡 Did you know? The 2020 Games took place in 2021 because of the pandemic.

Olympia

In ancient Olympia on the Peloponnese the Games were held from 776 BC in honour of Zeus.

💡 Did you know? At ancient Olympia the Games were held for over 1000 years.