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The Olympics

Articles on the history, chronology, and development of the Ancient Olympics.

Articles on the history, chronology, and development of the Ancient Olympics.


The Olympics – Bibliography

The following sites were used in compiling information for this section and offer further information. The Olympic Games - Official Olympics Pages Pierre de Coubertin - Sports Reference Olympia - German Archeological Institution Olympic Games - Olympic Legacy Cotswold Olympick Games - Cotswold Olympic Games The Wenlock Olympian Society -…

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The Olympics – Paralympics

Dr Ludwig Guttmann was a German Jew who left Germany to escape Nazi persecution. He established the spinal injuries unit at Stoke Mandeville hospital and found that many of the hospital's patients were young men injured in the Second World war. Guttmann believed that sport was would be good for…

The Olympics – Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics were first held in 1924. Like the Summer Olympics they are held every four years and a new city is chosen to host the games each time. The Winter Olympics were held in the same year as the Summer Olympics until 1992 when this was changed. 1924…

The Olympics – Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics are held every four years. A new city is chosen to host the games each time. 1896 Athens, Greece These first modern Olympic games were staged by the Greeks at a cost of 1.5 million drachmas. At the time Greece was heavily in debt so the event…

The Olympics – Scandals and Scares

Scandals Although all athletes take the Olympic Oath and swear to compete fairly, some use un-sportsmanlike, unfair or even illegal methods to win an Olympic Gold. Cheating 1904 Marathon winner Fred Lorz was disqualified after it was revealed he hitched a lift in a lorry 1976 Modern Pentathlete Boris Onischenko…

The Olympics – Facts and Figures

Firsts The first recorded Olympic Games - 776BCE Women allowed to compete for the first time - 1900 (Paris) First use of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals - 1904 (St Louis) First games held outside Europe - 1904 (St Louis) Figure skating first became an Olympic sport  - 1908 (London)…

The Olympics – Symbols

Olive Branch Throughout the time of the ancient Olympics the winner of each event was presented with an olive branch. Medals Medals were not used in the ancient games but have been used since the modern Olympic games began in 1896. All winners in the 1896 and 1900 Olympics were…

The Olympics – International Olympic Committee

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is the governing body of the modern Olympic Games and is committed to supporting and promoting participation in sport throughout the World. It was founded in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin and is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IOC overseas all aspects of the Games…

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The Olympics – Pierre de Coubertin

Pierre de Coubertin is widely recognised as the founder of the modern Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee. Pierre Frédy (later baron Coubertin) was born the fourth and youngest child of Charles Louis Frédy, Baron de Coubertin and Marie–Marcelle Gigault de Crisenoy in Paris, France on 1st January 1863.…

The Olympics – Forerunners to the Modern Olympics

Cotswold Olympick Games In 1612 a local Cotswold lawyer, Robert Dover, organised an Olympick sports festival. It is thought that he organised the games because he believed that it was necessary for people to be fit and healthy in order to defend the country from any potential attack. The games…

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