Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

Politics and the games

the huge international audience for the

olympics ensures that any political protests

and terrorist acts that occur gain maximum

publicity. in 1968, winning athletes raised

clenched fists to show that they supported a

campaign to give black people more power.

Four years later, an act of terrorism caused the

deaths of 11 israeli athletes at munich, germany.

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eVeRY two YeaRs, the world’s best athletes

compete in the summer or winter olympics.

more than 10,000 athletes from around 204

nations take part in the summer olympics,

in more than 25 sports. the winter games

are smaller, with 2,800 athletes from about

88 countries competing in 15 sports.

the inspiration for today’s olympics

came from ancient greek games of

more than 2,000 years ago. the modern

olympics began in athens, greece, in

1896. individual excellence and team
      achievement are the themes of the olympic
      games, not competition between nations.
      the international olympic committee (ioc)
      chooses a city, not a country, to host the games. no
      one country “wins” the games, and there is no prize
      money. instead, individuals and teams compete for
      gold (first place), silver (second), and bronze (third)
      medals—as well as for the glory of taking part.

olYmPic Flame

the olympic games open with

a spectacular ceremony. the most

important part is the lighting

of the olympic Flame with a

burning torch. teams of runners

carry the torch from olympia, in

greece, site of the ancient games,

to the stadium where the games

are to be held. this ceremony

dates back to 1928, when Baron

Pierre de coubertin, founder of

the modern olympics, urged the

athletes to “keep alive the flame of

the revived olympic spirit.”

ancient games

the ancient olympics

began as a religious

festival. at first they

consisted of just one

race, but at their

height the games lasted

five days and included

sports such as wrestling

and chariot racing.

only men could

compete in or watch

the ancient olympics.

women held their

own games in

honor of the

goddess hera.

The

opening

ceremony for

the Olympics is a

spectacular occasion.

winteR olYmPics

a separate winter games takes place every

four years, halfway between two summer

olympics. it includes ice and snow

sports such as skating and skiing.

Five interlocking

rings make up

the Olympic

symbol.

Olympic Games

The Games include a variety

of team and individual sports.

New ones are added, and old

ones are sometimes dropped.

Ski jumping, shown here, is one of

the most exciting events in the

Winter Olympics.

The black

power salute

Running Cycling Gymnastics

Find out more

dance

Football

greece, ancient

health and fitness

sports

Weightlifting

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