The Olympics are international sporting events promoting cooperation and athleticism, consisting of the Summer and Winter Games, held every four years since 1992. Originating in ancient Greece, the modern Olympics were revived in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin. The Olympics symbolize peace and are apolitical, but have been affected by war and boycotts. The Olympic […]
Cloned horses were allowed to compete in all levels of competition by the Fédération Equestre Internationale in 2012, but none were at the Olympics due to age requirements. Equestrian sports have been in the Olympics since 1900, with no gender divisions. US horses were flown to London for the 2012 Olympics. Although cloned horses were […]
The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea may break records for cold temperatures, with average February temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius during the day and around -10 degrees Celsius at night. The city is located in one of the coldest regions of South Korea and is the coldest place on Earth for its latitude. […]
Art was part of the Olympics from 1912 to 1948, with medals awarded for music, literature, architecture, sculpture, and painting. This was due to the vision of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, but future IOC president Avery Brundage fought to eliminate it. The first artistic competition was in 1912, and all medals in artistic categories have […]
Australia refused to relax their six-month horse quarantine rule for the 1956 Olympics, leading to Sweden hosting the equestrian events. Sweden won three gold medals and Germany won the most equestrian medals ever. Australia received its first Olympic Games in 1949, but in the years leading up to the 1956 event in Melbourne, a complication […]
The Olympics standardized medals in 1908, with winners previously receiving paintings or wreaths. Gold medals are now 92.5% silver and winners have been awarded medals since 1908. The Olympics are an international sporting event held every four years. Those of us who follow the event closely know that first place receives a gold medal, second […]
The Julian calendar, used in ancient Rome, fell out of sync with the seasons. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, which was gradually adopted by the Western world. Russia was a late adopter, causing problems for athletes at the 1908 Olympics. In ancient Rome, people kept track of time with the Julian […]
Special Olympics provides athletes with intellectual disabilities the chance to compete in 30 Olympic-type sports, improving self-confidence and motor skills. It relies on volunteers and donations to facilitate financial support. It is not the same as the Paralympics, which serves athletes with physical disabilities. The Special Olympics offers athletes, many of whom have conditions such […]
Basketball had a difficult start at the 1936 Olympics, played outdoors on a clay court with wooden baskets and a hole in the ball. The USA won the gold medal game against Canada. The US Supreme Court has a basketball gym, and 60% of NBA players fail within five years of retiring. Shaquille O’Neal made […]
The Junior Olympics is an annual event held by the United States Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for US competitors in various sports. It was first held in 1967 and has since expanded to include 24 different sports. The competition is split by age group and aims to promote fitness and good sportsmanship among youth. The […]
The modern Olympics began in 1896 in Athens, Greece, after decades of interest in reviving the ancient games. The push for international competition was led by Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894. The first modern Olympics had 245 male athletes from 14 countries competing in 43 events. The ancient Olympic […]
Gender testing for women in the Olympics began in the 1960s after an athlete failed a chromosome test. Princess Anne is believed to be the only female Olympian exempt from testing. Gender testing is no longer mandatory, but can be requested if suspicions arise. Testing methods have varied over the years. Gender observation and testing […]
The 1936 Olympics hosted in Nazi Germany were controversial due to the political climate. Some argue that participating nations missed an opportunity to combat Nazism. Hitler initially opposed hosting the Olympics but saw it as a propaganda opportunity. Discrimination against Jews and other undesirables was hidden during the event. Despite calls for a boycott, 49 […]
