10 Things You Should Know About The Olympics
1. Summer vs. Winter
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Traditionally, fewer countries compete in the Winter Games than during Summer. Today’s Summer Games showcase over 200 countries, while the winter Games host roughly 80.
2. The Amateur's Time to Shine
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The games were originally a chance for amateur athletes to shine, and professionals were banned from competing. As of the 1970s, that idea began to fade, and today professional athletes compete in most sports.
3. The Paralympic Spirit
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1960 was the year the first Paralympic Games were held, in the weeks following the Olympic Games. Meant to shine a light on athletic accomplishments and not disabilities, athletes participating in the Paralympics must have a physical disability or impaired vision. This idea was originally conceived in 1948 as a competition for injured World War II veterans, but eventually grew to include other disabilities.
4. Medal Ceremony
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The top three winners of every competition are each awarded a medal: Gold for the winner, Silver for the runner-up and Bronze for third place. This medal format was introduced at the 1904 Olympic Games and has been in place ever since. These awards are presented in a ceremony directly following the conclusion of each event. The winners stand on a three-tiered podium, their flags are displayed, and the Gold medalist’s national anthem is played.
5. Olympic Symbolism
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The Olympic Games are as much a time for tradition and symbolism as they are for sport. The Games are represented by the Olympic Rings, a series of five multicolored interlocking rings on a white background. Each ring represents one of the continents, and was originally designed in 1912.
6. Between the Fire and the Flame
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Another important icon of the Olympics is the flame. Carried mainly by a series of runners on a ceremonial trek from Olympia, Greece to the host city, the Olympic torch relay has been run since 1936. The torch reaches the host city in time for the Opening Ceremonies, and is used to light the Cauldron which burns the entire length of the Games.
7. Standing on Ceremony
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The Games’ Opening and Closing Ceremonies are grand events complete with established rituals. The open the Games, the host country’s flag is raised and a rendition of its anthem is played. Following this is an extraordinary artistic representation of the host country’s culture, through dance, music, art, and more. After this portion of the ceremony, all athletes participating in the Olympic Games parade into the stadium. To officially kick off the Games, the Olympic torch is brought into the venue and is used to light the Cauldron.
8. Closing the Show
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The Closing Ceremony takes place once all events have been contested. Athletes enter the stadium randomly, as opposed to by country as in the Opening Ceremonies. This highlights the relationships forged by competitors from different countries, and showcases the intended spirit of the Games. The Olympic Flag is then transferred to the mayor of the next Olympic host city, which is then followed by a brief artistic expression of that country’s culture.
9. Leave Politics at the Door
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As the Games are a huge international event, they are not without controversy. Various Olympics have been boycotted by certain countries, usually for politically-motivated reasons. Also, the Olympics have sometimes been used as a platform for political expression, though this goes against the founding principles of the Games.
10. Sports Bring World Peace
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Initiated in Ancient Greece reinstated in 1992, the Olympic Truce allows athletes and their families, as well as spectators to travel to the competition in safety. This effort is meant to bring awareness to humanitarian efforts and encourage peaceful solutions to conflict across the world. Despite the controversy that plagues the Games, the Olympics are a chance to bring the world together.
