3. The Olympic Games began
2,788 years ago (in 776 b.c.)
in Olympia, in southwest
Greece.
The Games were part of a religious festival in honour of
Zeus and were staged every four years at Olympia.
People from all over the Greek world came to watch
and take part.
4.
5.
6. Inside the temple of Zeus there
was a enormous statue of the king
of the gods, sitting on a throne.
People called it one of the Seven
Wonders of the World.
The statue was covered in gold
and ivory, and was six times
bigger than a man.
7. During the ancient
games, only young men
could participate.
Running was the only
event at the first Games.
8. Later, they added more
events:
•Wrestling
•Boxing
•Long jump
•Throwing the javelin
•Throwing discus
•Chariot racing
In the PENTATHLON, there were
five events: running, wrestling,
javelin, discus and long jump.
9. In Greece, there was no
second place.
Winners were given a
laurel wreath for their
head and a pot containing
olive oil.
10. They ended in 394 a.d.
by the Roman
Emperor Theodosius,
who was a Christian.
He considered them
“pagan” games
11. Revived in 1896 in Athens,
Greece.
In the modern Olympics
men and women can take
part.
Winners receive a medal if
they come first, second or
third. These medals are
gold, silver or bronze.
14. The Olympic Rings
stand for the five
original continents:
Africa, America,
Asia, Australia, and
Europe.
The colours of the rings
are blue, yellow, black,
green, and red.
15. The motto of the Olympic
Games is Faster, Higher,
Stronger.
Stronger
To understand the motto, we
can compare it with this phrase:
The most important thing is
not to win but to take part !
16. The lighting
The flame is lit in
Olympia, Greece, some
months before the
opening of the Games.
The relay route
The torch is carried by relay from Olympia to the host city of
the Games.
17. Arrival at the stadium
The day of the opening of the
Games, the flame enters the
stadium.
The flame is transferred from the
torch to the cauldron.
The flame is extinguished on the
final day of the Games at the closing
ceremony.
20. The 2012 Summer
Olympic Games will be in
London from 27 July to 12
August 2012.
We expect 205 nations to
participate.
London has hosted the
Olympic games in 1908
and 1948.
