History of Olympics

The Olympic Games is a big sporting event that is held every 4 years (every 2 years there is either a winter or summer one). Athletes from all around the world compete to do their best and represent their country. The Modern Olympics were inspired by the Ancient Olympics, and there was a gap of at least 1500 years between the two. A Frenchman, who felt very strongly that the Modern Olympics should be started, held a meeting with 79 ambassadors representing 9 different countries. He then pitched his ideas about beginning the Olympics to the people at the meeting. Apparently, this Frenchman, by the name of Pierre de Coubertin, was so gifted with words, and the ambassadors were so tough, by a unanimous vote, the people at the meeting decided to hold the Olympics. Then, the International Olympics Committee (IOC) was formed. This committee would make certain decisions such as where the first Olympics were to be held. So, in 1896 the first Modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece. However, these Olympics were not well organised, or publicised. So, the athletes who did hear about these Olympics came as individuals and wore their athletic club warm-ups, rather than as a country. Some of the competitors were even tourists who had happened to be in the area! The events in the first Olympics included pole vaulting, sprints, shot put, weight lifting, swimming, cycling, target shooting, tennis, marathon and gymnastics.

Olympic imperfections
Like many things, the Olympics weren’t perfect or easy to maintain, although since 1896 they ha been held almost every four years (in the earlier years sometimes every two years the Olympics were held). Due to World War I, we were unable to hold the Olympics of 1916, and because of World War II, we were unable to hold the Olympics of 1940, and 1944. There were also several boycotts in the history of the Games. In 1980, the biggest boycott in the history of the Olympics took place. The Games were scheduled to take place in Moscow. But, the Soviet Union had just invaded Afghanistan, so the United States and 61 other countries boycotted the Games. In return, the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Olympics that took place in Los Angeles, United States. During the Great Depression in 1932, no one thought that any countries would participate in the Olympics in Los Angeles. Six months before the Olympics were scheduled to be held, not one country had responded to their official invitations. The costs of flying an Olympic team all the way to Los Angeles seemed very expensive. But then, the replies began to trickle in, and many countries ended up participating.

Olympic firsts
The Olympics have continued to improve and evolve into what you see today, although it has taken a lot of work. There have been many Olympic firsts, including, the first Olympic Village, in 1932, at Los Angeles, during the Great Depression. There was also the first Olympics with the Torch Relay, the Olympics of 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Women weren't allowed to compete in the modern day Games until the 1900 Olympics. They had mock Olympics in ancient Greece. The first winter Olympics were held in 1924 at Chamonix, France. Until the late 20th century, the Olympics was open only to amateurs. The Unofficial Games in 1906 was when the United States first had an official team.