- http://en.wikipedia.org/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1896_Summer_Olympics
- http://www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games
- http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reports/EN/en_report_668.pdf
- http://www.paralympic.org/
- http://www.olympic.org/
- http://www.pe04.com/olympic/trivia/ceremony_t.php
- http://www.topendsports.com/events/summer/index.htm
- http://olympictrivia.tumblr.com/page/2
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Information on the Olympics
For more information on the Olympics, see these websites:
Olympic Entertainment, London 2012
Images from: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501465_162-57481406-501465/twitter-to-nbc-livestream-the-olympics-opening-ceremony/
Olympic Trivia
The Olympic Flag
The Olympic Flag was designed by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914. The Rings represent the five continents of the world, all joined together in peace and friendship. The colours - blue, red, yellow, black and green - were chosen as at least one of them is used on every flag of every country in the world. The colours also stand for the educational values of the Games:
Blue = Pursuit of Excellence
- Red = Fair Play
- Black = Joy of Effort
- Green = Balance between body, will and mind
- Yellow = Respect for others
The Olympic Oath, Creed and Motto
Inspired by a speech made by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic Champions in the 1908 Games, de Coubertin created the Olympic creed which is still used today.
"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well."
The motto was created in 1921 when de Coubertin borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father Henri Didon.
The Olympic Oath, again written by de Coubertin, has been changed over the years. One athlete speaks the oath on behalf of all the athletes. This athlete is a member of the host team, and holds a corner of the olympic flag while speaking the oath.
"In the name of all the competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams."
Judges and Referees were made speak an oath for the first time in 1972,
"In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them in the true spirit of sportsmanship."In 2012, a coach from the host country was made take an oath.
"In the name of all the coaches and other members of the athletes' entourage, I promise that we shall commit ourselves to ensuring that the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play is fully adhered to and upheld in accordance with the fundamental principles of Olympism"The Olympic Hymn
The music for the hymn was composed by Spyros Samaras and words added by Greece's national poet, Kostis Palamas. Although played for the first time at the 1896 Games, it was only made the official Olympic hymn by the IOC in 1957 and used in the 1960 games. Before then, each country had gotten a local composer to compose the hymn.
Usually, each host nation sings the hymn in their own language during the Opening Ceremony. It is played when the Olympic Flag is raised.
The Olympic Flame
The Olympic flame is lit in Olympia in Greece by women dressed in ancient style robes using a curved mirror and the sun. It is kept burning until the end of the Games - this idea was first done in the 1928 Games in Amsterdam. The first torch relay was in 1936, when the Games were in Berlin. Each torch has a unique design.
Olympic Ceremonies
The Opening, Victory and Closing Ceremonies are two of the highlights of the Games today.
Opening Ceremony
Images: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/olympics/phelps-olympic-medal-worth/story?id=16898929
http://reuters.tumblr.com/post/28158686216/the-stems-forming-the-olympic-cauldron-are-lit-by
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/22698/heatherwick-studio-2012-london-olympics-cauldron.html
Opening Ceremony
This ceremony usually starts with the 'Parade of Nations'. Athletes march into the stadium country by country in alphabetical order, lead by Greece (as the founding country of the Games, it gets precedence). The host country marches last. In each delegation, an athlete is selected to carry their country's flag and lead their team-mates in the march. After all the countries have participated in this, speeches are given by the President of the Organizing Committee and the IOC President. After the head of state declares the Games open, the Olympic flag is raised while the Olympic hymn is played. The Olympic flame is used to light the Olympic flame and doves (other sometimes other substitutions) are released as a symbol of peace - while the Olympics are on, a truce is declared between all countries. After an athlete and an official take the Olympic Oath, entertainment is provided for the crowd and viewers by the host country - through music, dance, fireworks, comedy, etc.
Victory Ceremony
Closing Ceremonies
The Closing Ceremonies is like the Opening Ceremonies in the fact that it begins with a Parade of Nations-like ceremony: the 'Parade of Athletes'. Instead of each athlete marching in per country, this time all the flag bearers march into the stadium followed by all the athletes, who are mixed together regardless of nationality or participation. This is to symbolise the unity and friendship of the games. After the last Victory Ceremonies are completed, the Greek national flag (to honor the birthplace of the Olympics), the current host nation's flag, and the next host nation's flag are raised while the corresponding national anthems are played. The Olympic anthem is played while the Olympic flag is lowered off the flagpole and passed to the mayor of the next host country by the current host city's mayor, via the President of the IOC. The mayor receiving the Olympic flag then waves it 8 times. The country then introduces itself with artistic dance and theatre routines (a tradition that started in the 1976 Games). Then, the President of the IOC declares the games closed by saying these words:
Victory Ceremony
After each event the winners are presented their medals on a dais. The winner of first place's national anthem is played as the flags of the three winners are raised.
Closing Ceremonies
And now, in accordance with tradition, I declare the Games of the [ordinal number of Summer/Winter Olympics] Olympiad/ [ordinal number of Winter Olympics] Olympic Winter Games closed, and I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in [name of next host city] to celebrate the Games of the [subsequent ordinal number of Summer Olympics] Olympiad/[subsequent ordinal number of Winter Olympics] Olympic Winter Games.
The Olympic flame is then extinguished. Throughout the ceremony, musical and cultural entertainment has been provided by the host city.
Olympic Cauldron of the 2012 Games.
Images: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/olympics/phelps-olympic-medal-worth/story?id=16898929
http://reuters.tumblr.com/post/28158686216/the-stems-forming-the-olympic-cauldron-are-lit-by
http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/22698/heatherwick-studio-2012-london-olympics-cauldron.html
Thursday, 20 September 2012
Variations on the Olympics
To feature snow and ice sports that were impossible to hold during the Summer Games, in 1924 in Chamonix, France (to coincide with the the games in Paris three months later), the Winter Olympic Games were held for the first time. The 11 day Games featured events like speed skating, ski jumping, ice hockey, bobsleigh, curling, cross-country skiing and figure skating. Today, athletes can also compete in alpine skiing, freestyle skiing, luge, snowboarding and more. Although it was initially to be held in the same year as the Summer Olympic Games, this was changed beginning with the 1994 Games to held in between each Summer Games, still occurring every four years.
Paralympic Games
The earliest Paralympic Games was set up in 1948 to promote the rehabilitation of soldiers after World War 1 and was known as the Stoke Mandeville Games. The founder of these Games, Sir Ludwig Guttmann, and others continued to heal people through sports for the next 12 years, and in 1960 he brought 400 athletes to compete in the 'Parallel Olympics' alongside the Summer Olympics in Rome. This became known as the first Paralympic Games. In 2001 , a contract was signed to determine that the country that held the Summer Games was also to hold the Olympic Games by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and the IPC (International Paralympic Committee). This contract came into effect in 2012, when London, UK, played host the the Olympics.
Athletes between the ages of 14 and 18 are given a chance to compete in the Summer and Winter Youth Games. Although the idea for the Games was approved by the IOC in 2001, the Youth Summer Olympics were first held in Singapore in 2010. Like the senior Olympics, the Games are held in alternate years, but they are shorter: the Summer Youth Games last 12 days, the Winter Games 9 days. The sports are much the same except for some alterations - there are mixed team events and less sports to compete in.
The Olympics in the Modern Era
Olympics had been been held in Greece with athletes from the Greek and Ottoman Empire in 1859, 1870, 1875, 1888, but the first international Olympic Games was held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Baron Pierre De Coubertin, a French historian and teacher, had been inspired to found the IOC (International Olympic Committee) by other imitations of the ancient Olympic Games that had been set up. 241 athletes from 14 countries participated in 43 events, and the games were a huge success. Although the idea to hold the Games in Athens on a permanent basis was widely supported by athletes and officials alike, the IOC determined that this would not happen: instead, the Games would rotate around the world. The second Games were held in Paris, where although there wasn't a stadium, women competed for the first time. After the games in St.Louis in 1904, the Games hit an all-time popularity low. Out of the 650 athletes that had participated in then Missouri Games, 580 of them had been American. The Olympic Games were saved to continue by the Intercalacated Games in 1906. These games were held halfway between the 1904 Olympic Games and the 1908 Olympic Games. This started the increase in popularity and the size of the Olympics.The Games are a part of the Olympic Movement. It's purpose is to:
- Link sport with education
- promote sport and its advantages
- to 'build a better world through sport practised in a spirit of peace, excellence, friendship and respect'.
- Men Sports: 75 countries on four continents
- Women's Sports: 40 countries and on three continents
A winter sport must be practised in 25 countries on three continents, regardless of the gender of its participants.
Image: http://globalbhasin.blogspot.ie/2012/08/obscure-world-flags.html
Image: http://globalbhasin.blogspot.ie/2012/08/obscure-world-flags.html
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
The Ancient Olympic Games
Hello, my name is Niamh. I have decided to write about the Olympics, including the past and the present, for my blog.
The Olympics were created by the Greeks in 776BC and played until 393AD. Every four years, this religious and athletic festival was held at the Sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia and dedicated to the Gods. Representatives from the 12 Greek city-states came to compete in athletic sports and chariot racing.
According to legend, it was Heracles who created the games, and they were re-established in the 8th century BC by King Iphitos. He did this acting under the order of the Oracle at Delphi, to prevent eternal wars and to end the plague that had Greece in its grasp. No fighting was allowed to take place when the games were on - weapons were not allowed to be brought into Olympia during the festival. The games were originally a one day event until 684BC, when they were extended to three days. In the 5th century BC they were again extended to five days.
Athletes participated in running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration (primitive martial art: a mix of wrestling and boxing) and equestrian events. Wrestling and the Pentathlon (which included running, jumping and discus throw) were added in 708BC. The winner was presented with his award straight after the competition. A Greek judge, called a Hellanodikis, presented him with a palm branch while spectators cheered and threw flowers.
Images from: http://www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/classics/research/olympics/
The Olympics were created by the Greeks in 776BC and played until 393AD. Every four years, this religious and athletic festival was held at the Sanctuary of Zeus in Olympia and dedicated to the Gods. Representatives from the 12 Greek city-states came to compete in athletic sports and chariot racing.
According to legend, it was Heracles who created the games, and they were re-established in the 8th century BC by King Iphitos. He did this acting under the order of the Oracle at Delphi, to prevent eternal wars and to end the plague that had Greece in its grasp. No fighting was allowed to take place when the games were on - weapons were not allowed to be brought into Olympia during the festival. The games were originally a one day event until 684BC, when they were extended to three days. In the 5th century BC they were again extended to five days.
Athletes participated in running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration (primitive martial art: a mix of wrestling and boxing) and equestrian events. Wrestling and the Pentathlon (which included running, jumping and discus throw) were added in 708BC. The winner was presented with his award straight after the competition. A Greek judge, called a Hellanodikis, presented him with a palm branch while spectators cheered and threw flowers.
On the last day of the games, each winner's name, father's name and homeland were
read out in the temple of Zeus. The sacred olive tree wreath was then placed on his head by a Hellanodikis.
The games ended in 393BC after Emperor Theodosius outlawed such pagan cults.
Images from: http://www.olympic.org/ancient-olympic-games
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/classics/research/olympics/
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