History and Symbols of the Olympics | General Knowledge Encyclopedia - Class 8 PDF Download

Ancient Olympics

• The ancient Olympics originated in ancient Greece over 2,700 years ago.
• They were held in the city of Olympia and were dedicated to the Greek god Zeus.
• The games were held every four years and were a way to promote peace and unity among Greek city-states.
• The ancient Olympics included events like running, long jump, discus throw, chariot races, and wrestling.

Modern Olympics

• The modern Olympics were revived in 1896 by a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
• The first modern Olympics took place in Athens, Greece, and featured athletes from 14 countries.
• Since then, the Olympics have been held every four years, with a few exceptions during times of war.

Olympic Rings

• The Olympic rings are one of the most recognizable symbols of the Olympic Games.
• They consist of five interlocking rings, each of a different color (blue, yellow, black, green, and red).
• The rings represent the five continents: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.
• The colors were chosen because every national flag in the world contains at least one of them.

Olympic Torch

• The Olympic torch relay is a tradition that symbolizes the passing of the Olympic Games from one host city to another.
• The flame is lit using a parabolic mirror and the sun's rays in Olympia, Greece, and then carried by relay runners to the host city.
• The torchbearers pass the flame from one person to another until it reaches the Olympic Stadium, where it ignites the cauldron.
• The flame remains lit throughout the duration of the Games.

Olympic Mascots

• Each Olympic Games has a mascot, which is a character that represents the event and its host country.
• Mascots are often animals or mythical creatures and are designed to be fun and appealing to children and adults alike.
• They serve as ambassadors for the Games and are featured in promotional materials, merchandise, and entertainment during the event.

Olympic Motto

• The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius," which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger."
• The motto reflects the Olympic spirit of striving for excellence and pushing oneself to achieve greatness in sports and in life.
• It encourages athletes to continually improve their skills, set new records, and surpass their previous achievements.

Olympic Medals

• Olympic medals are awarded to the top athletes in each event to honor their achievements.
• The design of the medals varies for each Olympic Games but typically features the Olympic rings on the front and the host city's emblem on the back.
• Gold medals are awarded for first place, silver for second place, and bronze for third place.