TOKYO 2020 Olympics will be starting soon. But did you know when was the first Olympics was held? Where was it held?
If no, don’t worry, we will give you some of the interesting fun facts about the history of the Olympics.
Are you ready? These Olympic Facts will surely blow your mind so be prepared.
Interesting Fun Facts
1. On 8th century B.C., the very first Olympic Games was held in Olympia Greece. For 12 Centuries, the Olympics were held every four years. When all Pagan Festivals were banned by Emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century A.D., the Olympics has stopped also.
Olympia, Greece ruins
2. In ancient Greece, athletes compete completely naked.
3. 1500 year later, Olympics Games was brought back. The first modern Olympics Games was held in 1896 in Greece. 241 athletes of 14 nations competed in 43 events.
1896 Olympics Staduim (first modern Olympics)
4. Since the 1900 Olympics, women were allowed to compete.
5. In the old times, the Olympic Games lasted for five to six months.
6. English and French are the official languages of the games, accompanied by the official language of the host country.
7. After 1992, the Winter Olympics and Summer Olympics were separated and not held on the same year but held alternately every two years. It’s from 1924 to 1992 that these two Olympics took place in the same year.
8. The Olympic Torch is an old-fashioned way in an ancient ceremony at the Temple of Hera in Greece.
PyeongChang 2018 torch relay
9. Designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, one of the founder of the modern Olympic Games, the five Olympic rings symbol represents the five inhabited continents of the world namely, Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and Australia (Oceania).
Olympic Rings
10. There are six colors on the Olympic Flags, five colors of the rings and the color of the background. The colors are white (background), blue, yellow, black, green, and red. These colors were chosen because at least of these are found in every nation’s flag.
Countries Flag
11. The Olympic Rings were first used in the 1920 Olympic Games held in Antwerp, Belgium.
12. There are only four athletes have won medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.
13. The Olympic Games have been already hosted by 23 different countries in different continents. The United States holds the most country that hosted the Olympic Games with four Summer Olympics and four Winter Olympics for a total of eight. It is followed by France (5 times), Japan (4 times), the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and Germany (3 times).
Olympic Logos (United States)
14. In 1936 Berlin Games, there were two Japanese (Shuhei Nishida & Sueo Oe) in pole-vault competition who tied for second place who refused in a tie-breaker. Instead of competing again, their team decided who will be the 2nd place and when they went back to Japan, they cut their bronze and silver medals into halves and put them together so that they have half silver and a half bronze medal each. These half silver and bronze medals became known as “The Medals of Friendship”. Watch this for more information about the Medals of Friendship: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE2LqC73KsQ
The Medals of Friendship
15. Johnny Weissmuller, who played the role of Tarzan from 1930s~1940s in 12 movies, competed in the Olympics in 1920s where he won 5 gold medals in swimming.
Johnny Weissmuller
16. Artists like painters, architects, writers, musicians and sculptors participated in the Olympics to compete from 1912 to 1948.
17. Waldi, the dachshund is the first official Olympic mascot, at the 1972 Games in Munich.
WALDI, first official Olympic Mascot
18. In 2012 London Games, all the participating countries sent female athletes to compete. This is the first Olympics that all countries have female athletes.
London 2012 Logo
19. The first time that the Olympics was held in South America is the 2016 Games in Rio, Brazil. 10,500 athletes from 205 different countries participated in 42 different sports with 306 competitions in total.
Rio 2016 Logos
20. The first time that the Olympics was held in Asia is the 1964 Summer Olympics that was held in Tokyo, Japan. And now that Japan is hosting the 2020 Games, it is now the third country with the most country that hosted the Olympic Games.
Olympic Logos (Japan)
Olympic Fun Facts Quiz
Did you remember what you just have read?
If you will hear those verbs/action words while you’re walking in the streets of Japan, can you recognize them?
Let’s find out!
Play the quiz below and see how much you remember.
Let’s start
There are 10 questions. Get 5 or more, you pass. Get less than 5, better luck next time.
Make sure you don't cheat! Again, guessing is okay. May the luck be with you! Good Luck!
3 to 4 points - Almost there!
5 to 6 points - Good job!
7 to 8 points - Great job!
9 to 10 points - Excellent job!
Results
YOU PASSED!
You have a sharp memory!
Hope you learned something!
Till the next vocabulary quiz!
YOU FAILED!
That’s okay! There are more vocabulary quizzes coming!
Hope you learned something!
Till the next vocabulary quiz!
#1. When was “The Medals of Friendship” was made by the two Japanese who tied in second place?
In 1936 Berlin Games, there were two Japanese in pole-vaulters competition who tied for second place who refused in a tie-breaker. Instead of competing again, their team decided who will be the 2nd place and when they went back to Japan, they cut their bronze and silver medals into halves and put them together so that they have half silver and a half bronze medal each. These half silver and bronze medals became known as “The Medals of Friendship”.
#2. _______________________ won 5 gold medals in swimming in 1920s Olympic Games and later on played the role of Tarzan (12 movies) in 1930s~1940s.
Johnny Weissmuller, who played the role of Tarzan from 1930s~1940s in 12 movies, competed in the Olympics in 1920s where he won 5 gold medals in swimming.
#3. Besides the white background, what are the other five colors in the Olympic Flag?
The colors are white (background), blue, yellow, black, green, and red. These colors were chosen because at least of these are found in every nation’s flag.
#4. On the Olympic Flag designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, which of these continents is not represented by the five rings symbol?
The five Olympic rings symbol represents the five inhabited continents of the world namely, Europe, America, Africa, Asia, and Australia (Oceania).
#5. What country hosted the Olympic Games for the first time it was held in Asia?
The first time that the Olympics was held in Asia is the 1964 Summer Olympics that was held in Tokyo, Japan.
#6. What country holds the most country that hosted the Olympic Games?
The United States holds the most country that hosted the Olympic Games with a total of 8 times. It is followed by France (5 times), Japan (4 times), the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy and Germany (3 times).
#7. With 241 athletes of 14 nations competed in 43 events in Greece, when was the first Modern Olympics was held?
1500 year later, Olympics Games was brought back. The first modern Olympics Games was held in 1896 in Greece.
#8. What country hosted the Olympic Games for the first time it was held in South America?
The first time that the Olympics was held in South America is the 2016 Games in Rio, Brazil.
#9. Where was the first ever Olympic Games was held?
On 8th century B.C., the very first Olympic Games was held in Olympia Greece.
#10. Who is the first Olympic Mascot that was used in 1972 Games in Munich?
Waldi, the dachshund is the first official Olympic mascot, at the 1972 Games in Munich.
