OLYMPIC GAMES

OLYMPIC GAMES

776 BC is belived as the founding of Olympic Games which took place at Greece. Modern Olympic Games was proposed by Baron Pierre Coubertin of France in 1892. He became the first secretary general of the first foundation.
The modern Games was held for the first time in Athens in 1896. There were 311 athletes from 13 countries who took part in the competition. The Olympic Games becomes the peak of all sports activities in the world. It is held every four years.
When the Olympic Games was held for the first time, only two kind of medals were awarded to the winners. The first winner got a silver medal and the second winner or the runner up got a bronze medal. Beside, the first winner also received a crown of olive branches and the runner up a lauren crown. The first Olympic Games was only held for male athletes and only nine branches of sports were competed.
In 1908 when the Games were held in London, gold medal, for the first time was awarded for the first winner, silver for the second and bronze for the third winner.
Since the renewal of the Modern Games, Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, was the most succesful. Jim Thorpe was very popular. Even King Gustav V called him “the greatest athlete in the world”. He was an American athlete who won both decathlon and pentathlon. Unfortunately, his medals were taken back because he had been a professional. His performances were stricken from the record bookS. In 1982, however, the 10C pardoned him officially and him medals were presented to his family.
Because of the World War II, Olympic Games was cancelled. In 1952, the Soviet Union joined the Olympic Games for the firts time. Emil and Dana Zatopec from Czechoslovakia were the stars. Emil won the marathon, the 5.000 and 10.000 – metre reces, while Dana got a gold medal for the javelin.
Asian countries joined the Olympic Games in 1964, and Tokyo, Japan was the host.