Discover fascinating fun facts about the Olympics and delve into the rich history and traditions of the Games. From ancient origins to modern-day records.On January 25, 1924, the first Winter Olympics opened, and in honor of this event.Mass sports games leave behind not only dry statistics of victories and defeats, but also many interesting facts. The most significant events in the history of the Olympic Games are presented below.

Fact #1. The first sports competitions in the world, information about which has survived to this day, were held in ancient Olympia until 776 BC, and therefore the modern Olympics were named after the ancient city. The Games were held every four years and lasted for several days – in a large stadium located near the hill of Kronos, where athletes competed in honor of the main of the Olympian gods – Zeus.

Fact #2. Initially, Greek athletes competed in only one discipline – running one stadium (about 192 meters). Later, the list expanded to include running two and 24 stadiums, running armed athletes, jumping, javelin and discus throwing, wrestling, chariot racing.

Fact #3. Another tradition of the ancient Olympic Games was the lighting of a fire in honor of the gods, patrons of the competitions. Only an athlete who won the running competition could light the fire. The ritual of lighting and delivering the Olympic flame to the stadium also played a special role — traditions that have survived to this day.

Fact #4. The world owes the revival of the Olympic Games to the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a public figure who was fond of antiquity and sports. After archaeological excavations in Olympia, which began in the 1870s, de Coubertin became seriously interested in the history of the Olympic Games and decided to recreate them, which took the active aristocrat about five years.

Fact #5. Thanks to de Coubertin, the French Athletic Union (USFSA) was created. It included over 62 sports societies. In total, de Coubertin’s idea united 78 delegates, including a Russian — General Alexei Butovsky. A large delegation gathered for a congress in Paris in 1894. This event, which established the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and decided to hold the competition every four years, is considered the starting point for the revival of the Olympic Games.

Fact #6. It was Pierre de Coubertin who came up with the famous quotes: “The main thing is not winning, but taking part” and “O sport, you are peace!” The motto of the Olympic Games “Faster, higher, stronger” (“Citius, Altius, Fortius”) was invented by the Dominican monk Henri Didon.

Fact #7. The first modern Summer Games opened with a ceremony at the restored ancient stadium in Athens on April 6, 1896. Representatives of 14 countries competed in nine sports disciplines, 43 sets of medals were awarded. But only men competed – women appeared in sports delegations only in 1900.

Fact #8. Russia did not participate in the first Olympic Games: athletes were unable to get to the competition due to a lack of funding. At that time, professional sports did not exist in the Russian Empire, athletes trained as amateurs. They did not find sponsors to pay for the trip to Greece.

Fact #9.Russia first competed in the Olympic Games in 1900 in Paris. The Russian delegation consisted of five athletes — two equestrians and three fencers. None of the Russian participants won a prize.

Fact #10. In 1924, the International Sports Week on the Occasion of the VIII Olympiad was held in Chamonix, France, under the patronage of the IOC, which eventually came to be considered the first Winter Olympic Games. Initially, the Winter Olympics were held in the same year as the Summer Olympics. Since 1994, they have been held two years after the summer competitions.

Fact #11. The Games were cancelled twice due to wars — World War I and World War II, and the 2020 Summer Games were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fact #12. The Olympic flame lighting ritual involves 11 girls, which is a reference to the ancient Greek muses.

Fact #13. The Olympic flag with its recognizable emblem was first presented in 1920.

Fact #14. Each Olympics has its own emblem and mascots, including a snowman, a raccoon, a jaguar, and even a dachshund. One of the most popular images is a bear.

Fact #15. The delegation from the birthplace of the Games, Greece, always goes first in the procession of participating countries at the opening ceremony, and the flag is carried by the most titled athlete from the delegation.

Fact #16. Modern opening ceremonies of the Games are always accompanied by grandiose performances. The first theatrical performance for the Olympics was staged by Walt Disney for the 1960 Winter Games.

Fact #17. The Olympic Games are the largest competition and a global brand, as well as a huge marketing opportunity for the host city, which involves no less huge expenses. About 50 billion dollars were spent on organizing and building the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014. For comparison: about 49 billion dollars were spent on the games in Beijing in 2008, about 20 billion on the games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Fact #18. On average, the Olympic Games last from 16 to 18 days. The closing ceremony traditionally includes a farewell to the Olympics.

Fact #19. At the modern Summer Olympics, athletes compete in 28 sports, and at the Winter Olympics – in seven. In total, the program includes 57 disciplines, and the list is regularly updated. There are also disciplines that were excluded over time: powerboating, cricket, baseball.

Fact #20: The right to host the Games is always assigned to a city, not a country. The XXIV Winter Olympic Games will be held from February 4 to 20 in Beijing, the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The country with the most medals