The Olympic Games - More Facts and Figures
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In ancient Greece, sport constituted an inseparable part of every man's education. The Olympic spirit is the culmination of the ideal of education in ancient Greece, since it combined physical training, spiritual promotion, moral worth, democratic equality, and human brotherhood. It was here, in Greece, that the harmonious development of a man's body, mind and soul formed the ultimate ideal of human life.
Despite miles and miles of beautiful coastline, water sports such as swimming were never a part of the ancient Olympic Games.
The first of the modern Summer Games on Sunday, March 24, 1896, in Athens, Greece where an estimated 245 athletes (all men) from 14 nations competed in the ancient stadium Panathenaicon.
Four years later at the Olympic games of 1900, women were finally recognized as official competitors. This came after the Games were scheduled at the same time as the World Exhibition in Paris. There was some confusion over which sporting events were Olympics or World Exhibition events and consequently, seven female athletes took advantage of the disorder. These women competed in Ballooning, Croquet, Golf, Yachting, Equestrian and Tennis.
The first gold medalists were Helen de Pourtales (Switzerland) in the mixed yachting event and Charlotte Cooper (Great Britain) in the individual tennis event.
A special edition for winter sports, the Winter Olympic Games, was established in 1924. Since 1994 these are no longer held in the same year as the Games of the Olympiad.
Since 1896 the summer Olympic Games have been held every four years, with the exception of 1916, 1940 and 1944, when World Wars I and II forced the Games' cancellation. In 1948 they resumed in London, because it was the only major city that was still intact after World War II. At these games, Alice Coachman became the first African-American woman to win a gold medal.
The modern marathon is one event which originated in these Ancient Games. Legend has it that Miltiades, a Greek General with an Athenian army, fought and won a battle against the Persians. He called for an Athenian runner and asked him to carry the victorious news back to Athens. The runner's journey was 24 miles but he entered the streets of Athens and shouted 'Rejoice! We conquer!' He then dropped dead. Although the accuracy of this tale is questionable, the first Modern Olympic Games in 1896 included the marathon to commemorate this legend.
The five interlocking rings of the Olympic flag symbolize the five continents of the world (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas) "linked together in friendship." Olympics founder Pierre de Coubertin claimed that at least one of the rings' colors (blue, yellow, black, green, and red, along with the white background) was represented in each country's national flag.