The Modern Olympics
The ancient Olympics were eventually banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in 393 AD after Rome conquered Greece in the second century BC.
The modern Olympics were revived in 1894 by a French nobleman, Pierre Fredy, the Baron de Coubertin. He was a keen sportsman and believed that sport could encourage peace throughout the world and bring people from all around the world together. He is considered the father of the modern Olympic Games.
In 1894 he created the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the first international Olympic Games were held in 1896, in Athens. Since then, the Summer Olympic Games have been held in many major cities around the world.
The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924. They also take place every four years and are held two years after the Summer Olympics. In 1900, women were also allowed to compete in the Olympic Games for the first time.
Olympic Sports
Swimming, cycling, gymnastics, volleyball and horse riding are some of the most popular Summer Olympic sports. There are also events known as athletics, which include the 100-metre dash, the marathon, hurdling, relay racing, the long jump, the high jump, and the pole vault.
The Winter Olympics include chillier sports such as cross-country skiing, speed skating, bobsleigh, and ice hockey.
The Olympic Torch
The first torch relay took place at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, Germany. The torch is lit in Olympia and is carried to the host city and is usually carried by runners, but has travelled by ship, aeroplane, and canoe. The torch travelled underwater for the first time in 2000 as a diver brought it past the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The torch relay carries a message of friendship and world peace.
