The Olympics and Its History

How would you answer if we asked you the most significant things to develop international connections? Music? Paintings? Books which can impact the rest of our generations? No doubt, one of your first answers would be sports.

On top of the organizations which can unite us by using sports, there is the Olympic Games. The Olympics is an organization which people can see once in every four years. This four-year wait has now ended! (Of course, don't count the one in 2021. It was Tokyo 2020!) Let's elaborate on its history and future.

This organization is considered "the summit of sportspeople". It was established in 776 BC in Olympia, Greece. As you can see, this city is where the name comes from. Similar games took part in other cities, but none have become as successful as the Olympics.

At first, only the Greek people were allowed to join this contest. However, after the Roman Empire's reign in 146 BC, this rule became disbanded. With their sources and wealth, the government's support and the prices increased.

In 392 AD, Theodosius II cancelled the Olympic Games since he embraced Christianity as the religion of the empire. The Ancient Olympics took place for the last time in 393. Furthermore, its area was destroyed by the heavy floods between 522 and 551.

In 1894, Baron Pierre de Coubertin found the IOC (International Olympic Committee). The Modern Olympics started to take part in Athens in 1896. This Olympic Games had 241 athletes from 14 countries. They competed in 43 fields of sports. Greek people were delighted with the contest, and they wanted it to keep taking place in Athens. The IOC denied the demand, though. Olympics started to turn up in different cities. The second game was in Paris. It did not include a stadium and became the first for women to attend.

In 1912, so many countries attended the Olympics. In 1914, that well-known flag came into use. Unlike the falsehood, this flag does not represent the continents. It appears for whole countries. Every country has at least one of those colours in their flags. (Red, yellow, blue, green, black.) It was supposed to come into use in 1916. However, because of World War I, this date was postponed to 1920.

Right After the Olympics: Here Come the Paralympic Games!

               Ludwig Gutmann started to organize sports activities between hospitals in 1948. His main goal was to help the soldiers who got injured in World War II to recover. The dates he chose were the same as the Olympics. For twelve years, it had taken place every year. In Rome’s 1960 Olympics, people called them “Parallel Olympics” and it became almost a part of the organization.

Not Only Those, there is the Winter Olympics as Well!

Not all sports were suitable to compete in summer, and people wanted to see more games in the Olympics. Thanks to these ideas, figure skating was included in the 1908 Olympics. In 1920, they included ice hockey too! Finally, in 1924, the Winter Olympics was held for the first time by a decision made in Lausanne. You can watch these games in 2 years after the Olympics. It is also made once in four years!

Games Especially for Youth? We Have Them!

               For the young athletes who are between 14 and 18 years old, we’ve had the Youth Olympics since 2010. The first one was in Singapore! And in 2012, there was the Winter Youth Olympics in Austria. Now, its time has come, like the Olympics! By the way, yes. You can see the games only in every four years. As expected, right?

AN EXTRA INFO: In 1906, 2 years after the 1904 Olympics, Greece organized a tournament again. Despite, it was not official which means not known by the IOC. The achievements in this contest did not count. However, people liked the games so this helped the Olympics to increase the popularity.

               Every time, the Olympics starts with a tremendous ceremony, with lit torches and cool dance figures in it! You can listen to “Imagine” by John Lennon which I really love. Its ending is as beautiful as the opening ceremony, and it’s literally impossible not to shed a few tears. Wishing all athletes the best, good luck to all in Paris 2024!

(This article is based on its Turkish version.)