Its back home.
While perusing the sport section of the newspaper, I came across a feature on Olympics, sort of slideshow for all of the 24 Summer Games. The most intersting fact is the definitely the unsubtle one : returning to the place where it all began.
Athens, 1896. The first Olympics in which 245 , all men, participants from 14 nations contested in 43 events. The American tripple jumper James Connolly becomes the first Olympic Champion. Paris was the second venue for the Olympics held at 1900, with approx 1020 contestants, including 21 women. Charlotte Cooper of Britain becomes the first woman to win a Championship.
The next Olympics were held at St. Louis in 1904. The important feature about this was the Gold, Silver and Bronze were awarded for the first time. Then comes 1908, London becomes the Mecca for sports. For the first time, athletes march into the stadium by nation, which grew its count to 22. The next to host the games was Stockholm in 1912. The number of contestants reached to around 2500 and it used electronic timing device, unofficially, and public address system.
The World War - I veiled the spirit of sportsmanship and 1916 games were cancelled. After world war, the games again opens in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920. For the first time, Olympic flag and oath are used in the openning ceremony. In 1924, Paris becomes the first nation to host the game twice. This time the partcipating countries rose to 44 for 126 events. The total athletes touched the figure of 3000 for the first time.
Amsterdam adds itself to the cities to host the games in 1928. Here, the protocol was establish for the Parade of Nations, Greece leads and the host nation goes last. The next to pop up on the list was Los Angeles, in 1932. Photo finish and automatic timing devices were used for track events. It was in Berlin, 1936 which became the first games in which the lighted torch was carried from Olympia to the site of Opening Ceremony.
War again thwarted the games, this time World War - II for consequetive two terms: 1940 and 1944. The enthusiasm and energy was back in game again and this time London was chosen to host the games one more time. The games were for the first time broadcasted on home television. The next to host the games were: Helsinki, Finland (1952); Melbourne, Australia (1956); Rome (1960); Tokyo (1960). Mexico City was the next to organise the games in 1968. Here for the sex test were required for the women. In 1972, Munich was the organiser of the games.
The perfect 10 on the uneven bars was awarded to famous Nadia Comaneci of Romania at Montreal in 1976. Moscow was the next to host in 1980. But the cold war had gripped the world. US boycotts the games and other 65 nations to decline the invitation. India won the hockey Gold here. Los Angeles again host the games but this time Soviet Union together with 14 nations boycott the games.
Seoul, South Korea in 1988, Barcelona, Spain in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 were host of this great sports festival. Atlanta witnessed for the first time record 79 nations in the medal tally and out of them 59 winning the gold.
The last meet happened in Sydney, Australia. The feature of games were around 200 nations partcipated with more than 10,000 contestants for 300 events.
2004: Greece. Its back home.
Athens, 1896. The first Olympics in which 245 , all men, participants from 14 nations contested in 43 events. The American tripple jumper James Connolly becomes the first Olympic Champion. Paris was the second venue for the Olympics held at 1900, with approx 1020 contestants, including 21 women. Charlotte Cooper of Britain becomes the first woman to win a Championship.
The next Olympics were held at St. Louis in 1904. The important feature about this was the Gold, Silver and Bronze were awarded for the first time. Then comes 1908, London becomes the Mecca for sports. For the first time, athletes march into the stadium by nation, which grew its count to 22. The next to host the games was Stockholm in 1912. The number of contestants reached to around 2500 and it used electronic timing device, unofficially, and public address system.
The World War - I veiled the spirit of sportsmanship and 1916 games were cancelled. After world war, the games again opens in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920. For the first time, Olympic flag and oath are used in the openning ceremony. In 1924, Paris becomes the first nation to host the game twice. This time the partcipating countries rose to 44 for 126 events. The total athletes touched the figure of 3000 for the first time.
Amsterdam adds itself to the cities to host the games in 1928. Here, the protocol was establish for the Parade of Nations, Greece leads and the host nation goes last. The next to pop up on the list was Los Angeles, in 1932. Photo finish and automatic timing devices were used for track events. It was in Berlin, 1936 which became the first games in which the lighted torch was carried from Olympia to the site of Opening Ceremony.
War again thwarted the games, this time World War - II for consequetive two terms: 1940 and 1944. The enthusiasm and energy was back in game again and this time London was chosen to host the games one more time. The games were for the first time broadcasted on home television. The next to host the games were: Helsinki, Finland (1952); Melbourne, Australia (1956); Rome (1960); Tokyo (1960). Mexico City was the next to organise the games in 1968. Here for the sex test were required for the women. In 1972, Munich was the organiser of the games.
The perfect 10 on the uneven bars was awarded to famous Nadia Comaneci of Romania at Montreal in 1976. Moscow was the next to host in 1980. But the cold war had gripped the world. US boycotts the games and other 65 nations to decline the invitation. India won the hockey Gold here. Los Angeles again host the games but this time Soviet Union together with 14 nations boycott the games.
Seoul, South Korea in 1988, Barcelona, Spain in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 were host of this great sports festival. Atlanta witnessed for the first time record 79 nations in the medal tally and out of them 59 winning the gold.
The last meet happened in Sydney, Australia. The feature of games were around 200 nations partcipated with more than 10,000 contestants for 300 events.
2004: Greece. Its back home.
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