Olympic Games Project
Table of contents
History of the olympics from past to present
Date / Venues (1896 - Present)
T&T athletes at the Olympic games (6)
Who won the first T&T olympic medal (name & sport)
Olympic flag and symbol (Olympic ring’s colours and meaning behind them)
Reference list
History Of The Olympic Games
1. Ancient Olympics: The Olympics originated in Olympia, Greece, around 776 BC, as part of a religious festival honoring
the Greek god Zeus. The games were held every four years and included various athletic competitions such as
running, wrestling, boxing, chariot racing, and the pentathlon. The ancient Olympics lasted for over a millennium until
they were abolished by Emperor Theodosius I in 393 AD, as he banned pagan festivals.
2. Revival: The idea of reviving the Olympics emerged in the late 19th century. French educator Baron Pierre de
Coubertin is often credited as the founder of the modern Olympic Games. Inspired by the ideals of ancient Greece, he
proposed the revival of the Olympics as a way to promote international understanding and peace. The first modern
Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896, with athletes from 14 countries participating in 43 events.
3. Growth and Evolution: Since 1896, the Olympics have grown in scale and significance. The number of participating
nations and athletes has increased steadily, with new sports being added over time. Notable milestones include the
inclusion of women's events starting from the 1900 Paris Olympics, the introduction of the Winter Olympics in 1924,
and the adoption of the Paralympic Games for athletes with disabilities, which first took place in 1960.
4. Politics and Boycotts: Throughout its history, the Olympics have occasionally been affected by political tensions and
controversies. Notable instances include the boycotts of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and the 1984 Los Angeles
Olympics, which were driven by Cold War politics. The Olympics have also seen protests and boycotts over issues
such as apartheid in South Africa and human rights abuses in China.
5. Commercialization and Professionalism: In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the Olympics underwent significant
commercialization and professionalization. Corporate sponsorship, television broadcasting rights, and endorsements
became major sources of revenue. Athletes also began to receive more financial support, leading to the participation
of professional athletes in many sports.
6. Modern Olympics: The modern Olympics continue to be held every four years, alternating between Summer and
Winter Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) oversees the organization and management of the
Games, while host cities invest heavily in infrastructure and facilities to accommodate athletes and spectators. The
Olympics have become a global spectacle, showcasing athletic excellence and cultural diversity on an international
stage.
Dates/Venues Of The Olympic Games from
1896-present
Five sporting disciplines of the olympic games
The five sporting disciplines are:
Athletics (Track and Field): Athletics is one of the oldest Olympic sports and includes a wide range of track and field events such as sprints, long-distance running,
hurdles, relays, throwing events (shot put, javelin, discus, hammer), and jumping events (long jump, high jump, pole vault).
Swimming: Swimming events feature various strokes including freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly, as well as individual medleys and relays.
Swimmers compete in distances ranging from 50 meters to 1500 meters, as well as in open water events.
Gymnastics: Gymnastics encompasses both artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics. Artistic gymnastics includes events such as floor exercise, vault,
uneven bars, and balance beam for women, and floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, and horizontal bar for men. Rhythmic gymnastics involves
routines with apparatus like hoops, balls, ribbons, and clubs.
Basketball: Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court with two teams of five players each. The objective is to score points by shooting the ball
through the opponent's hoop while preventing them from doing the same. Basketball has been an Olympic sport since 1936 for men and since 1976 for women.
Football (Soccer): Football, known as soccer in some countries, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players each. The aim is to score goals by
kicking or heading the ball into the opponent's goal while defending one's own goal. Football has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1900 for men and since
1996 for women.
T&T Athletes at the olympics (6)
The 6 athletes at the olympics are Hasely Crawford , Ato Boldon , Keshorn Walcott , Deon Lendore ,
Michelle-Lee Ahye and George Bovell III.
T&T first olympic medal
T&T ‘s first olympic medal was won by Rodney Wilkes in weightlifting.
Olympic rings colours and meaning
The Olympic rings, one of the most recognizable symbols of the Olympic Games, consist of five interlocking rings of different colors on a white field. The
rings are colored as follows, from left to right: blue, yellow, black, green, and red. Here's the meaning behind the colors and the rings:
1. Blue Ring: Symbolizes Europe.
2. Yellow Ring: Symbolizes Asia.
3. Black Ring: Symbolizes Africa.
4. Green Ring: Symbolizes Australia and Oceania.
5. Red Ring: Symbolizes the Americas.
The colors were chosen because at least one of them appears on the flag of every nation in the world. The interlocking rings represent the unity of the five
continents and the coming together of athletes from around the world to compete in the Olympic Games, regardless of their nationality, race, or
background. This symbolism reflects the spirit of international cooperation and camaraderie that lies at the heart of the Olympic movement.
Reference List
Books:
1. Guttmann, A. (2002). "The Olympics: A History of the Modern Games." University of Illinois Press.
2. Payne, M. (2006). "The Olympic Games Explained: A Student Guide to the Evolution of the Modern
Olympic Games." Routledge.
3. Findling, J. E., & Pelle, K. D. (2004). "Encyclopedia of the Modern Olympic Movement." Greenwood Press.
