NBC Olympic Games

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Olympic Games

Organizations

Charter ● IOC ● NOCs ● Symbols Sports ● Competitors Medal ● tables ● Medalists ● Ceremonies ● Bidding

Games

Ancient Olympic Games Summer Olympic Games Winter Olympic Games Paralympic Games Youth Olympic Games

The Olympic Games (French: les Jeux olympiques, JO) is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games are considered to be the world's foremost sports competition and more than 200 nations participate. The Games are currently held biennially, with Summer and Winter Olympic Games alternating, meaning they occur every four years within their respective seasonal games. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The IOC has since become the governing body of the Olympic Movement, whose structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter.

The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th and 21st centuries has resulted in several changes to the Olympic Games. Some of these adjustments include the creation of the Winter Games for ice and winter sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with a physical disability, and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes. The IOC has had to adapt to the varying economic, political, and technological realities of the 20th century. As a result, the Olympics shifted away from pure amateurism, as envisioned by Coubertin, to allow participation of professional athletes. The growing importance of the mass media created the issue of corporate sponsorship and commercialization of the Games. World Wars led to the cancellation of the 1916, 1940, and 1944 Games. Large boycotts during the Cold War limited participation in the 1980 and 1984 Games.

The Olympic Movement consists of international sports federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and organizing committees for each specific Olympic Games. As the decision-making body, the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Olympic Games. The host city is responsible for organizing and funding a celebration of the Games consistent with the Olympic Charter. The Olympic program, consisting of the sports to be contested at the Games, is also determined by the IOC. The celebration of the Games encompasses many rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag and torch, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. Over 13,000 athletes compete at the Summer and Winter Olympics in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events. The first, second, and third place finishers in each event receive Olympic medals: gold, silver, and bronze, respectively.

The Games have grown in scale to the point that nearly every nation is represented. Such growth has created numerous challenges, including boycotts, doping, bribery, and terrorism. Every two years, the Olympics and its media exposure provide unknown athletes with the chance to attain national, and in some cases, international fame. The Games also constitute a major opportunity for the host city and country to showcase themselves to the world.

Contents 1 Ancient Olympics 2 Modern Games 2.1 Forerunners 2.2 Revival 2.3 1896 Games 2.4 Changes and adaptations 2.4.1 Winter Games 2.4.2 Paralympics 2.4.3 Youth Games 3 International Olympic Committee 4 Commercialization 4.1 Budget 4.2 Effect of television 4.3 Controversy 5 Cost 6 Symbols 7 Ceremonies 7.1 Opening 7.2 Closing 7.3 Medal presentation 8 Sports 8.1 Amateurism and professionalism 9 Controversies 9.1 Boycotts 9.2 Politics 9.3 Use of performance enhancing drugs 9.4 Gender discrimination 9.5 Violence 10 Citizenship 10.1 IOC rules for citizenship 10.2 Reasons for changing citizenship 10.3 Citizenship changes and disputes 11 Champions and medalists 12 Host nations and cities 13 See also 14 References

Ancient Olympics

Modern Games

Forerunners

Revival

1896 Games

Main article: 1896 Summer Olympics

Changes and adaptations

Main article: Summer Olympic Games

Winter Games

Main article: Winter Olympic Games

Paralympics

Main article: Paralympic Games

Youth Games

Main article: Youth Olympic Games

International Olympic Committee

Commercialization

Budget

Effect of television

Controversy

Cost

Symbols

Main article: Olympic symbols

Ceremonies

Main article: Olympic Games ceremony

Opening

Closing

Medal presentation

Sports

Main article: Olympic sports

Amateurism and professionalism

Controversies

Boycotts

Politics

Use of performance enhancing drugs

Gender discrimination

Main article: Women's sports at the Olympics

Violence

Citizenship

IOC rules for citizenship

Reasons for changing citizenship

Citizenship changes and disputes

Champions and medalists

Main article: List of multiple Olympic gold medalists

Host nations and cities

Olympic Games host cities

Year	Summer Olympic Games		Winter Olympic Games		Youth Olympic Games
2008	XXIX	Beijing, China
2010			XXI	Vancouver, Canada	I (Summer)
2012	XXX	London, Great Britain			I (Winter)	Innsbruck, Austria
2014			XXII	Sochi, Russia	II (Summer)	Nanjing, China
2016	XXXI	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil			II (Winter)	Lillehammer, Norway
2018			XXIII	Pyeongchang, South Korea	III (Summer)	To be determined
2020	XXXII	To be determined			III (Winter)	To be determined
2022			XXIV	To be determined	IV (Summer)	To be determined
2024	XXXIII	To be determined			IV (Winter)	To be determined

See also

References