Ancient Olympics
Modern Olympics
Sports
Athletes
The Olympics in History
100
From the 8th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D., the games were held every four years in the city. A. Athens B. Ephesus C. Nicea D. Olympia
What is (D) Olympia? Olympia is located in the west of the Peloponnese. From the beginning of the 10th century BC, Olympia was a meeting place for religious and political activities.
100
This was the year marking the first modern Olympic Games. A) 1900 B) 1850 C) 1896 D) 1920
What is (C) 1896? In 1894, Pierre de Coubertin of France found the International Olympic Committee in Paris, The new committee set itself the objective of organizing the first Olympic Games of modern times. 1896 marked the beginning of an extraordinary adventure that has lasted over a century.
100
In Athens in 1896, there were this man sports on the program. A) 9 B) 5 C) 10 D) 12
What is (A) 9? Events included track and field, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, weightlifting, wrestling, swimming, tennis, and shooting.
100
This individual holds the record for earning the most Olympic medals.
Who is Michael Phelps? As of February 2014, American Swimmer Michael Phelps has won the most Olympic medals with 22 (18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
100
True or False: After the conquest of Greece by Rome in 146 BC, a period of decline began which ended with the Games being abolished.
What is "True"? In 393 AD, Emperor Theodosius I, who had converted to Christianity, decided to abolish all pagan cults and centres. And thus the ancient Olympic Games were abolished after more than 1,000 years of existence.
200
True or False: The original games were held during a religious festival honoring Zeus.
What is "True"? Legend has it that Heracles (the Roman Hercules), son of Zeus, founded the Games to honor Zeus and his victory over Cronus.
200
True or False: In ancient times, the Games were held first on one day, and finally over five days. Today the official duration is no more than 16 days.
What is "True"?
200
For the first 12 Olympics, this was the only event and remained the most prestigious event throughout the history of the Games. A) Discus Throw B) Stadion C) Wrestling D) Javelin Throw
What is (B) Stadion? For the first 12 Olympics the stadion foot-race was the only event and it remained the most prestigious event throughout the history of the Games. The race was ran over one length (a stadion) of the stadium track, 600 ancient feet or 192 m and preliminary heats were held with heat winners going into the final. Athletes were grouped by lot and in the interest of fairness this was also the way pairings were matched in the other events. The eventual winner of the stadion would even give his name to that particular Games and so be remembered for all time.
200
The athlete was a member of the "Magnificent Seven" gymnastics team in 1996 and landed a vault that clinched the team gold medal for the U.S.A. A) Dominique Moceanu B) Kerri Strug C) Mary Lou Retton D) Shawn Johnson
Who is (B) Kerri Strug? Strug under-rotated the landing of her first attempt, causing her to fall and damage her ankle. Immediately after landing her second vault she collapsed onto her knees and needed assistance. Her vault received a 9.712, guaranteeing the Americans the gold medal.
200
True or False : The 1916, 1940, and 1944 Olympics were cancelled due to WWI and WWII.
What is "True"? Nazi Germany used the 1936 Olympic Games for propaganda purposes. The Nazis promoted an image of a new, strong, and united Germany while masking the regime’s antisemitic and racist policies as well as Germany’s growing militarism. Following the start of WWI and WWII, the games were cancelled.
300
True or False: Only Greek citizens of the royal family could participate in the ancient Olympic Games.
What is "False"? All free male Greek citizens were entitled to participate in the ancient Olympic Games, regardless of their social status. Married women were not allowed to participate in, or to watch, the ancient Olympic Games. However, unmarried women could attend the competition. Bonus Question: What is a reason why married women were unable to attend?
300
Which of the following criteria is not a mandate for a sport to be included in Olympic program: A) governed by an International Foundation B) complies with the Olympic Charter C) applies the World Anti-Doping Code D) have at least 150 professional athletes world-wide
What is (D) have at least 150 professional athletes world-wide? Since 2000, there has been little change to the number of sports on the program of the Summer and Winter Games, but rather changes to events in order to limit the size of the Games.
300
True or False: The Decathlon was added in 708 BCE, and included jumping, discuss, stadion, javelin, and wrestling.
What is "False"? The (5) events were called the Pentathlon.
300
This diver is participating in his 3rd Olympics. He is originally from Noblesville, IN and currently resides in West Lafayette, IN. A) Carmelo Anthony B) David Boudia C) Paul George D) Michael Phelps
Who is (B) David Boudia? Boudia won the gold in the 10m platform in 2012.
300
The US boycotted the Olympics in 1980 after this country invaded Afghanistan. A) Iraq B) Pakistan C) India D) Soviet Union
What is (D) Soviet Union? With the Cold War ongoing, President Jimmy Carter urged U.S. allies to pull their Olympic teams from the Games to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The U.S. did not participate in the Olympics that summer, and instead hosted the Liberty Bell Classic in Philadelphia as an alternative competition for athletes of countries supporting the boycott.
400
This was the name for the race track in the Ancient Olympics. With a length of 780 meters, it was the largest sport area. A) Stadium B) Hippodrome C) Gymnasium D) Ampitheatre
What is (B) Hippodrome? For a long time, archeologists have not been able to trace it. Recent research with geo-radar and geo-magnetism, however, has located the hippodrome in the area between the stadion and the valley of the Alpheios river. A Greek hippodrome was not a complicated construction. For a simple race track, a large flat terrain, with at the start and finish a column as a turning point for the chariots, suffices. As in the stadion, the spectators of the Olympic horse races stood on slopes along the track, a natural hill to the north, an artificial earthen slope to the south and west. At the start, a complicated starting mechanism made sure all the horses started at the same time.
400
True or False: Athletes may compete for more than one country during the Olympic Games.
What is "False"? Athletes with more than one nationality may compete for the country of their choice. However, if they have already represented one country either at the Games or another major sports event, they may not compete for a different country before three years have elapsed.
400
True or False: Trampoline is an Olympic sport.
What is "True"? Developed in 1934, trampolines were originally used to train astronauts or were used as a training tool for other sports. They soon became popular in their own right and a sport was born.
400
This athlete broke several records and won several gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Track & Field. A) Carl Lewis B) Jesse Owens C) Babe Didrickson D) Muhammad Ali
What is (B) Jesse Owens? African-American athlete Jesse Owens broke records and won several gold medals, shattering Hitler’s aim to use the 1936 Games as an example of the “new Aryan man.” Owens later befriended his German competitor in the long jump, Luz Long, and the pair's lap of honor became a symbol of the triumph of sportsmanship over Nazi ideology.
400
This was the first year that women were allowed to participate in Olympics. A) 1900 B) 1912 C) 1920 D) 1926
What is (A) 1900? Women were never allowed to compete in the Olympics until the Paris Games in 1900, when their participation in lawn tennis and golf events secured a position for female athletes in future Games. The London 2012 Olympics signified a new gender milestone with the debut of Women's Boxing, and it was also the first Games in Olympic history with female athletes from every competing country.
500
True or False: Getting to, and participating in, the games was dangerous for the athletes because three kings ( Iphitos of Elis, Cleosthenes of Pisa, and Lycurgus of Sparta) refused to sign a treaty protecting both athletes and spectators on their travels.
What is "False"? The tradition of the "Olympic Truce" or Ekecheiria was established in Ancient Greece in the 9th century through the signing of a treaty. Messengers went from city to city to announce the date of the competitions. They demanded a halt to fighting before, during, and after the Games.
500
True or False: The first Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals were not awarded until 1904.
What is "True"? In the beginning, Olympic medals varied from one Olympiad to the next. At the first modern Games in Athens in 1896, winners were rewarded with an olive wreath and a silver medal, while the runners-up received a bronze medal and a laurel wreath.
500
True or False: Only five sports have been contested at every summer Olympic Games since 1896.
What is "True"? Athletics, Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics and Swimming. In 2012 there was 26 sports contested, and in 2016 there will be 28 (Golf and Rugby were added).
500
True or False: Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic Flame at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. The Olympic Games turned 100 in 1996.
What is "True"? Despite his struggles with Parkison's disease, former heavyweight boxing champion and Olympic gold medalist Muhammad Ali lit the Olympic flame during the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Games. It was an emotional start to the Olympics' Centennial.
500
This is the area that the athletes stay in at the Games. A) Olympic Town B) Olympic City C) Olympic Village D) Olympic Arena
What is (C) Olympic Village? Olympic Village is usually located close to the competition venues. In 2012 in London, the Village accommodated over 17,000 athletes and officials. The first Olympic Village was built for the 1932 Games in Los Angeles as an opportunity for competitors to meet athletes from different countries and cultures.
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