As the 2024 Summer Olympics approach in Paris, France, global citizens are getting excited about cheering on their respective countries. From swimming, gymnastics, track and field, to tennis, the 2024 Summer Olympics are sure to impress viewers with the masterful athletes that are competing. In lieu of the excitement to come, here are 10 fun facts about the Olympics.
10. The First Olympics Took Place in the 8th Century B.C.
The first time the Olympic Games were held was in eighth century B.C. in Olympia Greece. Like they are now, the games were held every four years for almost 12 centuries. However, in the fourth century A.D., the Emperor banned all pagan festivals and the Olympics were forced to stop.
It was about 1500 years later when the Olympic Games started back up again. The first modern Olympics took place in Greece during the year of 1896.
Back in Ancient Greece, the Olympics would last for five or six months instead of a couple weeks like they are now.
In Ancient Greece, athletes also did not worry about sponsorship or protection, or even fashion, meaning that they did not wear clothes during the games. They competed completely naked.
9. The Olympics Were Very Exclusive
During Ancient Greece, only freeborn Greek men were allowed to participate in the games. This meant that only certain classes and parts of hierarchies of people could compete. This barred most people like women, people of color, or poor people from competing in the Olympic Games.
This exclusiveness highlights the social norms and construction of society at the time. It was the wealthy men who had freedoms and privileges.
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8. Women Began Competing in 1900
It was not until the year 1900 that women were able to compete in the Olympics. It took a while for the Olympic Games to work towards gender inclusivity. Though the Olympics have been around for thousands of years, it was not until 1900 that women were allowed to compete.
However, it was not until 1991 that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) implemented a rule that there must be a women’s section for each event that is being competed. Though there is still a lot of work to do in gender equality within sports, this decision was a massive step forward for women.
7. The Winter and Summer Olympics Used to Be in the Same Year
Another one of the fun facts about the Olympics is that from the years 1924 to 1992, the Winter and Summer Olympics would happen in the same year. However, now the games are on separate cycles and happen every two years.
This not only allows the athletes more time to train in their respective sport, but the separation heightens global excitement surrounding the games.
6. Artists Used to Compete
From the years of 1912 to 1948, Artists competed in the Olympics. There were events for painters, sculptures, architects, writers, and musicians. These artists competed for medals in their respective art forms, just like everyone else.
However, these events were abandoned because the artists were professionals, where the athletes were considered to be amateurs. Instead, the Olympics started the Olympic Cultural Program in its place, a multidisciplinary exhibition of different artists’ work.
5. The Olympics Have an Official Language
Another one of the fun facts about the Olympics is that the official languages of the Olympic Games are English and French, along with the official language of the host country.
4. The Five Olympic Rings Are a Symbol
One of the classic fun facts about the Olympics is that the five rings that comprise the internationally recognized symbol of the Olympics represent the 5 continents that were inhabited at the time the Olympics were founded.
The symbol was designed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a co-founder of the modern Olympic games.
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3. The Torch is Supposed to Stay Aflame Throughout the Entirety of the Events
The iconic relay torch and the Olympic flame that is carried during the opening ceremony are supposed to burn throughout the entirety of the events. It can never be lit with a regular lighter though!
So, if the flame goes out, there is a backup flame ready to reignite it. In fact, there is a torchbearer who is prepared to reignite the flame, if needed, throughout the games.
2. Only Six Athletes Have Earned a Medal at Both the Summer and Winter Olympics
One of the craziest fun facts about the Olympics is that throughout the thousands of years that the Olympic Games have been held, only six athletes total have been medaled at both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
These athletes are from all over the world and play a wide variety of sports. Eddy Alvarez from the U.S. won silver in the 5000 meter speed skating competition in 2014 and silver in baseball in 2020.
Lauryn Williams from Canada, the first woman to win medals at both Summer and Winter Olympics, has won multiple medals including bronze in cycling in 1996, bronze in the 5000 meter speed skating competition in 2002, gold in the 5000 meter speed skating competition in 2006, and bronze in the 5000 meter speed skating competition in 2010. Williams is the only athlete in history to win multiple medals at both the Summer and Winter games.
Christa Luding-Rothenburger from Germany was the first athlete to earn a medal at the Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year. She won the women’s 500-meter speed skating competition in 1984, the women’s 1000 meter speed skating competition and the 500 meter speed skating competition in 1988. She then went on to win silver in the track cycling sprint competition later in 1988.
Jacob Tullin Thams of Norway won gold in the large hill ski jumping competition in 1924 and then won silver as a member of an eight meter sailing team in 1936.
Lastly, Eddie Eagen of the U.S. won gold in the light-heavyweight boxing competition in 1920 and then won gold in the four-man bobsleigh competition in 1932.
1. Athletes Won’t Parade Through a Stadium During the 2024 Opening Ceremony
The last of the fun facts about the Olympics is that during the 2024 Opening Ceremony for the Summer Olympics in Paris, athletes won’t be parading around a stadium like normal. Instead, athletes will be floating on boats down the River Seine towards the Eiffel Tower.
Along with this, free access will be provided via invitation for the first time ever. Of course, the tickets will be incredibly expensive at around $3,000 per seat.
