Whether you usually only catch snippets of the Olympics (for the sole reason of checking out the hot athletes and their abs of steel) or you watch the Games religiously, stalking all related news from the trials to the closing ceremony, there’s still so much to learn about the Olympics. When and why did it start? What the heck do those five rings symbolize? What goes on behind the scenes? HC’s Guide to the Olympics will answer all those questions and more, and will give you all the major deets on what’s in store for London 2012. This is your all-access pass to everything Olympic—let the Games begin.
THE SCOOP: OLYMPIC HISTORY
What?
A comprehensive overview of the Olympics would not be complete without an actual definition of what it is, so we’ll start there. The Olympics is the world’s most prestigious international athletic competition, in which thousands of athletes from around the globe who qualified for their nation’s team participate in events for the sport they play. More than 200 nations are involved in both the Summer and Winter Olympics, which feature different seasonal sports.
Sports in the Summer Olympics:
- Archery
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Beach Volleyball
- Boxing
- Canoe/Kayak
- Cycling
- Diving
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Gymnastics
- Hanball
- Judo
- Modern Pentathon
- Rowing
- Sailing
- Shooting
- Soccer/football
- Swimming
- Synchronized Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Taekwondo
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Triathlon
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling
Click here for more info on each of these sports, and click here to see what sports are featured in the Winter Olympics (hint: they’re played on ice and snow).
Where?
The ancient Olympic Games were originally held in Olympia (hey, that sounds familiar), Greece, but in case you haven’t noticed, the location now changes with each Olympics. Why? The Olympics are supposed to be egalitarian and promote global cooperation, so changing the location means that every nation gets a chance to host the event. Hosting the Olympics is a huge deal for a city and brings in an influx of people from around the world, which means host cities often undergo major reconstruction, renovation, and decoration to welcome and accommodate the guests. This summer, the Olympics are in (drum roll, please….) London. To see where else the Olympics have been held over the years, check out this list.
When?
The Olympics occur every other year, alternating between Summer and Winter Olympic Games. In other words, there is a Summer Olympics every four years and a Winter Olympics every four years (fun fact: the ancient Greeks called those four in-between years an “Olympiad”—they were clearly very creative with naming).
This summer, the opening ceremonies will be on July 27th and the closing ceremony will be on August 12th. Don’t worry, we’ll explain the ceremonies in a bit.
Why?
So why do we even have the Olympics? What is its purpose, besides giving us an opportunity to admire those aforementioned abs of steel? Well to start, the Olympics are most obviously about watching, supporting, and celebrating the world’s best athletes and their incredible feats. This not only serves as a source of entertainment and inspiration, but also of national pride because, really, who wouldn’t want to see their country rack up shiny medals? But despite national loyalties and the spirit of competition, the Games are actually meant to encourage international cooperation and camaraderie.
According to wisegeek.com (and how could you not trust a wise geek?), though the Games are meant to symbolize peace, “three games (1916, 1940, and 1944) have been canceled due to war” and “several Cold War nations boycotted each other during the Olympics…and some nations have staged strategic Olympic boycotts to protest various activities by other competing nations.” But, for the most part, the Games have historically been—and will hopefully continue to be—a time for the world to come together, cheer, and marvel.
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How Did The Olympics Start?
It may be summer, but it’s time for a quick history lesson. Four score and seven years ago our fathers…wait that’s not right. The Olympics actually originated in Greece thousands of years ago. According to Grolier Online’s New Book of Knowledge, the exact date of the first ever Games is unknown but the earliest recorded Olympic competition took place in 776 B.C. The exact reason for the creation of the Games is unknown as well, but it was a “direct outgrowth of the values and beliefs of Greek society. The Greeks idealized physical fitness and mental discipline, and they believed that excellence in those areas honored Zeus, the greatest of all their gods.” No wonder all those statues of Greek men are so chiseled. Legend has it that Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympics, was built to honor Zeus and that religious activities held there eventually turned into the Olympics.
The first Olympics featured just one event: the stade, a sprint race the length of the stadium (which was 192 meters, or in Greek measurements, one stade). Originally, only Greek men were allowed to participate, but this slowly changed over time as people from all over the Roman empire joined in on the action. Females such as our lovely selves, however, were not even allowed to watch, enforced by a death penalty. Women did not start participating in the Olympics until 1900, the second modern Olympics (thank you, feminist movement).
The Olympics continued for several hundred years, and winners were treated with the utmost respect. However, when Rome conquered Greece in the 100’s B.C., the Olympics began to decline and were eventually outlawed in 394 A.D. by Roman emperor Theodosiuis I who “considered the Games a pagan festival.” Buzzkill.
Fast forward 1,500 years. History.com explains that the Renaissance sparked interest in ancient Greek culture, and at a conference on international sports in Paris in 1894, the idea of “reviving the Olympics as a major international competition that would occur every four years” was proposed and accepted. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was formed and the first Games—featuring 280 participants from 13 nations competing in 43 events—occurred on April 6th, 1896, marking the start of the modern Olympics.
Symbols & Traditions
Considering that the Olympics have been around since ancient times, it is no wonder that the Games are marked by several symbols and founded on tradition. But what do all of them mean?
- The Olympic flag: The flag features five interconnected rings of different colors on a white background. There are five to represent the five major continents, and they are interconnected to symbolize the cooperation and collaboration that the Olympics promote. The colors—blue, yellow, black, green, and red—were purposefully selected because at least one is on every country’s flag.
- The Olympic flame: A flame burned throughout the duration of each ancient Olympic Games, and the flame was incorporated into the modern Games in 1928. The Olympic Torch relay, which involves lighting a torch in Greece and transporting it to the host city stadium, began in 1936 and continues today to commemorate the ancient roots of the Olympics. Click here to track the whereabouts of this year’s torch.
- The Olympic motto: Every monumental event needs a motto and the Olympics is no exception. The motto of the Olympics is “Citius, Altius, Fortius,” a Latin phrase meaning “Swifter, Higher, Stronger.” It was introduced in 1921 by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games.
- The Olympic creed: If the motto doesn’t do the essence of the Olympics justice, then the creed definitely gets the job done. The creed, likewise implemented by Pierre de Coubertin, reads: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”
- The opening ceremony: The opening ceremony is dictated by tradition. The Greek team always leads the procession of athletes, followed by the rest of the teams in alphabetical order (according to the host country’s language), with the exception of host country’s team, which always enters last. The flag is raised while the Olympic hymn (which has been the same since the first modern Games) is played. The torch relay enters and ignites the flame, and the Olympic oath and creed are said.
Some details of this year’s ceremony have been leaked courtesy of Danny Boyle, director of Slumdog Millionaire and the artistic director of the 2012 opening ceremony. Apparently, the ceremony will be called “Green and Pleasant,” featuring an Olympic Stadium designed to replicate the British countryside.
- The closing ceremony: The Olympics end with the closing ceremony, which takes place in the stadium and features the flag bearers from each country marching in followed by the athletes, showing no distinction of their nationality to symbolize unity. The mayor of the host city gives the Olympic flag to the president of the International Olympics Committee, who then gives it to the mayor of the next host city. The President of the IOC then gives a closing speech, which always ends with this phrase: “I declare the Games of the __ Olympiad closed and, in accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now at __ to celebrate with us there the Games of the __ Olympiad”.
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THE SCOOP: THE LONDON 2012 GAMES
How To Follow The Olympics
Okay, so now that you’re an expert on the Olympics, you obviously want to watch every second of it this summer. NBC will be covering it on television, so check out what station you should turn to here. You may be anxiously wondering, “but wait, what about when I’m nowhere near a TV but NEED to find out the winner of equestrian show jumping IMMEDIATELY?!?!” Deep breaths, we (and modern technology) have your back. With these apps and sites, you can follow the Olympics wherever, whenever.
The World Wide Web
Phone & iPad Apps
- NBC Olympics App
- Olympics Live Extra
Social Media
- London 2012 Facebook Page
- Twitter Updates
Who To Watch
All Olympic athletes are worth watching—they are considered to be the best in the world, after all. But here’s a little list of some of the most prominent ones to look out for this summer.
Female All-Stars
In The Pool: Missy Franklin
At just 17 years old, swimmer Missy Franklin is, next to Michael Phelps, Team USA’s “biggest medal hope at the London Games,” Newsday says. Why? Well for starters, Missy (nicknamed “Missy the missle”) is the first American woman to qualify for seven events. This may be the first time she is competing in the Olympics, but she already has five medals to her name from last year’s World Aquatic Championships and she holds the world record for the 200-meter backstroke and US Record in the 100-meter. That’s not all: in 2011, she was named the FINA Swimmer or the Year. “By the closing ceremonies, she could be Team’s USA most famous and celebrated female athlete,” according to Newsday. Watch her to see history in the making.
On The Field: Abby Wambach & USA Women’s Soccer
Keep a close eye on Abby Wambach, forward for the U.S Women’s National Soccer Team for over a decade and considered one of the best soccer players of all time, because she and the team are determined (and destined) to add another gold to their collection. The team is ranked No.1 in the world by FIFA. They’re just as slamming off the field as they are on it—Abby and teammates were featured in the 2012 Body Issue for ESPN Magazine. Even more reason to watch ‘em.
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On The Beam, Bars, & Floor: Jordyn Wieber & USA Women’s Gymnastics
Jordyn Wieber, another 17-year-old superstar, won the 2011 American Cup and both the uneven bars and balance beam at the 2011 US Classic. She has been a gymnast since she was 4 years old, competing since she was 7, and winning medals ever since. Wieber alongside star teammates Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman, and Kyla Ross, comprise “the strongest team the Americans have had since 1996, one that will be not just favored but expected to bring home only the second Olympic team gold.” Watch these ladies bend, flip, and leap their way to the top.
On The Sand: Misty May-Treanor & Kerri Walsh
This dynamic duo ruled the volleyball court in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, winning 112 straight matches and two Olympic titles. As Sports Illustrated put it, their names are synonymous with the sport: “Beach volleyball? That’s Misty and Kerri.” This year, however, the team is, for the first time, not entering as favorites. According to Bleacher Report, they are behind No.1 ranked Brazilians Juliana Silva and Larissa Franca and No.2-ranked Chinese Xue Chen and Zhang Xi. This fall in their ranking is likely due to the time off the duo took this past year—Misty suffered an injury and Walsh got married and had two baby boys. But despite their time apart, rank, and rumors of this being the last Olympics they’ll compete in together, Kerri told Sports Illustrated, “when we came back together, it felt right. In my heart, I’m so far from done. Misty, in her heart, she’s not done. We love the challenge. We want to prove that we’re the best.” Misty and Kerri are ready to bring it and we’re more than ready to watch.
Most Anticipated Male Face-Offs
Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte
Everyone’s dying to see who of the two best swimmers in the world will come out on top. Phelps has won 14 golds (16 medals total) and is the first Olympian to win eight gold medals at one Olympic Games, but Lochte beat him in the Olympic trials. Fox News says their “head-to-head races” were “downright epic” and “merely a tantalizing warmup for the events that really matter in Britain.” This hot rivalry is a must-see, especially considering this may be Phelps’ last hurrah—he has insisted that he is retiring after London.
Yohan Blake vs. Usain Bolt
These Jamaican runners dominate the track, and the world will be waiting in anticipation to see who crosses the finish line first. Usain Bolt (it’s almost like he had to become a sprinter with that last name) won three gold medals at the last Olympic Games. But, the competition is fierce with Yohan Blake, who beat Bolt in the 100 and 200 meters (which Bolt held the world and Olympic records for) at the Olympic trials. Yohan Blake says the rivalry is friendly, though, no matter what the results in London are. “Win, lose or draw we are friends, even though it is business and he wants to win and I want to win,” Blake told the BBC. Friendly or not, we can’t wait to see these two duke it out.
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THE SCOOP: CONTROVERSY & HOT GOSSIP
Sponsor Controversy
What would the ultimate international sporting event of the year be without a little drama? This summer, some of the sponsors are stirring up the controversy. The main problem is that the London Assembly wants the Olympics to promote healthy living, yet two of the biggest sponsors (and thus biggest providers of food and drink in Olympic Park) are McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, both notoriously bashed for contributing to America’s obesity epidemic. The London Assembly called for a ban on these and other sponsors doling out unhealthy fare, which unsurprisingly spurred disagreement. “London won the right to host the 2012 Games with the promise to deliver a legacy of more active, healthier children across the world,” Green Party member and leader of the ban Jenny Jones said. “Yet the same International Olympic Committee that awarded the games to London persists in maintaining sponsorship deals with the purveyors of high calorie junk that contributes to the threat of an obesity epidemic.” Other members of the assembly as well as doctors and other health professionals agree that having companies like McDonalds sponsor the Olympics sends a bad, mixed message to viewers, especially children. McDonalds countered these concerns in a TIME article, pointing to the healthy options on its menu and claiming people must take responsibility for making good decisions. As of now, the controversy is not fully settled but compromises have been made.
There has also been controversy, for reasons unrelated to calories, surrounding the Olympic partnership with Dow Chemical. Many protested and boycotted the company as a sponsor due to its relation to Union Carbide Chemical Company. Union Carbide was responsible for the Bhopal gas tragedy, a gas leek in India in 1984 that killed tens of thousands. The protests were so strong that Dow agreed to remove its branding from around the stadium, but it is still up in the air whether or not the company will remain a sponsor.
The Olympic Village (& What Happens There Behind The Scenes)
The Olympic Village is where the athletes will live (and apparently party…more to come on that) during the Games. Located in the east section of Olympic park, it was just recently finished and opened to visitors on July 15th. The Village provides the athletes with much more than just a room for sleeping: there is also a huge dining hall, shops, medical facilities, restaurants, a gym, and game and lounging rooms. It has been reported that the Village will be converted into 2,800 new homes, many of which will be affordable homes, once the Olympics are over.
So, what do the athletes do when they’re not practicing their sport, pumping iron, or getting their recovery sleep? Well, according to many athletes’ recent reports to ESPN and other news sources, life in the Olympic Village is rich with sex, drinking, and partying. The disclosure of these secrets shows that, evidence to the contrary, Olympians are actually human, not bionic.
While some teams and countries enforce rules and curfews, the players still find a way to party, especially after a big win. U.S gold-medalist Hope Solo, for example, told ESPN that after the U.S. women’s soccer team won the gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she and the team partied all night with Vince Vaugh. “When we were done partying, we got out of our nice dresses, got back into our stadium coats,” she says, and then they went on live television, still drunk.
It’s really no big shock that when thousands of toned, talented athletes are thrown into one living community, sparks fly…and clothes fly off. According to an ABC News article, officials allegedly regularly stock the Olympic Village with a hundred thousand condoms, and based on what some athletes have told ESPN, it seems like they get put to good use. For example: American javelin thrower Breaux Greer said he had sex with three women a day during the 2000 Olympics, skier Carrie Sheinberg said she was offered a bobsledder’s gold medals in exchange for sex, and swimmer Ryan Lochte estimates that 70-75 percent of all Olympians are having sex. “Hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do,” he explains.
While some may feel that all this rowdy behavior casts the Olympics and the participating athletes in a negative light, shot-put star John Godina justified it to ABC by explaining that it’s just a way for athletes to unwind once they accomplish what they came to the Olympics to do. “Athletes go [to the Olympics] focused and once their job is done, they have fun,” he said. “They don’t necessarily go there looking for [sex], but things happen.” Yes, things certainly do happen and we can’t even pretend we’re not curious.
So there you have it, collegiettes. You’re all set to follow the 2012 Summer Olympics. Want more info? You’re in luck—we’re gonna keep you updated all along the way with more Olympic-related articles, so keep checking back to stay on top of your Game.