Modern youth devotes little time to sports, not only at the professional, but also at the amateur level. There is an extensive network of competitions to promote sports. Today we will consider in which country the Olympic competitions originated, when they were held, the situation today.
In contact with
Sports competitions of antiquity
The date of the first Olympic Games (hereinafter referred to as the Olympic Games) is unknown, but preserved theirs is ancient greece. The heyday of Hellenic statehood led to the formation of a religious and cultural holiday, which for a time united the layers of an egoistic society.
The worship of beauty was actively cultivated human body, enlightened people sought to achieve the perfection of forms. It is not for nothing that most of the marble statues of the Greek period depict beautiful men and women of that time.
Olympia is considered the first "sports" city of Hellas, here the winners of the championships were revered as full participants military operations. In 776 B.C. the festival was revived.
The reason for the decline of the Olympic Games is the Roman expansion into the Balkans. With the spread of the Christian faith, such holidays began to be considered pagan. In 394, Emperor Theodosius I banned sports competitions.
Attention! Sports competitions included several weeks of neutrality - it was forbidden to declare or wage war. Every day was considered sacred, dedicated to the gods. It is not surprising that they originated Olympic Games in the territory of Hellas.
Prerequisites for the revival of the Olympic Games
The ideas of world championships never completely died out; England held tournaments and sports competitions of a local nature. History of the Olympic Games XIX century is characterized by the holding of "Olympia" - the forerunner of modern competitions. The idea belongs to the Greeks: Sutsos and public figure Zappas. They made the first modern Olympic Games possible.
Archaeologists have discovered in the country where sports competitions originated, clusters of ancient monumental structures of unknown purpose. those years was very interested in antiquity.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin considered it inappropriate physical training soldier. In his opinion, this was the reason for the defeat in the last war with the Germans (the Franco-Prussian confrontation of 1870-1871). He sought to instill in the French a desire for self-development. He believed that young people should "break spears" in sports arenas, and not through military conflicts.
Attention! Excavations in Greece were carried out by a German expedition, so Coubertin succumbed to revanchist sentiments. His expression is “The German people found the remains of Olympia. Why does France not restore the fragments of its former power? ”, often serves as fair evidence.
Baron with a great heart
is the founder modern Olympic Games. Let's devote a few words to his biography.
Little Pierre was born on January 1, 1863 in the capital of the French Empire. The youth passed through the prism of self-education, attended a number of prestigious colleges in England and America, considered sports an integral part of the development of a person as a person. He was engaged in rugby, was a judge of the first final of the French championship.
The history of the famous competitions was of interest to the then society, so Coubertin decided to hold world-class competitions. November 1892 was remembered for a speech at the Sorbonne University with a report. He was dedicated to the revival of the Olympic movement. The Russian general Butovsky was imbued with Pierre's ideas, as he held the same views.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) appointed de Coubertin as Secretary General, subsequently - organization president. Work went hand in hand with an imminent marriage. In 1895, Marie Rothan became a baroness. The marriage brought two children: first-born Jacques and daughter Rene suffered from diseases nervous system. The Coubertin family ended after Marie's death at the age of 101. She lived with the knowledge that her husband revived the Olympic Games, held a prominent position.
With the beginning, Pierre went to the front, leaving social activities. Both of his nephews died en route to victory.
As head of the IOC, Coubertin often faced criticism. The public resented the "wrong" interpretation of the first Olympic Games, excessive professionalism. Many claimed that he abused power in dealing with issues of various kinds.
Great public figure died September 2, 1937 years in Geneva (Switzerland). His heart became part of a monument near the ruins of Greek Olympia.
Important! The Pierre de Coubertin medal has been awarded by the IOC since the death of the Honorary President. Worthy athletes are honored with this award for their nobility and adherence to the spirit of Fair Play.
Olympic revival
The French baron revived the Olympics, but the bureaucratic machine delayed the championship. Two years later, the French Congress made a historic decision: the first modern Olympic Games will pass on Greek soil. Reasons for this decision include:
- the desire to "wipe the nose" of the German neighbor;
- make a good impression on civilized countries;
- championship in the undeveloped area;
- the growing influence of France as a cultural and sports center of the Old World.
The first modern Olympic Games were held in the Greek city of Antiquity - Athens (1896). Sports competitions were crowned with success, 241 athletes expressed their desire to participate. The Greek side was so pleased with the attention from the world states that they offered to hold competitions “forever” in their historical homeland. The IOC also decided to rotate between countries in order to change the host every 4 years.
The first achievements were replaced by a crisis. The flow of spectators quickly dried up, as the competitions were held for several months. The first Olympiad in 1906 (Athens) saved the plight.
Attention! The national team of the Russian Empire arrived in the capital of France for the first time, women were allowed to participate in competitions.
Irish-born Olympian
James ConnollyJames Connolly - first Olympic champion peace. Working hard from an early age, he was fond of contact sports.
He studied at Harvard University, without asking went on a cargo ship to the shores of Greece. Subsequently, he was expelled, but the first Olympiad succumbed to him.
With a score of 13 m and 71 cm, the Irishman was the strongest in the track and field triple jump. A day later, he won bronze in long jump and silver in high jump.
At home, he was waiting for the restored title of student, popularity and universal recognition as the first champion of modern famous competitions.
He was awarded the title of Doctor of Science in Literature (1949). He died at the age of 88 (January 20, 1957).
Important! The Olympic Games are held under the supervision of a unique symbol - five fastened rings. They symbolize the unity of all in the movement of sports excellence. Above are blue, black and red, below are yellow and green.
Situation today
Modern competitions are the founder of the culture of health and sports. Their popularity and demand is beyond doubt, and the number of participants and spectators of the competition is growing every year.
The IOC is trying to keep up with the times, has established many traditions that have taken root over time. Hosting sports competitions now filled with atmosphere"ancient" traditions:
- Grand performances at the opening and closing ceremonies. Everyone tries to hold them on a grand scale, and someone overdoes it.
- Solemn passage of athletes of each participating country. The Greek team always goes first, the rest are in alphabetical order.
- An outstanding athlete of the host country must take an oath of fair play for everyone.
- Ignition of a symbolic torch in the temple of Apollo (Greece). It runs through the participating countries. Each athlete must overcome his part of the relay.
- The awarding of medals is filled with centuries-old traditions, the winner rises to the podium, above which the state flag is raised, the national anthem is played.
- A prerequisite is the symbolism of the "first Olympiad". The host country is developing a stylized symbol of the sports holiday, which would reflect the national flavor.
Attention! The release of souvenir products can cover the costs of the event. Many European countries will share their experience on how to gain without losing anything.
Many are interested in when the Olympic Games will take place, we hasten to satisfy the interest of readers.
The ceremony of lighting a symbolic torch in the temple
What year is the new championship
First Olympiad 2018 take place on the territory South Korea. Climatic features and rapid development have made it an ideal contender for the Winter Games.
Summer takes Japan. The country of high technologies will provide safety and comfortable conditions for athletes from all over the world.
Football confrontation will be on the fields Russian Federation. Now most of the sports facilities have been completed, work is underway to equip hotel complexes. Improving infrastructure is a priority for the Russian government.
2018 Olympics in South Korea
prospects
Modern ways of development of these competitions suggest:
- Increasing the number of sports disciplines.
- propaganda healthy lifestyle life, social and charitable events.
- The introduction of advanced technologies for the convenience of holding festivities, enhancing the safety and comfort of participating athletes.
- Maximum distance from foreign policy intrigues.
First Olympic Games
1896 Olympic Games
Output
Pierre de Coubertin is the founder of the modern Olympic Games. His obsession has helped save millions of lives as countries openly compete in the sporting arena. Preservation of peace was a priority at the end of the 19th century, and it remains so today.
Olympic Games, Olympiad Games - the largest international complex sport competitions modernity, which are held every four years. The tradition that existed in ancient Greece was revived at the end of the 19th century by a French public figure Pierre de Coubertin. The Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics, have been held every four years since 1896, with the exception of years during World Wars. In 1924, the Winter Olympic Games were established, which were originally held in the same year as the summer ones. However, since 1994 the time of the Winter Olympic Games has been shifted by two years from the time of the Summer Games.
Ancient Olympic Games
Olympic Games Ancient Greece were religious and sports holiday held in Olympia. Information about the origin of the games is lost, but several legends have survived describing this event. The first documented celebration dates back to 776 BC. e., although it is known that the games were held before. At the time of the games, a sacred truce was declared, at which time it was impossible to wage war, although this was repeatedly violated.
The Olympic Games essentially lost their importance with the advent of the Romans. After Christianity became the official religion, the games began to be seen as a manifestation of paganism, and in 394 A.D. e. they were banned by the emperor Theodosius I.
The revival of the Olympic idea
The Olympic idea did not disappear completely even after the ban on ancient competitions. For example, in England during the 17th century, "Olympic" competitions and competitions were repeatedly held. Later, similar competitions were organized in France and Greece. However, these were small events that were, at best, regional in nature. The first true predecessors of the modern Olympic Games are the Olympia, which were held regularly during the period 1859-1888. The idea of reviving the Olympic Games in Greece belonged to the poet Panagiotis Sutsos, brought it to life by a public figure Evangelis Zappas.
In 1766, as a result of archaeological excavations in Olympia, sports and temple facilities were discovered. In 1875, archaeological research and excavations continued under German leadership. At that time, romantic-idealistic ideas about antiquity were in vogue in Europe. The desire to revive the Olympic mindset and culture spread fairly quickly throughout Europe. French baron Pierre de Coubertin (fr. Pierre de Coubertin) said then: “Germany unearthed what was left of ancient Olympia. Why can't France restore its old grandeur?
Baron Pierre de Coubertin
According to Coubertin, it was precisely the weak physical condition of the French soldiers that became one of the reasons for the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. He seeks to change the situation by improving physical education French. At the same time, he wanted to overcome national selfishness and contribute to the struggle for peace and international understanding. The Youth of the World was to face off in sports, not on the battlefield. The revival of the Olympic Games seemed in his eyes the best solution to achieve both goals.
At a congress held June 16-23, 1894 at the Sorbonne (University of Paris), he presented his thoughts and ideas to the international public. On the last day of the congress (June 23), it was decided that the first modern Olympic Games should be held in 1896 in Athens, in the parent country of the Games - Greece. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded to organize the Games. Greek became the first president of the Committee Demetrius Vikelas, who was president until the end of the 1st Olympic Games in 1896. Baron became general secretary Pierre de Coubertin.
The first Games of our time were indeed a great success. Despite the fact that only 241 athletes (14 countries) took part in the Games, the Games became the largest sporting event that has ever passed since ancient Greece. Greek officials were so pleased that they put forward a proposal to hold the Games of the Olympiad "forever" in their homeland, Greece. But the IOC introduced a rotation between different states, so that every 4 years the Games change the venue.
After the first success, the Olympic movement experienced the first crisis in its history. The 1900 Games in Paris (France) and the 1904 Games in St. Louis (Missouri, USA) were combined with the World Exhibitions. Sports competitions dragged on for months and almost did not enjoy the interest of the audience. Almost only American athletes participated in the Games in St. Louis, since it was very difficult to get from Europe across the ocean in those years for technical reasons.
At the 1906 Olympic Games in Athens (Greece), sports competitions and results again came out on top. Although the IOC initially recognized and supported these "intermediate Games" (just two years after the previous ones), these Games are not now recognized as Olympic Games. Some sports historians consider the 1906 Games a salvation Olympic idea, as they prevented games from becoming "meaningless and unnecessary".
Modern Olympic Games
The principles, rules and regulations of the Olympic Games are defined by the Olympic Charter, the foundations of which were approved by the International Sports Congress in Paris in 1894, which, at the suggestion of the French teacher and public figure Pierre de Coubertin, decided to organize the Games on the model of the ancient ones and to create the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
According to the charter of the Games, the Olympiad “…unite amateur athletes of all countries in fair and equal competitions. In relation to countries and individuals, no discrimination is allowed on racial, religious or political grounds ... ". Games are held in the first year of the Olympiad (4-year period between games). The Olympiads have been counted since 1896, when the first Olympic Games took place (I Olympiad - 1896-99). The Olympiad also receives its number in cases where games are not held (for example, VI - in 1916-19, XII-1940-43, XIII - 1944-47). The symbol of the Olympic Games is five fastened rings, symbolizing the unification of the five parts of the world in the Olympic movement, the so-called. Olympic rings. The color of the rings in the top row is blue for Europe, black for Africa, red for America, in the bottom row yellow for Asia, green for Australia. Apart from Olympic sports sports, the organizing committee has the right to include demonstration competitions in 1-2 sports not recognized by the IOC in the program at its choice. In the same year as the Olympics, since 1924 the Winter Olympic Games have been held, which have their own numbering. Since 1994, the dates for the Winter Olympic Games have been shifted by 2 years relative to the summer ones. The venue of the Olympics is chosen by the IOC, the right to organize them is granted to the city, not the country. Duration no more than 15 days (winter games - no more than 10).
The Olympic movement has its own emblem and flag, approved by the IOC at the suggestion of Coubertin in 1913. The emblem is the Olympic rings. The motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger). The flag - a white cloth with the Olympic rings, has been raised at all the Games since 1920.
Among the traditional rituals of the Games:
* lighting the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony (the flame is lit from the sun's rays in Olympia and delivered by the torch relay to the host city of the Games);
* pronouncing by one of the outstanding athletes of the country in which the Olympics takes place, the Olympic oath on behalf of all participants in the games;
* pronouncement on behalf of the judges of the oath of impartial refereeing;
* presentation of medals to the winners and prize-winners of competitions;
* raising the national flag and performing national anthem in honor of the winners.
Since 1932, the host city has been building the "Olympic Village" - a residential complex for participants in the Games. According to the charter, the Games are competitions between individual athletes, and not between national teams. However, since 1908 the so-called. informal team standings- determining the place occupied by teams by the number of medals received and points scored in competitions (points are awarded for the first 6 places according to the system: 1st place - 7 points, 2nd - 5, 3rd - 4, 4th - 3, 5th - 2, 6th - 1). Rank Olympic champion is the most honored and desired in the career of an athlete in those sports in which the Olympic tournaments are held. The exception is football, since the title of world champion in this sport is much more prestigious.
“There is nothing nobler than the sun,
giving so much light and warmth. So
and people glorify those contests
there is nothing greater than the Olympic Games.”
Pindar
These words of the ancient Greek poet Pindar, written two thousand years ago, have not been forgotten to this day. Not forgotten because the Olympic competitions, held at the dawn of civilization, continue to live in the memory of mankind.
There are no number of myths - one is more beautiful than the other! about the origin of the Olympic Games. Gods, kings, rulers and heroes are considered their most honorable ancestors. One thing has been established with obvious indisputability: the first Olympiad known to us from antiquity took place in 776 BC.
Each Olympic Games turned into a holiday for the people, a kind of congress for rulers and philosophers, a competition for sculptors and poets.
The days of the Olympic celebrations are the days of universal peace. For the ancient Hellenes, games were an instrument of peace, facilitating negotiations between cities, promoting mutual understanding and communication between states.
The Olympics glorified man, for the Olympics reflected a worldview, the cornerstone of which was the cult of the perfection of the spirit and body, the idealization of a harmoniously developed person - a thinker and an athlete. Olympionics - the winner of the games - were paid honors by their compatriots, which were awarded to the gods, monuments were created in their honor during their lifetime, laudatory odes were composed, feasts were arranged. The Olympic hero entered his native city in a chariot, dressed in purple, crowned with a wreath, he entered not through an ordinary gate, but through a hole in the wall, which was repaired on the same day so that Olympic victory entered the city and never left it.
The center of the Olympic world of antiquity was the sacred district of Zeus in Olympia - a grove along the Alpheus River at the confluence of the Kladei stream into it. In this beautiful town of Hellas, traditional all-Greek competitions in honor of the god of thunder were held almost three hundred times. The winds of the Ionian sea disturbed the mighty pines and oaks on the top of Kronos Hill. At its foot there is a protected area, the silence of which was broken every four years by the Olympic celebration.
Such is Olympia, the cradle of games. Its former greatness is now reminded of by no means silent ruins. The testimony of ancient authors, statues and images on vases and coins recreate the picture of the Olympic spectacle.
Near the sacred Olympia, the town of the same name subsequently grew up, surrounded by orange and olive groves.
Now Olympia is a typical provincial town, living with tourists who flock to the Olympic ruins from all over the world. Everything is absolutely Olympic in it: from the names of streets and hotels to dishes in taverns and souvenirs in countless shops. It is noteworthy for its museums - archaeological and Olympic.
Olympia owes its surviving glory entirely to the Olympic Games, although they were held there only once every four years and lasted a few days. In the intervals between games, a huge stadium was empty, located nearby, in a hollow near the hill of Kronos. Overgrown with grass Treadmill the stadium and the slopes of the hill and embankments that bordered the arena, which served as a platform for spectators. There was no clatter of hooves or the rumble of horse-drawn chariots at the nearby hippodrome. There were no training athletes in the spacious gymnasium surrounded by stands and in the monumental building of the palestra. Voices were not heard in the leonidaion - a hotel for honored guests.
But during the Olympic Games, life was seething here. Tens of thousands of arriving athletes and guests filled the grandiose sports facilities for those times to capacity. In terms of their composition, their ensemble basically differed little from modern sports complexes. In those distant times, at the Olympics, only the winner in certain types competitions - Olympionik. In modern terms, no one recorded the absolute achievements of athletes. Therefore, few people were interested in the perfection of the competition sites. Everyone was more interested in the ritual side of the holiday dedicated to Zeus.
As you know, ancient Greek history with a certain degree of reliability reflects mythology. One of the poetic myths of ancient Greece tells how the Olympic Stadium came into being. If you listen to this legend, then Hercules from Crete was its founder. Approximately in the 17th century. BC e. He and his four brothers landed on the Peloponnesian peninsula. There, at the hill with the tomb of the titan Kronos, according to legend, defeated in the fight by the son of Zeus, Hercules, in honor of the victory of his father over his grandfather, organized a competition with his brothers on the run. To do this, on the site at the foot of the hill, he measured the distance of 11 stages, which corresponded to 600 of his feet. an impromptu running track 192 m 27 cm long and served as the basis for the future Olympic Stadium. For three centuries, it was in this primitive arena that the games, later called the Olympic Games, were far from regularly held.
Gradually, the Olympics won the recognition of all the states located on the Peloponnesian Peninsula, and by 776 BC. e. acquired a general character. It was from this date that the tradition began to perpetuate the names of the winners.
On the eve of the grand opening of the Games, an ancient tent city was spread out near the stadium on the banks of the Alfei River. In addition to many sports fans, merchants of various goods and owners of entertainment establishments rushed here. So even in ancient times, the care of preparing for the games involved the most diverse social strata of the Greek population in organizational matters. The Greek festival officially lasted five days, dedicated to the glorification of the physical strength and unity of the nation, worshiping the deified beauty of man. The Olympic Games, as their popularity grew, influenced the center of Olympia - Altis. For more than 11 centuries, pan-Greek games have been held in Olympia. Similar games were held in other centers of the country, but none of them could be compared with the Olympic ones.
One of the most beautiful legends of the past tells of Prometheus, the God-fighter and protector of people, who stole fire from Olympus and brought it in a reed and taught mortals how to use it. As the myths say, Zeus ordered Hephaestus to chain Prometheus to the Caucasian rock, pierced his chest with a spear, and a huge eagle flew every morning to peck the liver of a titan, he was saved by Hercules. And not a legend, but history testifies that in other cities of Hellas there was a cult of Prometheus, and in his honor Prometheus was held - competitions of runners with burning torches.
The figure of this titan remains today one of the most striking images in Greek mythology. The expression "Promethean fire" means striving for high goals in the fight against evil. Didn't the ancients put the same meaning when they lit the Olympic flame in the Altis grove about three thousand years ago?
During the summer solstice, competitors and organizers, pilgrims and fans paid homage to the gods by lighting a fire on the altars of Olympia. The winner of the running competition was honored to light the fire for the sacrifice. In the reflections of this fire, the rivalry of athletes took place, the competition of artists, an agreement on peace was concluded by messengers from cities and peoples.
That is why the tradition of lighting a fire, and later delivering it to the venue of the competition, was renewed.
Among the Olympic rituals, the ceremony of lighting a fire in Olympia and delivering it to the main arena of the games is especially emotional. This is one of the traditions of the modern Olympic movement. Millions of people can watch the exciting journey of fire through countries, and sometimes even continents, with the help of television.
The Olympic flame first flared up at the Amsterdam Stadium on the first day of the 1928 Games. This is an indisputable fact. However, until recently, most researchers in the field Olympic history do not find confirmation that this fire was delivered, as tradition dictates, by relay from Olympia.
The beginning of the torch relay races that brought fire from Olympia to the city Summer Olympics, was laid in 1936. Since then, the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games have been enriched by the exciting spectacle of lighting a fire in the main Olympic stadium from a torch carried by a relay. The Torchbearer Run has been the solemn prologue of the Games for more than four decades. On June 20, 1936, a fire was lit in Olympia, which then made a 3075 km journey along the road of Greece, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Germany. And in 1948, the torch made its first sea voyage.
In 394 AD e. The Roman emperor Theodosius 1 issued a decree prohibiting the further holding of the Olympic Games. The emperor converted to Christianity and decided to eradicate anti-Christian games glorifying pagan gods. And one and a half thousand years the games were not played. In the following centuries, sport lost the democratic significance that was attached to it in ancient Greece. For a long time it became the privilege of the "chosen" fraud, ceased to play the role of the most accessible means of communication between peoples.
Ancient Greek athletes competed naked. From the word "naked" ("gymnos") comes the word "gymnastics". The naked body was not considered something shameful - on the contrary, it showed how hard the athlete trained. It was shameful to have an unsportsmanlike, untrained body. Women were forbidden not only to participate, but also to observe the course of the Games. If a woman was found in the stadium, she was legally to be thrown into the abyss. Only once this rule was violated - when a woman, whose father, brother and husband were Olympic champions, trained her son herself and, driven by the desire to see him as a champion, went with him to the Games. Coaches stood separately on the field, watching their wards. Our heroine changed into men's clothing and stood next to them, looking at her son with excitement. And now... he is declared the champion! Mother could not stand it and ran across the whole field to be the first to congratulate him. On the way, her clothes fell off her, and everyone saw that there was a woman in the stadium. The judges were in a difficult position. By law, the violator must be killed, but she is a daughter, sister and wife, and now also the mother of Olympic champions! She was spared, but from that day on a new rule was introduced - now not only athletes, but also coaches must stand completely naked on the field to prevent such situations.
One of the types of competitions was chariot racing - unusually dangerous view sports, horses were often frightened, chariots collided, jockeys fell under the wheels ... Sometimes only two out of ten chariots reached the start. But all the same, no matter what strength and dexterity the jockey showed, it was not he who received the wreath of the winner, but the owner of the horses!
Women had their own Games - they were dedicated to the goddess Hera. They took place a month before the men's or, conversely, a month after them, at the same stadium where women competed in running.
With the advent of the Renaissance, which restored interest in the art of Ancient Greece, they remembered the Olympic Games. At the beginning of the 19th century Sport has received universal recognition in Europe and there was a desire to organize something similar to the Olympic Games. Local games organized in Greece in 1859, 1870, 1875 and 1879 left some trace in history. Although they did not give tangible practical results in the development of the international Olympic movement, they served as an impetus for the formation of the Olympic Games of our time, which owe their revival to the French public figure, teacher, historian Pierre De Coubertin. The growth of economic and cultural communication between states, which arose at the end of the 18th century, the appearance modern species transport, paved the way for the revival of the Olympic Games on an international scale. That is why the call of Pierre de Coubertin: “We need to make sport international, we need to revive the Olympic Games!” found a proper response in many countries.
On June 23, 1894, in Paris, in the Great Hall of the Sorbonne, a commission for the revival of the Olympic Games met. Pierre de Coubertin became its general secretary. Then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took shape, which included the most authoritative and independent citizens of different countries.
By decision of the IOC, the games of the first Olympiad were held in April 1896 in the Greek capital at the Panathini Stadium. The energy of Coubertin and the enthusiasm of the Greeks overcame many obstacles and made it possible to carry out the planned program of the first games of our time. Spectators enthusiastically accepted the colorful opening and closing ceremonies of the revived sports festival, awarding the winners of the competitions. The interest in the competition was so great that 80 thousand spectators could fit in the marble stands of the Panathini Stadium, designed for 70,000 seats. The success of the revival of the Olympic Games was confirmed by the public and the press of many countries, who welcomed the initiative.
Legends related to the origin of the Olympic Games:
* One of the oldest is the legend of Pelops, which is mentioned by the ancient Roman poet Ovid in his "Metamorphoses" and the ancient Greek poet Pindar. Pelops, the son of Tantalus, is told in this legend, after the king of Troy, Il, conquered his hometown of Sipil, left his homeland, and went to the shores of Greece. In the very south of Greece, he found a peninsula and settled on it. Since then, this peninsula has been called the Peloponnese. Once Pelops saw the beautiful Hypodamia, the daughter of Enomai. Oenomaus was the king of Pisa, a city located in the northwest of the Peloponnese, in the valley of the river Alpheus. Pelops fell in love with the beautiful daughter of Enomai and decided to ask the king for her hand.
But it turned out to be not so easy. The fact is that the oracle predicted Enomai's death at the hands of his daughter's husband. To prevent such a fate, Enomai decided not to marry his daughter at all. But how to do that? How to refuse all applicants for the hand of Hypodamia? Many worthy suitors wooed the beautiful princess. Enomai could not refuse everyone for no reason and came up with a cruel condition: he would give Hypodamia as a wife only to the one who defeated him in a chariot contest, but if he turned out to be the winner, then the bewitched must pay with his life. Enomai had no equal in the whole of Greece in the art of driving a chariot, and his horses were faster than the wind.
One after another, young people came to the palace of Enomai, who were not afraid to lose their lives, if only to get the beautiful Hypodamia as a wife. And Enomai killed all of them, and so that it would be discourteous for others to come to woo, he nailed the heads of the dead to the doors of the palace. But this did not stop Pelops. He decided to outsmart the cruel ruler of Pisa. Pelops secretly agreed with the charioteer of Oenomaus Myrtilus that he would not insert a pin holding the wheel on the axle.
Before the start of the competition, Enomai, confident, as always, in success, suggested that Pelops start the race alone. The groom's chariot takes off, and Enomai slowly sacrifices to the great Thunderer Zeus, and only after that he rushes after him.
The chariot of Oenomaus has already reached Pelops, the son of Tantalus already feels the hot breath of the horses of King Pisa, he turns around and sees how the king swings his spear with a triumphant laugh. But at that moment, the wheels from the axles of the chariot of Oenomaus jump off, the chariot overturns, and the cruel king falls dead to the ground.
Pelops returned in triumph to Pisa, took the beautiful Hippodamia as his wife, took possession of the whole kingdom of Oenomai, and in honor of his victory arranged a sports festival in Olympia, which he decided to repeat every four years.
* Other legends say that in Olympia, near the tomb of Cronus, the father of Zeus, a running competition took place. And as if they were organized by Zeus himself, who thus celebrated the victory over his father, which made him the ruler of the world.
* But perhaps the most popular in ancient times was the legend that Pindar mentions in his songs in honor of the winners of the Olympic Games. According to this legend, the Games were founded by Hercules after completing his sixth feat - cleansing the barnyard of Avgius, king of Elis. Augeas possessed incalculable riches. His herds were especially numerous. Heracles suggested that Augeas cleanse his entire vast courtyard in one day if he agreed to give him a tenth of his herds. Augeas agreed, believing that it was simply impossible to complete such work in one day. Hercules broke the wall that surrounded the barnyard from two opposite sides, and diverted the water of the Alpheus River into it. The water in one day carried away all the manure from the barnyard, and Hercules again laid down the walls. When Hercules came to Avgiy to demand a reward, the king did not give him anything, and even kicked him out.
Hercules took terrible revenge on the king of Elis. With a large army, he invaded Elis, defeated Augeas in a bloody battle and killed him with a deadly arrow. After the victory, Hercules gathered troops and all the booty near the city of Pisa, made sacrifices to the Olympic gods and established the Olympic Games, which have been held since then every four years on the sacred plain planted by Hercules himself with olives dedicated to the goddess Pallas Athena.
There are many other versions of the appearance and creation of the Olympic Games, but all these versions, most often of mythological origin, remain versions.
* According to undeniable signs, the appearance of the Olympic Games dates back to the 9th century BC. e. In those days, heavy wars ravaged the Greek states. Ifit - the king of Elis, a small Greek state, on whose territory Olympia is located - goes to Delphi to consult with the oracle, how he, the king of a small country, can save his people from war and robbery. Delphic oracle, whose predictions and advice were considered infallible, advised Ifit:
"I need you to found the Games Pleased by the Gods!"
Ifit immediately goes to meet his powerful neighbor - the king of Sparta, Lycurgus. Obviously, Ifit was a good diplomat, since Lycurgus decides that from now on Elis should be recognized as a neutral state. And all the small fragmented states, endlessly at war with each other, agree with this decision. Immediately Ifit, in order to prove his peace-loving aspirations and thank the gods, establishes "the athletic Games, which will be held in Olympia every four years." Hence their name - the Olympic Games. This happened in 884 BC. e.
Thus a custom was established in Greece, according to which, every four years, in the midst of internecine wars, everyone put their weapons aside and went to Olympia to admire the harmoniously developed athletes and praise the gods.
The Olympic Games became a national event that united the whole of Greece, while before and after them, Greece was a multitude of disparate, warring states.
* After some time, the Greeks came up with the idea to establish a single calendar of the Olympic Games. It was decided to hold the Games regularly every four goals "between harvest and grape harvest". The Olympic holiday, which consisted of numerous religious ceremonies and sports competitions, was held first for one day, then for five days, and later the duration of the holiday reached a whole month.
When the feast lasted only one day, it was usually held on the eighteenth day of the "holy month" beginning on the first full moon after the summer solstice. The holiday was repeated every four years, which constituted the "Olympiad" - the Greek Olympic year.
OLYMPIC GAMES(Summer Olympic Games, Olympiad), the largest international complex sports competitions of our time. The principles, rules and regulations of the Olympic Games are defined Olympic Charter. At the suggestion of P. de Coubertin the decision to organize the Olympic Games in the manner of the ancient ones and to create International Olympic Committee(IOC) was adopted by the International Sports Congress in Paris in 1894. The Olympic Games are held in the first year of the Olympiad. The Olympiads have been counted since 1896, when the first Olympic Games took place. The Olympiad also receives its number in cases where the games are not held (for example, the VI Olympiad - in 1916, XII - in 1940, XIII - in 1944). Apart from Olympic sports, the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (established by the NOC of the country where the next Olympic Games will be held) has the right to include demonstration competitions in 1-2 sports not recognized by the IOC in the program of their choice. The timing of the Olympic Games since 1932 is no more than 15 days. The Olympic Games in Paris (1900) and Saint Louis (1904) were timed to coincide with the World exhibitions .
The Olympic movement has its own symbol, emblem and flag, approved by the IOC in 1914 at the suggestion of Coubertin in 1913. The Olympic symbol is 5 interlaced rings of blue, black, red (top row), yellow and green (bottom row) colors, which symbolize 5 combined in Olympic movement of parts of the world (respectively - Europe, Africa, America, Asia, Australia). The flag - a white cloth with the Olympic rings, has been raised at all the Olympic Games since 1920. Also in 1913, the motto was approved - Citius, Altius, Fortius (faster, higher, stronger), proposed by A. Dido, a friend and ally of Coubertin, and which became part of the Olympic emblem. Olympic symbol and the motto made up the official Olympic emblem (since 1920). The list of statesmen and crowned persons who opened them: Athens, 1896 - George I (King of Greece); Paris, 1900 - there was no opening ceremony; St. Louis, 1904 - David Francis (President of the World's Fair); London, 1908 - Edward VII (King of Great Britain and Ireland); Stockholm, 1912 - Gustav V (King of Sweden); Antwerp, 1920 - Albert I (King of Belgium); Paris, 1924 - Gaston Doumergue (President of France); Amsterdam, 1928 - Heinrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands); Los Angeles, 1932 - Charles Curtis (Vice President of the United States); Berlin, 1936 - Adolf Hitler (Reich Chancellor of Germany); London, 1948 - George VI (King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Helsinki, 1952 - Juho Kusti Paasikivi (President of Finland); Melbourne, 1956 (equestrian competitions held in Stockholm) - Philip Mountbatten (Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh - Prince Consort of Great Britain) and Gustav VI Adolf (King of Sweden); Rome, 1960 - Giovanni Gronchi (President of Italy); Tokyo, 1964 - Hirohito (Emperor of Japan); Mexico City, 1968 - Gustavo Diaz Ordaz (President of Mexico); Munich, 1972 - Gustav Heinemann (Federal President of Germany); Montreal, 1976 - Elizabeth II (Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Moscow, 1980 - Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR); Los Angeles, 1984 - Ronald Reagan (US President); Seoul, 1988 - Ro Dae Woo (President of the Republic of Korea); Barcelona, 1992 - Juan Carlos I (King of Spain); Atlanta, 1996 - William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton (U.S. President); Sydney, 2000 - William Patrick Dean (Governor General of Australia); Athens, 2004 - Konstantinos Stephanopoulos (President of Greece); Beijing, 2008 - Hu Jintao (General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee); London, 2012 - Elizabeth II (Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland); Rio de Janeiro, 2016 - Michel Temer (Vice President of Brazil). The only woman to open the Olympics Queen Elizabeth II; as of January 1, 2020, she is the only statesman in the history of the Olympic Games to open them twice (Melbourne, 1956; London, 2012).
Traditional Olympic rituals: 1) lighting the Olympic flame at the opening ceremony (first lit from the sun in Olympia in 1936 and delivered by torchbearers to Berlin, the organizer of the Olympic Games); 2) Taking the Olympic oaths. The Olympic oath of athletes (the text was written in 1913 by Coubertin, it was first pronounced in Antwerp in 1920 by the Belgian fencer V. Buan): “On behalf of all athletes, I promise that we will participate in these Games, respecting and observing the rules by which they are held, in a truly sporting spirit, for the glory of sport and for the honor of their teams.” Olympic Oath of the Judges (included in the opening ceremony at the suggestion of the USSR Olympic Committee and held from the Olympic Games in Mexico City, 1968): “On behalf of all judges and officials, I promise that we will fulfill our duties at these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and respecting the rules under which they are held in a truly sporting spirit.” At the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Coaches' Olympic Pledge was made for the first time: “On behalf of all coaches and other people in the athlete's entourage, I promise that we will conduct ourselves in a way that upholds the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play, in accordance with the basic principles of the Olympic Movement”. 3) Presentation of medals to the winners and prize-winners of the competitions. For the 1st place, the athlete is awarded a gold medal, for the 2nd - a silver medal, for the 3rd– bronze. In the case when two athletes (teams) shared 1st-2nd places, both are awarded a gold medal; if the participants share 2nd-3rd or 2nd-4th places, everyone is awarded silver medals, and bronze medals are not awarded. In boxing competitions, two athletes who lose in the semi-finals receive bronze medals. In 1928, the IOC approved the image on the front side of the medal of the ancient Greek goddess Nike with a laurel wreath in her hand, on the reverse side - the sport, the emblem of the Games, and other symbols; 4) raising the national flag and performing the national anthem in honor of the winners. According to the charter, the Olympic Games are competitions between individual athletes and not between national teams. However, the so-called. unofficial team standings - determining the place occupied by teams by the number of points received (points are awarded for the first 6 places according to the system: 1st place - 7 points, 2nd - 5 points, 3rd - 4 points, 4th - 3 points, 5th - 2 points, 6th - 1 point). The table is traditionally kept medal count by countries with the priority of medals of the highest value. Athlete (or team) winning gold medal at the Olympic Games or at the Olympic Winter Games, is awarded the title of Olympic champion. This title is not used with the prefix ex, such as ex-world champion. The largest number of medals in the history of the Summer Olympic Games (as of January 1, 2020) was won by athletes of the national teams: USA (27 participations; 1022 gold, 794 silver, 704 bronze); Russia; Germany; Great Britain (28; 263, 295, 289); China (10; 227, 164, 152); France (28; 212, 241, 260).
The Olympic Movement (as of January 1, 2016) involves 206 countries (including geographical areas), national Olympic committees recognized by the IOC. In the period 1896–2016, 31 Olympic Games were held (three of them did not take place due to world wars); 4 held in the USA; 3 - in the UK; 1 each in Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands, Finland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Canada, the USSR, the Republic of Korea, Spain, China, Brazil. According to the Olympic Charter, the honor of hosting the Olympic Games is given to the city and not to the country (or territory). The decision on the election of the Olympic city (the capital of the Olympic Games) is taken by the IOC no later than 6 years before the start of these Games at the IOC session. The application of a candidate city must be approved by the NOC of that country. The city that nominates itself is required to provide the IOC with a government-approved written guarantee and a certain financial contribution (refunded to unelected cities). Since 1932, the host city of the Olympic Games has been building Olympic Village- a complex of residential premises for participants in the games. Among the various commitments olympic city submits for approval by the IOC the program of the Olympic Games, and since 1968, the national cultural program. The tradition of combining physical and artistic culture dates back to the Olympic Games of Ancient Greece, where sports competitions were accompanied by competitions in various arts. The forerunners of the modern cultural program were art competitions (1906–52) and fine art exhibitions (1956–64). At the Olympic Games in 1968–72, the cultural program was international in nature, since 1976, according to the Olympic Charter, it has been national and covers all types of art, literature, photography, sports philately, etc. More often than other cities in the world, London was elected the capital of the Summer Olympic Games (3 times), Athens, Paris, Los Angeles (2 times each).
In 1980 the capital of the Games XXII Olympiad was Moscow; elected during the 75th session of the IOC on 10/23/1974 in Vienna. The main stadium of the Moscow Olympics was central Stadium them. V. I. Lenin (about 100 thousand seats, the modern name is Luzhniki), where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games took place, competitions in athletics, the final match of the football tournament; a number of competitions were held in the Leningradsky Prospekt area of Moscow - at the Dynamo and Young Pioneers stadiums and at the CSKA sports complex. Specially built for the Olympic Games: sports complex"Olympic" on Mira Avenue, including a multi-purpose indoor stadium (about 35 thousand seats; 22 disciplines Olympic program) And swimming pool; the Krylatskoe cycling track (with two stands for 3 thousand seats), near which there is a circular cycling track and an archery field (here in 1972–73, for the European Rowing Championship, rowing channel"Krylatskoye"; stands - approx. 2.5 thousand places); equestrian complex "Bitsa" (tribune for 5 thousand seats); sports palaces "Izmailovo" (temporary collapsible tribune - up to 4 thousand seats; competitions in weightlifting) and Sokolniki (approx. 7 thousand seats; handball tournament games); shooting range "Dynamo" (approx. 3 thousand seats) in the suburban town of Mytishchi; Olympic Village. Over 5,000 athletes from 80 countries competed for 203 sets of medals in 21 sports. Athletes of the USSR national team won the largest number of medals in the history of the Olympic Games - 195 (including 80 gold, 69 silver and 46 bronze). Some competitions with the permission of the IOC were held in other cities. Group football tournaments and quarter-final matches were held in Kyiv, Leningrad and Minsk; sailing regatta took place in Tallinn. (Such exceptions were allowed before. For example, in 1956, due to quarantine and a ban on the import of horses into Australia, equestrian competitions were even held in another country - in Sweden, in Stockholm.) For political reasons, the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow were boycotted by a number of countries, refused to participate. Four years later, the NOCs of the USSR and a number of other socialist countries boycotted the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 1906, Athens (22.4–2.5) hosted the Extraordinary Olympic Games with the participation of 903 athletes from 20 countries. These competitions have not received official recognition from the IOC.
To comply with the Olympic ideals and the noble principles of competition at the Olympic Games and the Olympic Winter Games in 1968, the IOC and international sports federations established a doping control procedure, which is carried out by special anti-doping commissions. Since 1976, Olympic medalists have undergone special doping tests; if an athlete is found guilty of taking doping he is disqualified and forfeits his awards. On November 10, 1999, with the support of the IOC, the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA). In recent years, regardless of the statute of limitations, WADA laboratories have been rechecking the analyzes of athletes taken during previous Olympic Games (Beijing, 2008; London, 2012), which often leads to the revision of individual results, disqualification of winners and changes in the results in the unofficial team medal count(see table in article World Anti-Doping Agency). Before the start of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro (2016), at the initiative of WADA, for various reasons, many Russian athletes, including all athletes (with the exception of long jumper D. I. Klishina) and weightlifters, most swimmers and rowers, tennis player M. Yu. Sharapova. As a result, the composition of the Russian national team was reduced by almost 50%.
In 6 types of the Olympic program ( cycling, Athletics, swimming, shooting, archery, weightlifting) Olympic records are recorded regardless of the stage of the competition (preliminary, qualifying or final) they were set. If the result exceeds the world record, then it is considered both a world and an Olympic record.
Since 1968, the organizers of the Olympic Games have been using the Olympic mascot for propaganda and commercial purposes.
To reward especially distinguished athletes, figures of the Olympic movement and major statesmen in the mid-1970s. the Olympic Order was established (had three degrees) - Gold, Silver and Bronze (now only the first two). The first recipient of the Golden Olympic Order was the ex-president of the IOC E. Brundage. The current members of the IOC are not awarded Olympic orders.
See table 1 for the dates and main results of the Summer Olympic Games. About the athletes who won the most Olympic awards at the Olympic Games, see table 2. For athletes who have participated in 6 or more Olympics, see table 3.
Table 1. The main results of the Summer Olympic Games (Athens, 1896 - Rio de Janeiro, 2016).
| Official name. Capital, dates. Main stadium. Games Mascots (since 1968) | Number of countries; athletes (including women); sets of medals played in sports | Most Successful Athletes (medals gold, silver, bronze) | Countries that have won the most medals (gold, silver, bronze) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Games of the I Olympiad. Athens, 6.4–15.4. 1896. "Panathinaikos" (80 thousand seats) | fourteen; 241(0); 43 at 9 | K. Schumann (4, 0, 0), X. Weingertner (3, 2, 1) and A. Flatow (3, 1, 0; all Germany); R. Garrett (USA; 2, 2, 0); F. Hofmann (Germany; 2, 1, 1) | USA (11, 7, 2); Greece (10, 17, 19); Germany (6, 5, 2); France (5, 4, 2); UK (2, 3, 2) |
| Games of the II Olympiad. Paris, 14.5–28.10. 1900. Velodrome in the Bois de Vincennes, "Racing" club, etc. | 24; 997(22); 95 to 20 | A. Krenzlein (USA; 4, 0, 0); K. Steely (Switzerland; 3, 0, 1); R. Urey (3, 0, 0), I. Baxter (2, 3, 0) and W. Tewksbury (2, 2, 1; all USA) | France (26, 41, 34); USA (19, 14, 14); UK (15, 6, 9); Switzerland (6, 2, 1); Belgium (5, 5, 5) |
| Games of the III Olympiad. St. Louis, 1.7–23.11. 1904. "Francis Field" (19 thousand seats) | 12; 651(6); 94 at 16 | A. Heida (5, 1, 0), M. Hurley (4, 0, 1), J. Acer (3, 2, 1), C. Daniels (3, 1, 1) and J. Lightbody (3, 1, 0; all US); R. Fonst (Cuba; 3, 0, 0) | USA (78, 82, 79); Germany (4, 4, 5); Cuba (4, 2, 3); Canada (4, 1, 1); Hungary (2, 1, 1) |
| Games of the IV Olympiad. London, 27.4–31.10. 1908. "White City" ("White City"; over 70 thousand seats) | 22; 2008(37); 110 to 22 | G. Taylor (Great Britain; 3, 0, 0); M. Sheppard (USA; 3, 0, 0) | UK (56, 51, 39); USA (23, 12, 12); Sweden (8, 6, 11); France (5, 5, 9); Germany (3, 5, 5) |
| Games of the V Olympiad. Stockholm, 5.5–22.7.1912. " Olympic Stadium» (14.4 thousand seats) | 28; 2408(48); 102 at 14 | V. Karlberg (Sweden; 3, 2, 0); J. Kolehmainen (Finland; 3, 1, 0); A. Lane (USA; 3, 0, 0); E. Carlberg (2, 2, 0) and J. H. von Holst (2, 1, 1; both Sweden) | USA (25, 19, 19); Sweden (24, 24, 17); UK (10, 15, 16); Finland (9, 8, 9); France (7, 4, 3) |
| Games of the VII Olympiad. Antwerp, 20.4–12.9. 1920. Olympic Stadium (approx. 13 thousand seats) | 29; 2626(65); 156 at 22 | W. Lee (USA; 5, 1, 1); N. Nadi (Italy; 5, 0, 0); L. Spooner (USA; 4, 1, 2); X. van Innis (Belgium; 4, 2, 0); C. Osborne (USA; 4, 1, 1) | USA (41, 27, 27); Sweden (19, 20, 25); UK (15, 15, 13); Finland (15, 10, 9); Belgium (14, 11, 11) |
| Games of the VIII Olympiad. Paris, 4.5–27.7. 1924. "Olympique de Colombes" ("Olympique de Colombes"; 60 thousand seats) | 44; 3088(135); 126 at 17 | P. Nurmi (5, 0, 0) and V. Ritola (4, 2, 0; both Finland); R. Ducret (France; 3, 2, 0); J. Weissmuller (USA; 3, 0, 1) | USA (45, 27, 27); Finland (14, 13, 10); France (13, 15, 10); UK (9, 13, 12); Italy (8, 3, 5) |
| Games of the IX Olympiad. Amsterdam, 17.5–12.8. 1928. "Olympic Stadium" (over 31 thousand seats) | 46; 2883 (277); 109 at 14 | J. Miz (3, 1, 0) and X. Hengy (2, 1, 1; both Switzerland); L. Godin (France; 2, 1, 0); E. Mack (Switzerland; 2, 0, 1) | USA (22, 18, 16); Germany (10, 7, 14); Finland (8, 8, 9); Sweden (7, 6, 12); Italy (7, 5, 7) |
| Games of the X Olympiad. Los Angeles, 30.7–14.8. 1932. "Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum" ("Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum"; over 93 thousand seats) | 37; 1332(126); 117 at 14 | E. Madison (USA; 3, 0, 0); R. Neri (3, 0, 0) and G. Gaudini (0, 3, 1; both Italy); H. Savolainen (Finland; 0, 1, 3) | USA (41, 32, 30); Italy (12, 12, 12); France (10, 5, 4); Sweden (9, 5, 9); Japan (7, 7, 4) |
| Games of the XI Olympiad. Berlin, 1.8–16.8. 1936. "Olympiastadion" ("Olympiastadion"; 100 thousand seats) | 49; 3963(331); 129 at 19 | J. Owens (USA; 4, 0, 0); K. Frei (3, 1, 2) and A. Schwartzman (3, 0, 2; both Germany); H. Mastenbrook (Netherlands; 3, 1, 0); R. Charpentier (France; 3, 0, 0); E. Mack (Switzerland; 0, 4, 1) | Germany (33, 26, 30); USA (24, 20, 12); Hungary (10, 1, 5); Italy (8, 9, 5); Finland (7, 6, 6); France (7, 6, 6) |
| Games of the XIV Olympiad. London, 29.7–14.8. 1948. "Wembley" ("Wembley"; over 120 thousand seats) | 59; 4104 (390); 136 at 17 | F. Blankers-Kuhn (Netherlands; 4, 0, 0); V. Huhtanen (3, 1, 1) and P. Aaltonen (3, 0, 1; both Finland) | US (38, 27, 19); Sweden (16, 11, 17); France (10, 6, 13); Hungary (10, 5, 12); Italy (8, 11, 8) |
| Games of the XV Olympiad. Helsinki, 19.7–3.8. 1952. Olympic Stadium (40 thousand seats) | 69; 4955 (519); 149 at 17 | V. I. Chukarin (USSR; 4, 2, 0); E. Zatopek (Czechoslovakia; 3, 0, 0); M. K. Gorokhovskaya (2, 5, 0) and N. A. Bocharova (2, 2, 0; both USSR); E. Mangiarotti (Italy; 2, 2, 0) | USA (40, 19, 17); USSR (22, 30, 19); Hungary (16, 10, 16); Sweden (12, 13, 10); Italy (8, 9, 4) |
| Games XVI Olympiad. Melbourne, 22.11–8.12. 1956. "Melbourne Cricket Ground" ("Melbourne Cricket Ground"; 100 thousand seats) | 72; 3314 (376); 145 at 17 | A. Keleti (Hungary; 4, 2, 0); L. S. Latynina (4, 1, 1), V. I. Chukarin (3, 1, 1) and V. I. Muratov (3, 1, 0; all USSR) | USSR (37, 29, 32); USA (32, 25, 17); Australia (13, 8, 14); Hungary (9, 10, 7); Italy (8, 8, 9) |
| Games of the XVII Olympiad. Rome, 25.8–11.9.1960. Olympic Stadium (approx. 73 thousand seats) | 83; 5338(611); 150 at 17 | B. A. Shakhlin (4.2, 1) and L. S. Latynina (3, 2, 1; both USSR); T. Ono (Japan; 3, 1, 2); K. von Salza (USA; 3, 1, 0); W. Rudolph (USA; 3, 0, 0) | USSR (43, 29, 31); USA (34, 21, 16); Italy (13, 10, 13); WGC* (12, 19, 11); Australia (8, 8, 6) |
| Games of the XVIII Olympiad. Tokyo, 10.10–24.10. 1964. National Olympic Stadium (48 thousand seats) | 93; 5151 (678); 163 at 19 | D. Schollender (USA; 4, 0, 0); V. Chaslavska (Czechoslovakia; 3, 1, 0); Y. Endo (Japan; 3, 1, 0); S. Stauder (3, 1, 0) and S. Clark (3, 0, 0; both USA); L. S. Latynina (USSR; 2, 2, 2) | USA (36, 26, 28); USSR (30, 31, 35); Japan (16, 5, 8); WGC* (10, 22, 18); Italy (10, 10, 7) |
| Games of the XIX Olympiad. Mexico City, 12.10–27.10. 1968. "Olímpico Universitario" ("Olímpico Universitario" St. 63 thousand seats). red jaguar | 112; 5516 (781); 172 at 18 | V. Chaslavska (Czechoslovakia; 4, 2, 0); A. Nakayama (Japan; 4, 1, 1); Ch. Hickox (USA; 3, 1.0); S. Kato (Japan; 3, 0, 1); D. Meyer (USA; 3, 0, 0); M. Ya. Voronin (USSR; 2, 4, 1) | USA (45, 28, 34); USSR (29, 32, 30); Japan (11, 7, 7); Hungary (10, 10, 12); GDR (9, 9, 7) |
| Games of the XX Olympiad. Munich, 26.8–10.9. 1972. Olympiastadion (over 69 thousand seats). Dachshund Waldi | 121; 7134 (1059); 195 at 21 | M. Spitz (USA; 7, 0, 0); S. Kato (Japan; 3, 2, 0); S. Gould (Austria; 3, 1, 1); O. V. Korbut (USSR; 3, 1, 0); M. Belout and S. Nilson (both USA; 3, 0, 0 each); K. Janz (GDR; 2, 2, 1) | USSR (50, 27, 22); US (33, 31, 30); GDR (20, 23, 23); Germany (13, 11, 16); Japan (13, 8, 8) |
| Games of the XXI Olympiad. Montreal, 17.7–1.8. 1976. Olympic Stadium (approx. 66 thousand seats). Beaver Amik | 92; 6048(1260); 198 at 21 | N. E. Andrianov (USSR; 4, 2, 1); K. Ender (GDR; 4, 1, 0); J. Neiber (USA; 4, 1, 0); N. Komenech (Romania; 3, 1, 1); N. V. Kim (USSR; 3, 1, 0); M. Tsukahara (Japan; 2, 1,2) | USSR (49, 41, 35); GDR (40, 25, 25); USA (34; 35, 25); Germany (10, 12, 17); Japan (9, 6, 10) |
| Games of the XXII Olympiad. Moscow, 19.7–3.8. 1980. Stadium. Lenin (modern name "Luzhniki"; approx. 100 thousand seats). Bear cub Misha | 80; 5179 (1115); 203 at 21 | A. N. Dityatin (USSR; 3, 4, 1); K. Metschuk (3, 1, 0), B. Krause and R. Reinisch (3, 0, 0 each; all GDRs); V. V. Parfenovich and V. V. Salnikov (both USSR; 3.0.0 each); N. Komenech (Romania; 2, 2, 0) | USSR (80, 69, 46); GDR (47, 37, 42); Bulgaria (8, 16, 17); Cuba (8, 7, 5); Italy (8, 3, 4) |
| Games of the XXIII Olympiad. Los Angeles, 28.7–12.8. 1984. "Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum" (over 93 thousand seats). Eaglet Sam | 140; 6829 (1566); 221 at 23 | E. Sabo (Romania; 4, 1, 0); C. Lewis (USA; 4, 0, 0); Li Ning (China; 3, 2, 1); M. Heath and N. Hogshed (both US; 3 each, 1.0) | USA (83, 60, 30); Romania (20, 16, 17); Germany (17, 19, 23); China (15, 8, 9); Italy (14, 6, 12) |
| Games of the XXIV Olympiad. Seoul, 17.9–2.10.1988. Olympic Stadium (approx. 70 thousand seats). Tiger cub Hodori | 159; 8391 (2194); 237 at 23 | K. Otto (GDR; 6, 0, 0); M. Biondi (USA; 5, 1, 1); V. N. Artyomov (USSR; 4, 1, 0); D. Silivas (Romania; 3, 2, 1); F. Griffith-Joyner (USA; 3, 1, 0); D. V. Bilozerchev (USSR; 3, 0, 1); J. Evans (USA; 3, 0, 0) | USSR (55, 31, 46); GDR (37, 35, 30); USA (36, 31, 27); Republic of Korea (12, 10, 11); Germany (11, 14, 15) |
| Games of the XXV Olympiad. Barcelona, 25.7–9.8.1992. "Olympico de Montjuic" (“Olímpico de Montjuic”; ca. 56,000 seats). dog Kobe | 169; 9356 (2704); 257 at 32 | V. V. Shcherbo (OK**; 6, 0, 0); K. Egersegi (Hungary; 3, 0, 0); E. V. Sadovy (OK**; 3, 0, 0); N. Hayslett (USA; 3, 0, 0); A. V. Popov (OK**; 2, 2, 0) | OK** (45, 38, 29); USA (37, 34, 37); Germany (33, 21, 28); China (16, 22, 16); Cuba (14, 6, 11) |
| Games of the XXVI Olympiad. Atlanta, 19.7–4.8. 1996. "Centennial Olympic" ("Centennial Olympic"; 85 thousand seats). Computer character Izzy | 197; 10320 (3523); 271 at 26 | E. Van Dyken (USA; 4, 0, 0); M. Smith (Ireland; 3, 0, 1); A. Yu. Nemov (2, 1, 3) and A. V. Popov (2, 2, 0; both Russia); G. Hall (USA; 2, 2, 0) | USA (44, 32, 25); Russia (26, 21, 16); Germany (20, 18, 27); China (16, 22, 12); France (15, 7, 15) |
| Games of the XXVII Olympiad. Sydney, 15.9–1.10. 2000. "Ostreylia" (83.5 thousand seats). Ollie the Kookaburra, Sid the Platypus, Millie the Echidna | 199; 10651 (4069); 300 at 28 | L. van Morsel (Netherlands; 3, 1, 0); I. Thorp (Australia; 3, 2, 0); I. de Bruijn (Netherlands; 3, 1, 0); M. Jones (3, 0, 1) and L. Krayzelburg (3, 0, 0; both USA); A. Yu. Nemov (Russia; 2, 1, 3) | USA (37, 24, 33); Russia (32, 28, 29); China (28, 16, 14); Australia (16, 25, 17); Germany (13, 17, 26) |
| Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. Athens, 13.8–29.8. 2004. Olympic Stadium (approx. 70 thousand seats). Antique dolls Phoebus and Athena | 201; 10625 (4329); 301 at 28 | M. Phelps (USA; 6, 0, 2); P. Thomas (Australia; 3, 1.0); K. Ponor (Romania; 3, 0, 0); A. Peirsol (USA; 3, 0, 0); W. Campbell (Jamaica; 2, 0, 1); I. Thorp (Australia; 2, 1, 1); I. de Bruijn (Netherlands; 1,1,2) | USA (35, 40, 26); China (32; 17, 14); Russia (28, 26, 37); Australia (17, 16, 17); Japan (16, 9, 12) |
| Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Beijing, 8.8–24.8. 2008. National Stadium(91 thousand places). Fortune Children: Bei-Bei, Ching-Ching, Huan-Huan, Ying-Ying and Ni-Ni | 204; 10942 (4637); 302 at 28 | M. Phelps (USA; 8, 0, 0); W. Bolt (Jamaica; 3, 0, 0); K. Hoy (Great Britain; 3, 0, 0); Tsou Kai (China; 3, 0, 0); S. Rice (Australia; 3, 0, 0) | China (51, 21, 28); US (36, 38, 36); Russia (22, 18, 26); UK (19, 13, 15); Germany (16, 10, 15) |
| Games of the XXX Olympiad. London, 27.7–12.8. 2012. Olympic Stadium (80 thousand seats). Two Drops of Steel - Wenlock and Mandeville | 204; 10768 (4776); 302 at 26 | M. Phelps (4, 2, 0); M. Franklin (4, 0, 1), E. Schmitt (3, 1, 1) and D. Volmer (3, 0, 0; all USA); W. Bolt (Jamaica; 3, 0, 0) | USA (46, 29, 29); China (38, 27, 23); UK (29, 17, 19); Russia (24, 26, 32); Republic of Korea (13, 8, 7) |
| Games of the XXXI Olympiad. Rio de Janeiro, 5.8.-21.8.2016. "Maracana" (78.8 thousand seats). Flora and fauna of Brazil - Vinicius and Tom | 207; 11303 (c. 4700); 306 at 28 | M. Phelps (5.1.0); S. Biles (4.1.0); C. Ledecky (4.1.0; all US); W. Bolt (Jamaica), J. Kenny (Great Britain), D. Kozak (Hungary) (all 3.0.0). | US (48.37.38); UK (27, 23.17); China (26, 18, 26); Russia (19,18,19); Germany (17,10,15). |
* United German team.
** United team of the countries of the former USSR.
Table 2. Athletes with the most victories at the Olympic Games (Athens, 1896 - Rio de Janeiro, 2016).
| Sportsman, the country | Kind of sport, years of participation | Medals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| golden | silver | bronze | ||
| M. Phelps, USA | Swimming, 2004–2016 | 23 | 3 | 2 |
| L. S. Latynina, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1956–1964 | 9 | 5 | 4 |
| P. Nurmi, Finland | Athletics, 1920–1928 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| M. Spitz, USA | Swimming, 1968–1972 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| C. Lewis, USA | Athletics, 1984–1996 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| W. Bolt, Jamaica | Athletics, 2004–2016 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Fisher, Germany | Rowing and canoeing, 1980–2004 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| S. Kato, Japan | Gymnastics, 1968–1976 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| J. Thompson, USA | Swimming, 1992–2004 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
| M. Biondi, USA | Swimming, 1984–1992 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| R. Urey, USA | Athletics, 1900–1908 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| N. E. Andrianov, USSR | Gymnastics, 1972–1980 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| B. A. Shakhlin, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1956–1964 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| V. Chaslavska, Czechoslovakia | Gymnastics, 1960–1968 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| V. I. Chukarin, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1952–1956 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| A. Gerevich, Hungary | Fencing, 1932–1960 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| E. Manjarotti, Italy | Fencing, 1936–1960 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| I. Werth, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1992–2016 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| R. Lochte, USA | Swimming, 2004–2016 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| E. Felix, USA | Athletics, 2004–2016 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| H. van Innis, Belgium | Archery, 1900–1920 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| A. Nakayama, Japan | Gymnastics, 1968–1972 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
| V. Vezzali, Italy | Fencing, 1996–2012 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| G. Fredriksson, Sweden | Rowing and canoeing, 1948–1960 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| K. Hoy, Great Britain | cycling, 2000–2012 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| V.V. Shcherbo, Belarus | Gymnastics, 1992–1996 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| R. Klimke, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1964–1988 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| P. Kovacs, Hungary | Fencing, 1936–1960 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| E. Van Dyken, USA | Swimming, 1996–2000 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Karpathy, Hungary | Fencing, 1948–1960 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Nadi, Italy | Fencing, 1912–1920 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Otto, GDR | Swimming, 1988 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| T. It, Japan | Gymnastics, 1952–1964 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| C. Osburn, USA | shooting sport, 1912–1924 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
| A. Keleti, Hungary | Gymnastics, 1952–1956 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| G. Hall, Jr., USA | Swimming, 1996–2004 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| N. Comaneci, Romania | Gymnastics, 1976–1980 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| I. Thorp, Australia | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| V. Ritola, Finland | Athletics, 1924–1928 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| P. G. Astakhova, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1956–1964 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| E. Lipe, Romania | rowing, 1984–2000 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| A. Piersol, USA | Swimming, 2000–2008 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Y. Endo, Japan | Gymnastics, 1960–1968 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| M. Tsukahara, Japan | 5 | 1 | 3 | |
| N. Adrian, USA | Swimming, 2008–2016 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| B. Wiggins, UK | cycling, 2000–2016 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| H. G. Winkler, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1956–1976 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| T. Jaeger, USA | Swimming, 1984–1992 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| W. Lee, USA | shooting sport, 1920 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| K. Egersegi, Hungary | Swimming, 1988–1996 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Wu Minxia, China | Diving, 2004–2016 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| N. V. Kim, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1976–1980 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| O. Lillo-Olsen, Norway | shooting sport, 1920–1924 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Heida, USA | Gymnastics, 1904 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| D. Schollander, USA | Swimming, 1964–1968 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| K. Ledecky, USA | Swimming, 2012–2016 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Franklin, USA | Swimming, 2012–2016 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Weissmuller, USA | Swimming, water polo, 1924–1928 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Damian, Romania | rowing, 2000–2008 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| A. Lane, USA | shooting sport, 1912–1920 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| S. Redgrave, UK | rowing, 1984–2000 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Ts. Kai, China | Gymnastics, 2004–2012 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Fisher, USA | shooting sport, 1920–1924 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Zholin, China | Diving, 2008–2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| N. S. Ishchenko, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2008–2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| S. A. Romashina, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2008–2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| A. S. Davydova, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2004–2012 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| A. V. Popov, Russia | Swimming, 1992–2000 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| D. Torres, USA | Swimming, 1984–2008 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| D. Frazier, Australia | Swimming, 1956–1964 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| K. Ender, GDR | Swimming, 1972–1976 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| L. I. Turishcheva, USSR | Artistic gymnastics, 1968–1976 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| J. Mie, Switzerland | Gymnastics, 1924–1936 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| O. Olsen, Norway | shooting sport, 1920–1924 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| I. Patsaykin, Romania | Rowing and canoeing, 1968–1984 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| A. Yu. Nemov, Russia | Gymnastics, 1996–2000 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| I. de Bruyne, Netherlands | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| E. Schmitt, USA | Swimming, 2008–2016 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| J. Lezak, USA | Swimming, 2000–2012 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| R. Matthes, GDR | Swimming, 1968–1976 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| E. Lieberg, Norway | shooting sport, 1908–1924 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| L. Godin, France | Fencing, 1920–1928 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Guo Jingjing, China | Diving, 2000–2008 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| J. Delfino, Italy | Fencing, 1952–1964 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| C. d'Oriola, France | Fencing, 1948–1956 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| O. V. Korbut, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1972–1976 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| J. Trillini, Italy | Fencing, 1992–2008 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| C. Daniels, USA | Swimming, 1904–1908 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| K. Kitajima, Japan | Swimming, 2004–2012 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| L. Spooner, USA | shooting sport, 1920 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| L. Trickett, Australia | Swimming, 2004–2012 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| D. Ignat, Romania | rowing, 1992–2008 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Kim Soo Young, The Republic of Korea | Archery, 1988–2000 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| L. van Morsel, The Netherlands | cycling, 2000–2004 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| E. D. Belova, the USSR | Fencing, 1968–1976 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| M. Rose, Australia | Swimming, 1956–1960 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| V. A. Sidyak, the USSR | Fencing, 1968–1980 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| V. N. Artyomov, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1988 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| wang nan, China | Table tennis, 2000–2008 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Ya. A. Klochkova, Ukraine | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Yu. H. Kolehmainen, Finland | Athletics, 1912–1920 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| G. Louganis, USA | Diving, 1976–1988 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| V. I. Muratov, the USSR | Gymnastics, 1952–1956 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Neiber, USA | Swimming, 1976 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| E. Zatopek, Czechoslovakia | Athletics, 1948–1952 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| C. Payu de Mortange, Netherlands | Horseback Riding, 1924–1936 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| E. Sabo, Romania | Gymnastics, 1984 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| I. Ferguson, New Zealand | Rowing and canoeing, 1984–1988 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| R. Fonst, Cuba | Fencing, 1900–1904 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fu Mingxia China | Diving, 1992–2000 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Sheppard, USA | Athletics, 1908–1912 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Evans, USA | Swimming, 1988–1992 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| C. B. Ainslie, UK | Sailing, 1996–2012 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| W. Williams, USA | Tennis, 2000–2016 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| E. Ashford, USA | Athletics, 1984–1992 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| D. Kulchar, Hungary | Fencing, 1964–1976 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| K. Boron, Germany | rowing, 1992–2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| C. Wagner-Augustin, Germany | Rowing and canoeing, 2000–2012 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| J. Zampori, Italy | Gymnastics, 1912–1924 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Li Xiaopeng, China | Gymnastics, 2000–2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Olsen, USA | Swimming, 1992–1996 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| S. A. Pozdnyakov, Russia | Fencing, 1992–2004 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| S. Richards-Ross, USA | Athletics, 2004–2012 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| V. Susanu, Romania | rowing, 2000–2008 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Harley, USA | cycling, 1904 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| T. Edwards, USA | Basketball, 1984–2000 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| L. Berbaum, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1988–2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| F. Blankers-Kuhn, The Netherlands | Athletics, 1948 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Wöckel, GDR | Athletics, 1976–1980 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Viren, Finland | Athletics, 1972–1976 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Darny, Hungary | Swimming, 1988–1992 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Deng Yaping, China | Table tennis, 1992–1996 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Johnson, USA | Athletics, 1992–2000 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| H. Dillard, USA | Athletics, 1948–1952 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| A. N. Ermakova, Russia | Synchronized swimming, 2004–2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Cuthbert, Australia | Athletics, 1956–1964 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Korzhenevsky, Poland | Athletics, 1996–2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Krenzlein, USA | Athletics, 1900 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Kraizelburg, USA | Swimming, 2000–2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| V. A. Krovopuskov, the USSR | Fencing, 1976–1980 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Leslie, USA | Basketball, 1996–2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Taurasi, USA | Basketball, 2004–2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Bird, USA | Basketball, 2004–2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Ityo, Japan | Freestyle wrestling, 2004–2016 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| P. McCormick, USA | Diving, 1952–1956 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Orter, USA | Athletics, 1956–1968 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Owens, USA | Athletics, 1936 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Pavesi, Italy | Fencing, 1952–1960 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Pinsent, UK | rowing, 1992–2004 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Radmilovich, UK | water polo, swimming, 1908–1920 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| V. V. Salnikov, the USSR | Swimming, 1980–1988 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| H. St. Cyr, Sweden | Horseback Riding, 1952–1956 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Williams, USA | Tennis, 2000–2012 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Uphoff, Germany | Horseback Riding, 1988–1992 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Fuchs, Hungary | Fencing, 1908–1912 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Zhang Yining, China | Table tennis, 2004–2008 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Schuman, Germany | Artistic gymnastics, wrestling, 1896 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| P. Elvström, Denmark | Sailing, 1948–1960 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
3 Olympic gold medals won at the Olympic Games approx. 200 athletes (as of January 1, 2020), including representatives of Russia (including the USSR): A. V. Azaryan, D. V. Bilozerchev, S. L. Boginskaya, O. A. Brusnikina, O. A. Bryzgina , G. E. Gorohova , A. N. Dityatin , V. V. Ekimov , V. F. Zhdanovich , A. I. Zabelina , V. N. Ivanov, T. V. Kazankina , A. A. Karelin , M. A. Kiseleva , A. I. Lavrov , V. G. Mankin , A. V. Medved , V. I. Morozov, V. A. Nazlymov , V. V. Parfenovich , T. N. Press , V. D. Saneev , E. V. Sadovy , B. Kh. Saytiev , L. I. Khvedosyuk-Pinaeva , S. A. Chukhrai .
Table 3. Athletes who took part in 6 or more Olympiads (as of 1.1.2020).
| Athlete (year of birth), the country | Quantity | Kind of sport | Participation years | Medals | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| golden | silver | bronze | ||||
| I. Millar (b. 1947), Canada | 10 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976 1984–2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| H. Raudashl, (b. 1942) Austria | 9 | Sailing | 1964–1996 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| A. Kuzmin (b. 1947), USSR (3) Latvia (6) | 9 | Shooting sport | 1976–1980 1988–2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| P. D'Inzeo (1923–2014), Italy | 8 | Horseback Riding | 1948–1976 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| R. D'Inzeo (1925–2013), Italy | 8 | Horseback Riding | 1948–1976 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| D. Knowles (b. 1917) , United Kingdom (1) Bahamas (7) | 8 | Sailing | 1948–1972, 1988 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| P. Elvström (b. 1928), Denmark | 8 | Sailing | 1948–1960, 1968, 1972, 1984, 1988 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Debevec (b. 1963), Yugoslavia (2) Slovenia (6) | 8 | Shooting sport | 1984–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| J. Idem (1964), Germany (2) Italy (6) | 8 | Kayaking | 1984–2012 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| F. Bosa (b. 1964), Peru | 8 | Shooting sport | 1980–2004, 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| L. Thompson (b. 1959), Canada | 8 | rowing | 1984–2000 2008–2016 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| N. Salukvadze (b. 1969), USSR (2), Georgia (6) | 8 | Shooting sport | 1988–2016 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| I. Osier (1888–1965), Denmark | 7 | Fencing | 1908–1932, 1948 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| F. Lafortune Jr. (b. 1932), Belgium | 7 | Shooting sport | 1952–1976 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Palm (b. 1946), Sweden | 7 | Fencing | 1964–1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. M. Plumb (b. 1940), USA | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1964–1976, 1984–1992 | 2 | 4 | 0 |
| R. Scanoker (b. 1934), Sweden | 7 | Shooting sport | 1972–1996 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| S. Hashimoto* (b. 1964), Japan | 7 | cycling, skating | 1984–1994, 1988–1996 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Otti (b. 1960), Jamaica (6) Slovenia (1) | 7 | Athletics | 1980–2004, | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| J. Longo (b. 1958), France | 7 | Cycling | 1984–2008 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| E. Hoy (b. 1959), Australia | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1984–2004, 2012 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Persson (b. 1966), Sweden | 7 | Table tennis | 1988–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Z. Primorac (b. 1969), Yugoslavia (1) Croatia (6) | 7 | Table tennis | 1988–2012 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J. M. Seve (b. 1969), Belgium | 7 | Table tennis | 1988–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| A. van Grunsven (b. 1968), Netherlands | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–2012 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| J. Lansink (b. 1961), Netherlands (4) Belgium (3) | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Šekarić (b. 1965), Yugoslavia (1) Independents Olympic athletes(1) Yugoslavia (2), Serbia and Montenegro (1), Serbia (2) | 7 | Shooting sport | 1988–2012 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| R. Schumann (b. 1962), East Germany (1) Germany (6) | 7 | Shooting sport | 1988–2012 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| M. Todd (b. 1956), New Zealand | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1984–1992, 2000, 2008–2016 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| L. Berbaum (b. 1963), Germany (1), Germany (6) | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–2008, 2016 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| N. Skelton (b. 1957), UK | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1988–1996, 2004–2016 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Wilhelmson-Sylven, (b. 1967) Sweden | 7 | Horseback Riding | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. A. G. Bragado (b. 1969), Spain | 7 | Athletics | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Karsten (b. 1972), United team (1), Belarus (6) | 7 | rowing | 1992–2016 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| L. Paes (b. 1973), India | 7 | Tennis | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Pellielo (b. 1970), Italy | 7 | Shooting sport | 1992–2016 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| J. Rodrigues (b. 1971), Portugal | 7 | Sailing | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Toriola (b. 1974), Nigeria | 7 | Table tennis | 1992–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| O. Chusovitina (b. 1975), United team (1), Uzbekistan (4), Germany (2) | 7 | Gymnastics | 1992–2016 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Konov (1887–1972), Norway | 6 | Sailing | 1908–1920, 1928–1948 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| N. Cohn-Armitage (1907–1972), USA | 6 | Fencing | 1928–1956 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A. Gerevich (1910–1991), Hungary | 6 | Fencing | 1932–1960 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| J. Romery (1927–2007), USA | 6 | Fencing | 1948–1968 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Manoliu (1932–1998), Romania | 6 | Athletics | 1952–1972 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| E. Pavlovsky (1932–2005), Poland | 6 | Fencing | 1952–1972 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| W. Macmillan (1929–2000), USA | 6 | Shooting sport | 1952, 1960–1976 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| H. G. Winkler (b. 1926), Germany (3), Germany (3) | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1956–1976 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| A. Smelchinsky (b. 1930), Poland | 6 | Shooting sport | 1956–1976 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| F. Chapot (1932–2016), USA | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1956–1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| B. Hoskins (1931–2013), UK | 6 | Fencing | 1956–1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| J. Elder (b. 1934), Canada | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1956–1960, 1968–1976, 1984 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| H. Fogh (1938–2014), Denmark (4), Canada (2) | 6 | Sailing | 1960–1976, 1984 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| R. Klimke (1936–1999), Germany (2), Germany (4) | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1960–1968, 1976, 1984–1988 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| C. Hanseo-Boilen (b. 1947), Canada | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1964–1976, 1984, 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Primrose (b. 1942), Canada | 6 | Shooting sport | 1968–1976, 1984–1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| I. Ptak (b. 1946), Czechoslovakia | 6 | rowing | 1968–1980, 1988–1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Foster Sr. (b. 1938), Virgin Islands (USA) | 6 | Sailing, bobsleigh | 1972–1976, 1984–1992, 1988 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Alvarez (b. 1947), Spain | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976, 1984–1996 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Swinkels (b. 1949), Netherlands | 6 | Shooting sport | 1972–1976, 1984–1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| H. Simon (b. 1942), Austria | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976, 1984–1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Bunturis (b. 1955), Greece | 6 | Sailing | 1976–1996 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| T. Sanderson (b. 1956), UK | 6 | Athletics | 1976–1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Stückelberger (b. 1947), Switzerland | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1972–1976, 1984–1988, 1996–2000 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| N. Matova (b. 1954), Bulgaria | 6 | Shooting sport | 1976–1980, 1988–2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| J. Schumann (b. 1954), East Germany (3), Germany (3) | 6 | Sailing | 1976–1980, 1988–2000 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| F. Boccara (b. 1959), France (4) USA (2) | 6 | Kayaking | 1980–2000 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| A. Mazzoni (b. 1961), Italy | 6 | Fencing | 1980–2000 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| J. Chia (b. 1955), Peru | 6 | Shooting sport | 1980–2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| M. Estiarte (b. 1961), Spain | 6 | Water polo | 1980–2000 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| T. McHugh* (b. 1963), Ireland | 6 | Athletics, bobsleigh | 1988–2000; 1992, 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| B. Fisher (b. 1962), East Germany (2), Germany (4) | 6 | Kayaking | 1980, 1988–2004 | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| S. Babiy (b. 1963), Romania | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| C. Bischel (b. 1959), Australia | 6 | Sailing | 1984–2004 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Wang Yifu (b. 1960), China | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| R. Dover (b. 1956), USA | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1984–2004 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| T. Grael (b. 1960), Brazil | 6 | Sailing | 1984–2004 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| A. Kasumi (b. 1966), Greece | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Lipa (b. 1964), Romania | 6 | rowing | 1984–2004 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| H. Stenvog (b. 1953), Norway | 6 | Shooting sport | 1984–2004 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| S. Nattrass (b. 1950), Canada | 6 | Shooting sport | 1976, 1988–1992, 2000–2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| K. Kirklund (b. 1951), Finland | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1980–1996, 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| I. Di Buo (b. 1956), Italy | 6 | Archery | 1984–1992, 2000–2008 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| J. E. Kurushet (b. 1965), Argentina | 6 | Cycling | 1984–1988, 1996–2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| A. Benelli (b. 1960), Italy | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| F. Diato-Pasetti (b. 1965), Monaco | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Kiryakov (b. 1963), Bulgaria | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| M. Mutola (b. 1972), Mozambique | 6 | Athletics | 1988–2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| J. N'Tyamba (b. 1968), Angola | 6 | Athletics | 1988–2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| J. Tomkins (b. 1965), Australia | 6 | rowing | 1988–2008 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Y. Hirvey (b. 1960), Finland | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2008 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| V. Chalupa, Jr. (b. 1967), Czechoslovakia (2), Czech Republic (4) | 6 | rowing | 1988–2008 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Y. Jaanson (b. 1965), USSR (1), Estonia (5) | 6 | rowing | 1988–2008 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| E. Nicholson (b. 1964), New Zealand | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1984, 1992–1996, 2004–2012 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| R. Mark (b. 1964), Australia | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988–2000, 2008–2012 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| S. Martynov (b. 1968), USSR (1), Belarus (5) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1988, 1996–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| D. Buyukuncu (b. 1976), Turkey | 6 | Swimming | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Valeeva (b. 1969), United team (1), Moldova (1), Italy (4) | 6 | Archery | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sh. Gilgertova (b. 1968), Czechoslovakia (1), Czech Republic (5) | 6 | Rowing slalom | 1992–2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| N. Grasu (b. 1971), Romania | 6 | Athletics | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Grozdeva (b. 1972), Bulgaria | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| M. Diamond (b. 1972), Australia | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Munkhbayar (b. 1969), Mongolia (3) Germany (3) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| F. Dumoulin (b. 1973), France | 6 | Shooting sport | 1992–2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Y. Yovchev (b. 1973) Bulgaria | 6 | Gymnastics | 1992–2012 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| F. Löf (b. 1969), Sweden | 6 | Sailing | 1992–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| U. Oyama (b. 1969), Brazil | 6 | Table tennis | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| R. Pessoa (b. 1972), Brazil | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1992–2012 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| A. Sensini (b. 1970), Italy | 6 | Sailing | 1992–2012 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| D. Topic (b. 1971), Independent Olympic Athletes (1), Yugoslavia (2), Serbia and Montenegro (1) Serbia (2) | 6 | Athletics | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| E. Williamson (b. 1971), UK | 6 | Archery | 1992–2012 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| L. Frölander (b. 1974), Sweden | 6 | Swimming | 1992–2012 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| E. Estes (b. 1975), United team (1) Russia (5) | 6 | Volleyball | 1992–2012 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| J. Whitaker (b. 1955), UK | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1984, 1992–2000, 2008, 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| C. Donkers (b. 1971), Belgium | 6 | Horseback Riding | 1992, 2000–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| T. Alshammar (b. 1977), Sweden | 6 | Swimming | 1996–2016 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| A. Gadorfalvi (b. 1976), Hungary | 6 | Sailing | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| L. Evglevskaya (b. 1963), Belarus (2) Australia (4) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| E. Milev (b. 1968), Bulgaria (4) USA (2) | 6 | Shooting sport | 1996–2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| A. Mohamed (b. 1976), Hungary | 6 | Fencing | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Nestor (b. 1972), Canada | 6 | Tennis | 1996–2016 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| C. Road (b. 1979), USA | 6 | Shooting sport | 1996–2016 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| V. Samsonov (b. 1976), Belarus | 6 | Table tennis | 1996–2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| S. Yu. Tetyukhin (b. 1975), Russia | 6 | Volleyball | 1996–2016 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| O. Tufte (b. 1976), Norway | 6 | rowing | 1996–2016 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Formiga (b. 1978), Brazil | 6 | Football | 1996–2016 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| R. Scheidt (b. 1973), Brazil | 6 | Sailing | 1996–2016 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
*The athlete also competed at the Olympic Winter Games.
It was founded in 1896. From the very beginning, the games were held both in the summer and in the winter of the same year. How the modern Olympic Games are held, we will consider in this article.
Already in the twentieth century, the gap between the winter and summer games was two years. used to take place in Olympia and were of great importance to the locals. Previously, there was only one competition in the games - running on short distance. A little later they began to hold competitions for horses and running in full uniform. Only locals and Mediterranean guests. We all know perfectly well how the modern Olympic Games are held today: athletes from all over the world take part in the competitions.
The Games of the Olympiad are held each time in a new place. A certain country, city is selected and all athletes go to the competitions there. There are cases when competitions are held repeatedly in certain countries, for example in Greece. Since it was in Greece that such competitions originated, after a certain period the Olympiad is held there again. Athens is fabulous, so the locals have been holding the Olympic Games with pride and dignity since 1896 (it was here that the first competitions were held).
How the modern Olympic Games are held is known to all viewers, but they should know one thing - the current version is very different from the previous one. Today, the most exciting and largest in the world are the Olympic Games. Programs are constantly changing, improving and mainly consist of twenty or more various kinds sports. As a rule, personal records and achievements are set at competitions. Very rarely the potential of a certain team is assessed, mostly every man for himself. Games are evaluated by three medals: gold, silver and bronze.
Concerning comparative characteristics Games, earlier only Greeks and Mediterranean guests took part, and now - all well-established athletes from around the world. Today, women compete on an equal footing with men and have the right to fight for in Greece, but this was simply impossible. At the Olympic Games, athletes compete for awards, the honor of their country, showing their physical ability, and in ancient times were awarded even for spiritual opportunities. Today it is considered a competition, in the past it was not. When the games were held in Olympia, all hostilities ceased, all the time was devoted to competitions. As before, the games are held every four years, but the interval between the summer and winter games is two years.
How the modern Olympic Games are held, everyone has the opportunity to watch on TV, read about the results in the newspaper. To visit the country that holds them is the dream of every sports fan. We were more fortunate, because in Greece almost everyone knew about the games, but only a few could get there, but now the doors of the Olympic Games are open to all interested spectators!