Olympic Games

Everything about the last Olympic Games of Everything about the last Olympic Games of the old Millennium was bigger than any otherthe old Millennium was bigger than any other.. Nearly 11Nearly 11,,000 athletes from 199 countries 000 athletes from 199 countries participated – the most everparticipated – the most ever.. They competed They competed for gold medals in a record 28 sportsfor gold medals in a record 28 sports.. The The Games took place in a brand-new Olympic Games took place in a brand-new Olympic Stadium – the largest in Olympic historyStadium – the largest in Olympic history.. The The Olympic torch traveled 27Olympic torch traveled 27,,350 kilometers350 kilometers, , burning brightly on land and seaburning brightly on land and sea, , in the air in the air and even underwaterand even underwater..ClearlyClearly,, Australia celebrated the Summer Australia celebrated the Summer Games in a big wayGames in a big way..

Games of the Gods

Today’s Olympic Games are very different from the first ones, which were held every fourth summer in ancient Greece 2,800 years ago. Women couldn’t play; they weren’t even allowed to watch. Athletes competed without any clothes on!

The early events were footraces. Later,wrestling, javelin, discus, jumping and other events were added.

Athletes became stars in those days, too. There were no TV commercials,but winners’ images often appeared on coins or as statues after their victories.

In 394, a Roman Emperor ended the ancient Olympics and they weren’t renewed until many centuries later. In 1896, a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin began working to bring back the Olympics. He hoped that the Games would help to promote peace among nations. Two years later, the first modern Olympics took place. Of

course, they were held in Greece to symbolize the continuation of the centuries-old tradition.

The Olympics have changed with the times.

The first events for women were held in 1900.Many sports have been added. This year, for the first time, women competed in the same number of team sportsas men. The 4,300 women in this year’s Games made up

38%of all athletes competing – the most ever.

Lighting the Torch One of the most famous Olympic traditions is the lighting of the Olympic flame. Australian athlete Cathy Freeman carried the Olympic torch up a gleaming white stairway,walking through water to light the flame on stage. Freeman is an Aborigine, which means her ancestors were the first people to inhabit Australia. She was the last of six Australian women to carry the torch at the end of its four-month journey to the Olympic Stadium.These women carried the torch to its final destination to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women’s participation in the Games.

A Spectacle Like No OtherSmoke, fire, music, dancing, horses and

marching bands amazed fans as they cheered

teams from all over the world at the opening ceremony. The

closing ceremony was even more spectacular – with giant

shrimp on bicycles, shiny robots on stilts, a Frankenstein

kangaroo and a huge inflatable eyeball.

Fireworks – the

biggest the world had ever seen – lit

up the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Fastest, Highest, Strongest!

The Games were full of Olympic firsts and

record-breaking wins for athletes all over the

world.

Here are some results:

USA: 97 medals (39 gold, 25 silver, 33 bronze)

Russia: 88 medals (32 gold, 28 silver, 28 bronze)

China: 59 medals (28 gold, 16 silver,15 bronze)

Australia: 58 medals (16 gold, 25 silver, 17 bronze)

Germany: 57 medals (14 gold, 17 silver, 26 bronze)

Success seemed even sweeter to athletes who overcame tough luck to compete. However, there were some disappointments.Some athletes were sent home because they had been taking drugs. The women’s gymnastics competition was

marred by a mistake in setting up the equipment.Still, the spirit of the Games remained strong.

To Be the BestThe Olympic Games aren’t just about winning. After all, only 300 of the 10,900 athletes took home the gold. The real thrill is competing against the best players on earth. In the words of US softball player Dot Richardson, “Every athlete wants to face an opponent who’s having the performance of a life-time. That is when you truly find that

you are the best".

The End