• The first Olympic Games were held in Olympia in Greece in 776 BC

• They took place every 4 years and were held in honour of the Greek Gods.

• All the events of the Olympic Games were connected to war.

• They included boxing, wrestling, javelin and discus throwing, running, jumping and chariot racing.

• The ancient Olympic Games continued until about AD 394.

• The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece in 1896.

• A French man by the name Pierre de Coubertin came up with the idea of reviving this competition.

• He thought that bringing young athletes together from all over the world would help bring world peace.

• Only 13 countries were represented at the First modern Olympic Games.

• The games have been held every 4 years since, except in 1916 during World War 1 and in 1940 and 1944 during World War 2.

• The Olympics began as a summer games.

• The First Winter Olympics were held in 1924

• Up until 1994 the Winter and Summer Olympics were held at the same time.

• Now the Winter and Summer Olympics are held 2 years apart.

• The Olympic flag was first used in Belgium in 1920

• It has 5 interlocking rings

• The rings represent the 5 continents that came together for the Olympic Games – Africa, Asia, America, Australasia and Europe.

• The colours of the rings are blue, yellow, black, green and red.

• The idea of the Olympic flame began during the ancient Olympic Games.

• The flame was lit for each Olympics and burned constantly during the Games.

• The flame travels from Greece to the city where the Olympic Games will take place.

• Archery

• Athletics

• Badminton

• Basketball

• Beach Volleyball

• Boxing

• Canoeing

• Cycling BMX

• Cycling Mountain Bike

• Cycling Track

• Cycling Road

• Diving

• Equestrian

• Fencing

• Football

• Weightlifting

• Wrestling

• Gymnastics• Handball• Hockey• Judo• Rowing• Sailing• Shooting• Swimming• Synchronised Swimming• Table Tennis• Tennis• Taekwondo• Trampoline

• Triathlon

• Volleyball

• Water Polo