The Olympic Games

Since ancient times the Olympic Games have been playing an important role in the sports life of the world society. They bring together thousands of the world’s best athletes to compete against one another. Millions of people attend the Games and watch them on television.

The Olympic Games consist of the Summer Games and the Winter Games. The Summer Games are held in a major city and the Winter Games are held in a winter resort. Since 1994 the Summer & the Winter Games are held on a four-year cycle two years apart.

The Olympic opening ceremony is very impressive. The athletes of Greece march into the stadium first in honour of the original Olympics held in ancient Greece in 776 BC. The other athletes follow in alphabetical order by country. Athletes of the host country enter last. The head of state of the host country declares the Games open. The Olympic flag is raised and the Olympic Flame is lighted. The flame is kept burning until the end of the Games. It is brought by thousands of runners in cross- country relays from the Valley of Olympia, Greece where the ancient Olympics were held. The runners represent Greece and other countries that lie between Greece and the host nation.

The Modern Olympic Games were revived due to the efforts of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator, who drafted the Olympic Charter with the main principles of the Olympic movement and the rules & regulations of the Games. The first modern Olympic Games took place in 1896 in Athens, Greece. The Winter Games began in 1924.

In 1920 the Olympic flag with five interlaced rings of blue, black, red, yellow and green colours on a white background - symbol of the unity of the five continents - was hoisted for the first time in Antwerp.

The same year for the first time the Olympic oath rang out at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The motto adopted by the IOC - «Citius, Altius, Fortius» (Faster, Higher, Stronger) - made its appearance at the Antwerp Games too.

The first Olympic champion Coraibos of Olis was awarded an olive wreath in the stadium race of 192 m in 776 BC. From 1896 on the medal (gold, silver, bronze) became the Olympic Award.

The first medal in modern Olympic Games was presented on April 6, 1896 to the American track-and-field athlete James Brenden Connoly for a triple jump of 12.71 metres.

Olympic competition is intended to test the skill and strength of individuals, not nations. Therefore the IOC doesn’t keep an official score among the competing countries. No nation «wins» the Olympics.

In 1908 in London while opening the IV Olympic Games Pierre de Coubertin said: «The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part». These words now appear on the electronic score board at the opening ceremonies of the Games as their second motto.

Dialogue: An Interview with the Secretary General

After performance of the Russian National team at the 2000 Olympics the Secretary General of the NOC of Russia agreed to answer the questions of the reporter:

Reporter: Mr. Secretary General! Thank you for your consent to answer our questions.

SG: You are welcome. I appreciate the way you wrote about our Olympians. You’ve done a good job!

Question: What did you feel when you arrived at the airport in Sydney?

Answer: The representative of the Reception Committee ¹ greeted us very cordially. We felt really happy after a long travel.

Q: What are your impressions of the Olympic Village?

A: The size, planning and buildings of the Olympic Village are unforgettable. We felt very comfortable.

Q: Some words about the training centres.

A: After the athletes had settled down they were given an opportunity for warming up ² at various training centres. They are modern and well equipped. Besides an Australian coach was assigned to our athletic team for training assistance.

Q: What can you say about the food?

A: The dining-rooms were operated twenty-four hours a day. The catering was self-service ³ and it seemed to me that there was enough food to feed the world.

Q: What do you think about the performance of the Belarusian Olympians?

A: We are proud of our athletes. They won 3 gold, 3 silver and 11 bronze medals. The departure was a very sad and touching moment for all participants.

R: It is very kind of you to meet with us. We wish our athletes new victories.

---

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20