Here are some fun facts about the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is the most prestigious sports event in the world that happens every four years and here are some other facts about this.
Paris hosted the event three times now
The second-ever modern Olympics were held here in Paris in 1900 and again in 1924. The 2024 Summer Olympics marks the third time Paris has hosted the event, based on the article in Reader’s Digest.
Paris was the epicenter of the sports event but other events were held outside the capital city of France. 41 event venues are located elsewhere in the country.
A months-long Torch Relay happens before the event
The relay starts in Greece as a homage to the home of the ancient Olympics and it also has the honor of entering first during the Parade of Nations. The host nation enters last.
Fewer events are featured now
339 events were featured in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. In 2024, for the Paris Olympics, there is only 329 events.
Unusual sports were once part of the Olympics
From 1912 to 1948, the Olympics included artistic competitions. In this competition, painters, sculptors, architects, writers, and musicians were competitors. There was also a time when solo synchronized swimming, tandem bicycle, tug-of-war, hot-air ballooning, and a swimming obstacle race were featured.
Strange mascots
Aside from unusual sports, the Olympics also had strange mascots. The mascot is supposedly symbolic of the host country’s culture. For the Paris Olympics, a phryge (FRI-jee-uh) is featured. It is a soft red hat worn during the French Revolution.
Many Olympians pay their bills through unrelated professions
Many Olympic athletes do not rely on their sports to earn a living, here are some of them:
Jared Ward, a 2016 U.S. marathon runner – statistics professor at Brigham Young University
Ana Rente of Portugal, three-time Olympic trampoline gymnast – doctor
Scott Evans of Irelandis, a badminton player – co-owner of Hosbjerg, a women’s clothing company
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