9 Fun Facts About the Olympics to Make You Smile

With the Summer Olympics starting on July 24, 2024, it’s time to get into the mood for some fun and excitement. The XXXIII Olympiad games – the official name of this year’s Summer Olympics that are being held in Paris, France – will have millions of people watching the events live and the events will be televised, according to the Olympics in Paris website.

There will be some exciting new Olympic sports this year including break dancing, sport climbing, surfing, and skateboarding is returning to the lineup this year. Check out these 9 fun facts about the Olympics and get ready to smile:

The first Olympic Games Took Place in 776 BCE

The original Olympics began in 776 BCE in ancient Greece and was part of a festival that celebrated Zeus, according to National Geographic Kids. But this competition lasted for around six months and the games included chariot racing, discus, wrestling, long jump, javelin throwing, as well as boxing

Olympic Rings Inspire Inclusion

The Olympic rings date back to 1913 and were created by the New Olympic games founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin who revived the games in 1896. The five colors of the rings reflect the colors of the flags of all the participating nations and represent international cooperation and the inclusion of athletes from around the globe.

The first Summer Olympic Games had 14 Participating Countries

The first summer Olympics  held in Athens in 1896 did not have a lot of participating countries. In fact, there were only 14; including eight from Europe, Australia, US, and Chile.

The Olympic Games Consist of 32 Sports in 2024

The Olympic games have certainly grown from humble beginnings. According to Olympics.com, there will be 329 medal events from 32 sports over the 16-day Summer Olympics in 2024.

Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals Were Introduced in 1904

The first medals were issued at the St. Louis games in 1904.  While the gold medals were originally made of pure gold, today the medals still have a small amount of gold in them. But the gold medals are actually 92.5 percent silver; as are the silver medals. The bronze medals are 95 percent copper and 5 percent zinc.

206 Countries Will Participate This Summer

More than 10,000 athletes from 206 countries will participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. There will be a long processional on opening day!

First Paralympic Games Were Held in 1960

The first Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960, according to Rustic Pathways. That year 400 physically disabled athletes competed and won medals in 57 events from eight sports. This year there will be 22 sports represented. The Paralympic Games will take place from August 28 to September 8 in 2024.

The Olympic Torch is a Connection to the Past

In ancient times, a flame burned throughout the Olympic games as an attribute to the goddess Hestia. The Olympic torch was introduced in 1928 as a reminder of the Greek origins of the games. The flame of the torch is always lit in Olympia, Greece and is passed torch to torch in an international rally that ends in the host city of the games.

Olympic Truce

In ancient Greece, an Olympic truce was declared, so athletes and spectators could safely travel to and from the games, according to Rustic Pathways. In more modern times, the games have been canceled during wartime or offending countries have not been allowed to participate. Perhaps the ancient Greeks had it right!