The History Of The Olympic Games

 
 The Olympic Games started in Ancient Greece. Their origin remains unclear (some people even
say Zeus and Hercules started them!) The forerunners of the present-day Olympic games were the "Olympiade de la Republique" in France and the Wenlock Olympian games in England. In the 19th century, the (Grecian) Panathenaic stadium underwent modernisation, being the home of the first Olympic games as we know them today.
    After a several century gap, the Olympic Games were hosted again in 1896, in Athens, Greece. It brought together 241 athletes from 14 countries, who competed in 43 events.

    The first Winter Olympic games were held in 1894, in Chamonix, France. Ice skating and ice hockey were amongst the events.

    Since then, 2 other types of Olympics have been created: the Paralympics (olympics for athletes with disabilities-premiered 1960), and the Youth Olympics (for teenage athletes-premiered 2010). The UK, apart from hosting the Olympics this year, has also done so in 1908 and 1948. Just something to think about the next time you watch the Olympics!