"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." -- Olympic Creed.

>>Read about the Olympic Creed
>>Browse the Olympic Games Bookstore
>>More Olympic Games Links

Email your favorite quote to yourquote@imahero.com

Archives - Quote of the Week

 

---

As Head of Media Relations for the Hero Clubhouse™, Bard of Avon travels to Olympia, Greece, to discover where the Olympic Flame is lit. The lighting of the Olympic Flame dates back to the Ancient Olympic Games which were first documented around 824 BC. These games were played every four years from 776 BC to 394 AD.

Did you know the warring city-states laid down their weapons so the athletes could compete in peace in the Ancient Olympic Games?

The events of the Ancient Olympic Games included foot races (stadion, diaulos, and dolichos), the pentathlon (a five contest event with discus, javelin, long jump, wrestling, and a foot race), wrestling, boxing, pankration (a combination of wrestling and boxing), and chariot races.

Did you know the first recorded winner was Koroibos? He won the stadion race -- a 600 foot long foot race.

>>Take a Photo Tour of Ancient Olympia
>>Read The Real Story of Ancient Olympic Games
>>Browse the Olympic Games Bookstore
>>More Olympic Games Links

Email your photos to info@imahero.com

Archives - Picture of the Week

 

---

The Winter Olympics (True Books)
The Olympic Winter Games continue with this easy-to-read and entertaining book. You've watched the Games. Now, read about each of the winter sports. This "True Books" book gives you a brief history of each sport and explains how the sport is played and judged. It also includes a glossary in the back for an quick reference.

>>Featured in our Olympic Winter Games Bookstore
>>Browse our Online Bookstore for books about your favorite Heroes

Archives - Feature Book

 

---

Question:
In what two cities were the 1994 and 1998 Olympic Winter Games held?

>>Need Help?
>>Check Your Answer

Archives - Trivia Question

 

---

Did you know the Summer Olympic Games are called the Games of the Olympiad and the Winter Olympic Games are called the Olympic Winter Games?

Yes. All the Games are designated with Roman numerals, and only the Summer Games use the term "Olympiad."

For example:
The 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta were The Games of the XXVI Olympiad.
The 2000 Summer Games in Sydney were The Games of the XXVII Olympiad.
Can you figure out what the 2004 Summer Games in Athens will be called?

The 1998 Winter Games in Nagano were the XVIII Olympic Winter Games.
The 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City were the XIX Olympic Winter Games.
Can you figure out what the 2006 Winter Games in Torino will be called?

Did you know the term Olympic is really an adjective and not a noun? It is grammatically correct to say, "I will compete in the upcoming Olympic Games." It is incorrect to say, "I will compete in the upcoming Olympics." Regardless, the word "Olympic" is commonly used as a noun, and we refer to the Games as the Olympics.

>>Visit the Official Sites of the International Olympic Committee
>>Get an Olympic Primer (short history) of the Olympic Games (AAFLA)
>>Browse the Olympic Games Bookstore
>>More Olympic Games Links

Archives - Did You Know…

 

---

Torvill and Dean. The skating of Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean was simply breath-taking when they received a perfect score during the 1984 Olympics.

Katarina Witt is my hero. Her skating is so graceful and exciting.

Picabo Street. She is my favorite skier because she skies hard and determined on every run. Also, you have to love her name! -- Amy from Tahoe

Dorothy Hamill is my hero. I loved to watch her ice skate. When I was growing up, I wanted to be just like her. In fact, I even had the Dorothy Hamill haircut!!!

>>Submit Your Hero
>>Browse the Olympic Games Bookstore
>>More Olympic Games Links

Archives - Who's Your Hero?

 

---

Question:
What do the Olympic rings represent? (Avery from New Hampshire)

Answer:
The Olympic rings are the official symbol of the Olympic Games. According to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Olympic Movement, "[t]hese five rings represent the five parts of the world won over to Olympism." This refers to the meeting of athletes from the five original major continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia, and Europe) during the Olympic Games.

The Olympic rings are five interlacing rings of blue, yellow, black, green, and red on a white background. These colors represent at least one of the colors used in the flag of every nation. There is no ancient basis for the symbol of the rings.

Did you know the first Olympic flag, displaying the Olympic rings, was made in 1914 to be used at the 1916 Olympic Games? However, the 1916 Olympic Games were canceled due to World War I, and the Olympic flag was first flown at the 1920 Antwerp Games. This flag is known as "the Antwerp flag" and was flown at every Olympic Games through 1984. A new Olympic flag was presented at the 1988 Seoul Games.

The Olympic flag must be prominently displayed in every Olympic city, and a large Olympic flag must be flown in the main stadium during the Olympic Games. At the Closing Ceremonies, the mayor of the host city presents the Olympic flag to the mayor of the next Olympic host city.

Did you know the Antwerp flag stated the Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius," which means, "Swifter, Higher, Stronger?"

>>Symbols and Traditions of the Olympic Games (USA Today)
>>Visit the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland
>>Browse the Olympic Games Bookstore
>>More Olympic Games Links

Email your questions to yourquestion@imahero.com

Archives - Your Question

 

---

Question:
In what two cities were the 1994 and 1998 Olympic Winter Games held?

Answer:
Lillehammer and Nagano. The 1994 Olympic Winter Games were held in Lillehammer, Norway, and the 1998 Olympic Winter Games were held in Nagano, Japan.

Here is a list of the years, cities, countries, and numbers of the Olympic Winter Games:
1924 -- Chamonix, France (I)
1928 -- St. Moritz, Switzerland (II)
1932 -- Lake Placid, United States (III)
1936 -- Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany (IV)
1940 -- Canceled due to WWII (scheduled for Sapporo, Japan)
1944 -- Canceled due to WWII (scheduled for Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy)
1948 -- St. Moritz, Switzerland (V)
1952 -- Oslo, Norway (VI)
1956 -- Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy (VII)
1960 -- Squaw Valley, United States (VIII)
1964 -- Innsbruck, Austria (IX)
1968 -- Grenoble, France (X)
1972 -- Sapporo, Japan (XI)
1976 -- Innsbruck, Austria (XII)
1980 -- Lake Placid, United States (XIII)
1984 -- Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (XIV)
1988 -- Calgary, Canada (XV)
1992 -- Albertville, France (XVI)
1994 -- Lillehammer, Norway (XVII)
1998 -- Nagano, Japan (XVIII)
2002 -- Salt Lake City, United States (XIX)
2006 -- Torino, Italy (XX)

>>Browse the Olympic Games Bookstore
>>More Olympic Games Links

Back to Trivia Question