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⚽ Sports and games 🏅 The Olympics and athletics

The Olympic Games

The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games includes the athletes entering the stadium, led by the athletes of Greece.
The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games includes the athletes entering the stadium, led by the athletes of Greece.

📖 In short

The Olympic Games are the biggest sports competition in the world, where the best athletes from every country meet to compete in a sporting spirit. They're held every four years and watched by hundreds of millions of people. There are Summer Games and Winter Games.

🤩 Did you know?

  • The first known Olympic Games were held in 776 BC.
  • The Winter Olympics began in 1924.
  • The Olympic Games are held every 4 years.
  • There are also the Paralympic Games for athletes with disabilities.

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🌟 From ancient Greece

The Olympic Games began at Olympia in Greece about three thousand years ago, with just one running race. Then they stopped for many centuries, and the modern Games returned in 1896 in Athens.

🔍 The five rings

The Olympic flag is white with five colorful interlocking rings, blue, yellow, black, green and red, standing for the five continents that come together at the Games.

💡 The Olympic flame

Before every Games a flame is lit at Olympia in Greece using the sun's rays, then runners carry it a long way until it reaches the stadium on opening day.

🎯 Medals

The winner gets a gold medal, second place silver and third place bronze. Many Arab athletes have won Olympic medals in running, wrestling, weightlifting and other sports.

📸 More pictures

The Olympic flame is lit during the opening ceremony, carried from Olympia in Greece to where the Games are held. It stands for the light of energy, knowledge and life, and is seen as an ambassador of peace.
The Olympic flame is lit during the opening ceremony, carried from Olympia in Greece to where the Games are held. It stands for the light of energy, knowledge and life, and is seen as an ambassador of peace.
The Olympic symbol is five interlocking rings representing Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas.
The Olympic symbol is five interlocking rings representing Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and the Americas.
Medal ceremonies are held at the end of each event, and the top three receive medals and certificates.
Medal ceremonies are held at the end of each event, and the top three receive medals and certificates.

🧩 Test yourself

1 How often are the Olympic Games held?

2 What do the five rings stand for?

3 The first known Olympic Games were held in ?? BC.

4 Which picture shows “The Olympic Games”?

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