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<br>''Click here for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]''.

<br>''Click here for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]]''.

The '''Olympics''' are the most important world sporting event, involving many different sports and athletes from practically every nation, competing under their national flag. The summer games have been held every four years since 1896. The host city is selected by the International Olympic Committee six or seven years beforehand.  The smaller-scale winter games are held every four years starting in 1924. Starting 1994, they come midway between the summer games.

The '''Olympics''' are the most important world sporting event, involving many different sports and athletes from practically every nation, competing under their national flag.

 

The Summer Games (the larger of the two Games) have been held every four years since 1896 (in even-numbered years divisible by four), except as noted. The Winter Games (which are much smaller) have been held every four years starting in 1924 (initially in the same year as the Summer Games, but starting with the 1994 Winter Games they were moved to be held in even-numbered years not divisible by four).  Host cities are selected by the International Olympic Committee six or seven years beforehand due to the long period needed to prepare (often the need to build new venues for events).   

The Olympics have pagan origins, but the predominantly [[Christian]] [[faith]] of the top athletes has become more apparent every four years, with an number vocally thanking [[God]] for their remarkable achievements.

The Olympics have pagan origins, but the predominantly [[Christian]] [[faith]] of the top athletes has become more apparent every four years, with an number vocally thanking [[God]] for their remarkable achievements.

The games are a source of national pride and international equality and sportsmanship. They are a very expensive proposition, costing the host billions of dollars—partially defrayed by television and tourist revenues.  It is typical for strong local opposition to try to block a city from hosting the games.

The games are a source of national pride and international equality and sportsmanship. They are a very expensive proposition, costing the host billions of dollars which are only partially defrayed by television and tourist revenues; as such, it is typical for strong local opposition to try to block a city from hosting the games (which at times has been successful).

==Ancient Greece==

==Ancient Greece==

The modern Olympics are named after an [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek]] sporting event that was held from 776 B.C. to A.D. 394.

The modern Olympics are named after an [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek]] sporting event that was held from 776 B.C. to A.D. 394.

   

   

| 84 by United States of America (38 Gold, 27 Silver, 19 Bronze)

| 84 by United States of America (38 Gold, 27 Silver, 19 Bronze)

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Despite some fears that Britain was too impoverished by World War II to host an international event, the Labor government, led by the efforts of Philip Noel-Baker (1889-1982), proceeded to relaunch the games following a 12-year hiatus. The goal was to tell the world that Britain was back.  The press and the public generally saw the project as a success, one that reasserted Britain's international importance. The memory of the war meant that Germany and Japan were excluded. The emerging [[Cold War]] meant that the Soviet Union did not come.<ref>Peter Beck, "The British Government and the Olympic Movement: The 1948 London Olympics," ''International Journal of the History of Sport'' 2008 25(5): 615-647</ref>  

Despite some fears that Britain was too impoverished by World War II to host an international event, the Labor government, led by the efforts of Philip Noel-Baker (1889-1982), proceeded to re-launch the games following a 12-year hiatus. The goal was to tell the world that Britain was back.  The press and the public generally saw the project as a success, one that reasserted Britain's international importance. The memory of the war meant that Germany and Japan were excluded. The emerging [[Cold War]] meant that the Soviet Union did not come.<ref>Peter Beck, "The British Government and the Olympic Movement: The 1948 London Olympics," ''International Journal of the History of Sport'' 2008 25(5): 615-647</ref>  

===1952 Helsinki===

===1952 Helsinki===

South Korean leaders hoped for both increased economic development and a heightened sense of national identity. Tangible economic results, including the growth of the telecommunications industry, seemed positive, as did the less concrete social, cultural, and political aspects of the games: democratic reforms in South Korea, better relations with Communist countries, and a boost in the nation's collective sense of self-confidence.<ref>Brian Bridges, "The Seoul Olympics: Economic Miracle Meets the World,"  ''International Journal of the History of Sport'' 2008 25(14): 1939-1952</ref>

South Korean leaders hoped for both increased economic development and a heightened sense of national identity. Tangible economic results, including the growth of the telecommunications industry, seemed positive, as did the less concrete social, cultural, and political aspects of the games: democratic reforms in South Korea, better relations with Communist countries, and a boost in the nation's collective sense of self-confidence.<ref>Brian Bridges, "The Seoul Olympics: Economic Miracle Meets the World,"  ''International Journal of the History of Sport'' 2008 25(14): 1939-1952</ref>

===1992 Barcelona===

===1992 Barcelona===

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The breakup of the Communist Soviet Union led to the establishment of a 'Unified Team (ex USSR)' in its place.<ref>International Olympic Committee, ''Official source: Olympic Records, World Records, Olympic Medalists - Olympic.org'' [http://www.olympic.org/medallists-results?athletename=&category=343488&games=1333912&sport=&event=&mengender=false&womengender=false&mixedgender=false&teamclassification=false&individualclassification=false&continent=&country=&goldmedal=true&silvermedal=false&bronzemedal=false&worldrecord=false&olympicrecord=false&targetresults=true&sortorder=country&resultspageipp=10&resultspage=24]</ref>

The breakup of the Communist Soviet Union led to the establishment of a 'Unified Team (ex USSR)' in its place.<ref>International Olympic Committee, ''Official source: Olympic Records, World Records, Olympic Medalists - Olympic.org'' [http://www.olympic.org/medallists-results?athletename=&category=343488&games=1333912&sport=&event=&mengender=false&womengender=false&mixedgender=false&teamclassification=false&individualclassification=false&continent=&country=&goldmedal=true&silvermedal=false&bronzemedal=false&worldrecord=false&olympicrecord=false&targetresults=true&sortorder=country&resultspageipp=10&resultspage=24]</ref>

===1996 Atlanta===

===1996 Atlanta===

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| 94 by United States of America (37 Gold, 24 Silver, 33 Bronze)

| 94 by United States of America (37 Gold, 24 Silver, 33 Bronze)

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The Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956 were well handled, but few international tourists came to Australia for it. By contrast when Sydney, Australia, hosted the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, it gained global attention for an efficiently organized world-class event. Prince Philip, representing Queen [[Elizabeth II]] The Queen opened the 1956 games but neither was invited in 2000, as the spirit of republicanism was too strong. However, many of the hoped-for legacies failed to materialize. General levels of participation in physical activity and sport did not rise, although passive spectator ship including television watching did. Many of the costly Australian facilities built for the games remain underutilized in their wake. While in the short term, some of the economic and political goals were achieved, and a new and better method to collect and disseminate knowledge about games preparation was established, such events remain problematic in their long-term effects on local, populations, societies, and environments.<ref>Kristine Toohey, "The Sydney Olympics: Striving for Legacies - Overcoming Short-Term Disappointments and Long-Term Deficiencies." ''International Journal of the History of Sport 2008 25(14): 1953-1971; Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, "Sydney 2000, Olympic Sport and the Australian Media, "''Journal of Australian Studies'' (1999) pp 76+ [http://www.questia.com/read/5001885655?title=Sydney%202000%2c%20Olympic%20Sport%20and%20the%20Australian%20Media online at Questia]</ref>

The Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956 were well handled, but few international tourists came to Australia for it. By contrast when Sydney, Australia, hosted the 2000 Summer Olympic Games, it gained global attention for an efficiently organized world-class event. Prince Philip, representing [[Elizabeth II]] The Queen opened the 1956 games but neither was invited in 2000, as the spirit of republicanism was too strong. However, many of the hoped-for legacies failed to materialize. General levels of participation in physical activity and sport did not rise, although passive spectator ship including television watching did. Many of the costly Australian facilities built for the games remain underutilized in their wake. While in the short term, some of the economic and political goals were achieved, and a new and better method to collect and disseminate knowledge about games preparation was established, such events remain problematic in their long-term effects on local, populations, societies, and environments.<ref>Kristine Toohey, "The Sydney Olympics: Striving for Legacies - Overcoming Short-Term Disappointments and Long-Term Deficiencies." ''International Journal of the History of Sport 2008 25(14): 1953-1971; Helen Jefferson Lenskyj, "Sydney 2000, Olympic Sport and the Australian Media, "''Journal of Australian Studies'' (1999) pp 76+ [http://www.questia.com/read/5001885655?title=Sydney%202000%2c%20Olympic%20Sport%20and%20the%20Australian%20Media online at Questia]</ref>

===2004 Athens===

===2004 Athens===