Changes

[[Image:Img214070839.jpg|right]]

[[Image:Img214070839.jpg|right]]

The '''Olympics''' are an [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek]] sporting event that was held from 776 B.C. to A.D. 394 and resurrected as a world-wide modern competition in the late 19th century. The first Olympics have been said by some to have marked the beginning of classical [[civilization]].

The '''Olympics''' are an [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek]] sporting event that was held from 776 B.C. to A.D. 394 and resurrected as a world-wide modern competition in the late 19th century. The first Olympics have been said by some to have marked the beginning of classical civilization.

According to a legend, [[Hercules]] built a [[temple]] to his father, [[Zeus]].  Hercules wanted people to come and worship his father, so he made a series of [[game]]s to bring the people to Zeus’s temple.  This event was so unifying that people started to count time by it.

According to a legend, [[Hercules]] built a temple to Zeus and wanted people to come and worship there, so he made a series of games to attract people.  This event was so unifying that people started to count time by it.

The modern Olympic Games (often simply called the Olympics) are held every two years. The games are alternated between the "Summer" and "Winter" Olympics, each featuring sports typical of the respective season. The first of the modern Olympics took place in [[Athens]] in 1896.   

The modern Olympic Games (often simply called the Olympics) are held every two years. The games are alternated between the "Summer" and "Winter" Olympics, each featuring sports typical of the respective season. The first of the modern Olympics took place in [[Athens]] in 1896.   

==Past Games==

==Past Games==

===2000 Sydney===

===2000 Sydney===

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. The Queen opened the 1956 games but was not 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 spectatorship 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 </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. The Queen opened the 1956 games but was not 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 spectatorship 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 </ref>

== Future Games ==

== Future Games ==

The host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 will be the city of [[London]].

The host city for the Games of the XXX Olympiad in 2012 will be the city of [[London]].

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/20080804_MEDALCOUNT_MAP.html Interactive Map of Olympic Medals], New York Times

*[http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/08/04/sports/olympics/20080804_MEDALCOUNT_MAP.html Interactive Map of Olympic Medals], New York Times

[[Category:Olympics]]

[[Category:Olympics]]