Changes

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 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 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--partially defrayed by television and tourist revenues.  It is typical for strong local opposition to try to block a city from hosting the games.

==Ancient  Greece==

==Ancient  Greece==

===2008 Beijing===

===2008 Beijing===

The Games of the [[XXIX Olympiad|2008 Summer Olympics]] - [[Beijing]] 2008 took place from 8 to 24 August 2008. The Games in Beijing played host to the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic program. Approximately 10,500 athletes participated in the Games with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.

[[Image:Img214070839.jpg|right]]The Games of the [[XXIX Olympiad|2008 Summer Olympics]] - [[Beijing]] 2008 took place from 8 to 24 August 2008. The Games in Beijing played host to the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic program. Approximately 10,500 athletes participated in the Games with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.

== Future Games ==

== Future Games ==

* Buchanan, Ian, and Bill Mallon. ''Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement'' (2nd ed. 2006) 366pp. [http://books.google.com/books?id=fH3hD3MkIMYC&dq=intitle:Dictionary+intitle:of+intitle:the+intitle:Olympic+intitle:Movement&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]  

* Buchanan, Ian, and Bill Mallon. ''Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement'' (2nd ed. 2006) 366pp. [http://books.google.com/books?id=fH3hD3MkIMYC&dq=intitle:Dictionary+intitle:of+intitle:the+intitle:Olympic+intitle:Movement&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=30&as_brr=0 excerpt and text search]  

* Gerlach, Larry, ed. ''The Winter Olympics: From Chamonix to Salt Lake City'' (2004) 330pp

* Gerlach, Larry, ed. ''The Winter Olympics: From Chamonix to Salt Lake City'' (2004) 330pp

* Guttman, Allen. ''The Olympics, a history of the modern games.''  (1992) [http://books.google.com/books?id=TbLmQQG-2bQC&pg=PA151&dq=taiwan+winter+olympics+boycott&lr=&ei=zxXBSensFI_ClQTFsMDuBg excerpt and text search]

* Guttman, Allen. ''The Olympics, a history of the modern games.''  (2nd ed. 2002) [http://books.google.com/books?id=TbLmQQG-2bQC&pg=PA151&dq=taiwan+winter+olympics+boycott&lr=&ei=zxXBSensFI_ClQTFsMDuBg excerpt and text search]

* MacAloon, John J. ''This Great Symbol: Pierre de Coubertin and the Origins of the Modern Olympic Games'' (2008)

* MacAloon, John J. ''This Great Symbol: Pierre de Coubertin and the Origins of the Modern Olympic Games'' (2008)

* Miller, David. ''Athens to Athens: The Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC, 1894-2004'' (2008)  528p.

* Miller, David. ''Athens to Athens: The Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC, 1894-2004'' (2008)  528p.