Autobiography of the Summer Olympics

Chapter 1 - Introduction

I wonder if you are as excited as me! It has been so long since I have visited London. Actually 64 years! I can’t wait. It is going to be a big celebration and promises to be a fabulous event. I have a big grin on my face.

You may know I am celebrated once in 4 years – I get invited to different host cities and I completely enjoy myself during the event!

You do know who I am by now – don’t you?  I am summer Olympics. You may also know my disabled little sister called Paralympics. My brother is winter Olympics. He is kind of a cold person. I guess you know why.   

Chapter 2 – Ancient History

Did you know that even your grandfather’s grandfather’s grandfather is much younger than me?

I was born a long long time ago – almost 2700 years ago in Olympia (Ancient Greece) – that does make me really old!  The Games were part of a religious festival and were held in honour of Zeus, king of the gods, and were staged every four years at Olympia, a valley near a city called Elis. People from all over the Greek world came to watch and take part.

At the first one-day Olympic Games, the only event was a short sprint from one end of the stadium to the other. As years went past, more events were added to make four days of competitions. They included wrestling, boxing, throwing the javelin and discus, and chariot racing. In the pentathlon, there were five events: running, wrestling, javelin, discus and long jump. One of the toughest events was the race for hoplites, men wearing armour and carrying shields.

Winners were given a wreath of sacred leaves, and a hero's welcome back home. 

Probably the pankration or all-in wrestling was the nastiest event. There were hardly any rules. Biting and poking people's eyes were officially banned, but some competitors did both! While it does not seem very sporting to us, all-in wrestling was very popular. Boxing was tough too. The fighters wore leather gloves and a boxer was allowed to go on hitting his opponent even after he'd knocked him to the ground! Ooooh! That must have hurt!

However, cheating was punished. If you were to cheat in me you would have to bring a bronze statue of Zeus as punishment.

Married women were not allowed into the Games. Only men, boys and unmarried women were allowed to participate. If any married woman were caught sneaking into the games they would be punished hard! Wow! That isn’t fair! But Women could own horses in the chariot race.

Unmarried women had their own festival at Olympia every four years. Good for them! This was the Heraia, held in honour of Hera, wife of Zeus. Unmarried Women could participate in running races, though only unmarried girls took part ,Greek woman were not allowed to go to go in for sport, unless they were Spartans.

The Games ended with a feast. Lots of oxen were roasted in a giant barbecue. That must have been fun. Entertainers such as jugglers and acrobats performed, and politicians made speeches to the crowds.

Chapter 3 - Pierre De Coubertin

You may know Pierre De Coubertin as the father of modern Olympics – but for me he is my hero!  After some 1000 to 1100 years of my celebration (from 776 BC to 261 or maybe it was 393 AD – I can’t remember very well), I was forgotten.  It was a very difficult time for me - I felt unimportant and I cried – a lot.  I just went into hiding for many many many long and lonely years.

Coubertin was a French educationist and historian and he was very interested in ancient Greece – and became keen on reviving the ancient Greek Olympics in modern times.  I was jumping with joy and leaping with laughter when I heard this. It was so nice to finally come out of hiding and smile again.  Three Cheers to Coubertin – Hip Hip Hooray!!

A new modern me was born again in 1896 and this time married women were allowed to attend me – Yoohoo!  But there was one thing that hadn’t changed – I was still in Greece.  However, they promised me I was visiting Paris next in 4 years – and that is how I started to travel the world.

I am still grateful to Coubertin. He is my saviour!

Chapter 4 - Motto/Rings

My motto is Citius Altius Fortius. These words mean SWIFTER HIGHER STRONGER in Latin. I think the motto is appropriate and it makes the athletes WANT to be swifter, higher and stronger and do their very best.

Most  people tell me, the rings were adopted by Coubertin  in 1913 after he saw a similar design on an artifact from ancient Greece.  The five rings represent the five major regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Australia.  Do you know every national flag in the world includes at least one of the five colors of my rings, which are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. I am really proud to be associated with every country in the world.

The Olympic Flag appeared for the first time at the 1920 Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

Chapter 5 - Mascots

Mascots are good luck charms.  I like them – I imagine mascots standing in the stadium and cheering on the athletes to go faster and higher! What fun!

The first Olympic mascot appeared in the 1964 games but only seen as a pin without having a name. For the first time an official mascot appeared in Munich 1972 as “Waldi”, a Bavarian sausage dog. Since then all the Games have had their own mascots. Beijing 2008 had 5 mascots!

Chapter 6 - Olympic Flame

The Olympic Flame Commemorates the theft of fire from the Greek god Zeus by Prometheus; In ancient Greece, a fire was kept burning throughout the celebrations of me. The fire was resumed at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam, and it has been part of the modern me ever since.  

The Olympic Torch today is lit several months before the opening ceremony of the Games at the site of the ancient Olympics in Olympia . Eleven women, representing the Vestal Virgins perform a ceremony in which the torch is kindled by the light of the Sun, its rays concentrated by a parabolic mirror.

The Olympic Torch is then taken around the world by many distinguished sports people; the relay ends on the day of the opening ceremony in the central stadium of the Games. The final bearer of the torch is usually a sports celebrity of the host country. He or she runs towards the cauldron, at the top of the stadium uses the torch to start the flame in the stadium. And that is my proudest moment – Let the Games Begin I shout with glee.  It is considered a great honor to be asked to light the Olympic Flame. After being lit, the flame continues to burn throughout the games.

Chapter 7 - Opening ceremonies

The opening ceremonies represent the official start of the celebration of ME. The opening ceremony is a very important part of the games. Every host city wants to show off their artistic capabilities.

After the artistic display, we have the parade of the nations – athletes of all participating countries join a parade. Greece is always the first country in the parade and the host country is the last one.

After the parade there are some speeches.  The games are officially declared open.

The Olympic flag is brought into the stadium and the Olympic hymn is played. The flag bearers of all the countries then form a circle and one athlete and one judge speak the Olympic Oath declaring they will compete and judge according to the rules.

After this the Olympic torch is brought into the stadium and the cauldron is lit.  That is the moment I wait for everytime!

It is nice to see the flame light up and to see that all the people are happy that the games have begun!

Chapter 8 - Olympic medals

There are 26 sports where athletes compete including aquatics events such as swimming, synchronized swimming, diving etc; track and field events such as sprints, long distance running, javelin, discus, etc; gymnastics; table tennis to name a few.

Athletes from all over the world have been training for many years really really hard for me – and I truly wish all of them would be winners.  But unfortunately that is not how it works L

An Olympic medal is awarded to the top 3 winners at each sport. There are three classes of medal: gold, silver and bronze. The winner is awarded the gold medal, the runner-up the silver medal, and the third place competitor is awarded the bronze medal.  

It is a great honour for the athletes to participate in the event and winning a medal just makes it all the more special; I am sure they cherish the medals through their lives.

I would like to mention 2 athletes who specifically impressed me in Beijing – Michael Phelps has proven that he is the best swimmer ever by winning 8 gold medals in the pool.  Usain Bolt has established himself as the fastest man on the Earth.  I look forward to future events to see who can surpass these great men!

Chapter 9 - Olympic cities

I always get very excited to know who the next host city will be – it is so nice to get invited all over the world.  I feel lucky to visit different countries and get celebrated.  I get to meet different people and learn about their culture – it is a wonderful feeling that because of me, so many people get together and celebrate!  I am thankful to people around the world for being so kind and nice to me. 

Kavya has been so kind to offer to make a display piece showing all the host cities  of the modern me J Thank You Kavya! J

Chapter 10 - Closing Ceremony

At the end of all the sporting events, the closing ceremony is held – this day I usually feel a little sad and down that the event is ending.

At the closing ceremony, usually flag bearers from each participating country enter the stadium in single line, and behind them march all of the athletes without being grouped by country – it is as though they are ‘one nation’.  The medal ceremony for the men's marathon is traditionally held during the closing ceremonies.

After the athletes enter the stadium, three national flags are hoisted on flagpoles one at a time while the corresponding national anthems are played: the flag of Greece on the middle pole to honor the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the flag of the host country on the left pole, and the flag of the country hosting the next Games on the right pole.

Following the flag raising ceremony, there are some speeches and the games are announced as closed.  I sigh everytime I hear this – I will miss this celebration for another 4 years....

The Olympic Flame is extinguished and, while the Olympic Hymn is played, the Olympic Flag that was hoisted during the opening ceremonies is lowered from the flagpole - the mayor of the host city hands over the flag to the mayor of the next host city.

I guess all good things have to come to an end!  But then I already start looking forward to the next one in 4 years!

Chapter 11 - Paralympics

Between me, Paralympics and my brother Winter Olympics, I think Paralympics is the luckiest – she gets celebrated every 2 years, along with me and Winter Olympics.  Paralympics is much younger than me – she was born in 1960 with the Rome games. 

This is also a big event where physically disabled athletes take part in the sports. 

The disabled athletes have special guiders to help them. These guide and the athlete are considered a team.

There is so much more I can tell you about Paralympics – but you are probably better off asking her yourself!

Chapter 12 – Bye for now

There is so much more I can tell you about me, but I have to go and get ready for London! There are less than 200 days left for the start of Olympics and everyone is getting ready to welcome me. People of London have been planning and preparing for many years now  for +a very memorable event. I feel the celebrations have already begun in people getting ready to welcome the whole world to London. I have to get ready too!

See you soon in London!