English Day Alt Empordà 2012The Olympic Games

1. History of the 1. History of the Olympic GamesOlympic Games

The Olympic Games begun at Olympia in Greece in 776 BC.

The games were held every four years from 776 BC to 393 AD, when they were abolished by the Christian Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I. The ancient Olympic Games lasted for 1170 years.

The ancient Greeks were highly competitive. The ultimate Greek goal was to be the best. To win a victory at Olympia was considered one of the greatest honors. The fact that the only prize given at Olympia was an olive wreath illustrates this point. The athletes competed for honor, not for material goods.

The Olympic Games are a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate. The Games are currently held every four years.

The Olympic Games program consists of 35 sports, 30 disciplines and nearly 400 events.

2. Olympic Mascots 2. Olympic Mascots around the worldaround the world

● This Celebration had an enormous impact on the urbanism and external projection of the city, making Barcelona one of the most visited cities in Europe.

● The construction of the Olympic Village and Olympic Port opened the city to the sea.

3. Barcelona 92: our 3. Barcelona 92: our Olympic GamesOlympic Games

archery, shooting, athletics, swimming, badminton,taekwondo, water polo, field hockey, weightlifting,

4. Olympic 4. Olympic disciplinesdisciplines

synchronized swimming, Basketball,table tennis, Football, Gymnastics, Boxing,

Wrestling, judo, modern pentathlon, tennis, Diving, triathlon, volleyball, handball, hockey,

rowing, Sailing, waterpolo, canoeing, fencing

Carl lewis

Born on the 1st June 1961, Birmingham, USA.Atheletics world champion (1983-1993)

4 gold medals in Los Angeles 1984.

Michael Phelps

Born on the 30th June 1985 in Baltimore (USA)ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES:

Sydney 2000Athens 2004Beijing 2008

5. Famous Persons5. Famous Persons

Birgit Fischer has won 8 Gold medals in Canoe Sprint. She was the yougest winner in 1984 (18 years old) and the oldest in 2004 (42 years old).

In London 2012 Olympic Games, the organisers will try to encourage families to bring children to the events by reducing the price of the tickets: they cost the same as the child’s age.

More athletesthan spectatorsattended the 1900-Paris Games.

Ethiopian marathoner Abebe Bikila won the marathon in 1960. He didn’t wear shoes.

Carl Lewis was born in 1961 in Brimingah (Alabama). This athlete has been named

as the greatest and most famous athlete of the last century. He has won 20

medals in four different events - 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay.

Nadia Elena Comaneci, born on November 12, 1961 in Romania. Winner of nine Olympic medals, of which five are gold, 3 in Montreal in 1976 and 2 in Moscow in 1980. She also won three silver medals, one in Montreal and 2 in Moscow, and 1 bronze in Montreal

Usain Bolt was born August 21, 1986 in Jamaica. He’s a specialist in speed 100 and 200 m and the fastest man on the planet. He has three Olympic medals: three gold at Beijing in 2008.

Michael Fred Phelps was born June 30, 1985. He is an American swimmer.He has 16 Olympic medals: six gold and two bronze at Athens Games in 2004 and eight gold at Beijing in 2008

6. Amazing Olympic 6. Amazing Olympic AthletesAthletes