Olympic Games: fun facts and quiz

The ancient Olympic Games were held at Olympia, in Greece, from 776 BCE by tradition, for over 1,000 years, in honour of Zeus.

Key fact
Winners received an olive wreath, not a medal.

Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympics, and the first modern Games were held in Athens in 1896. Today the Summer and Winter Games each come every four years.

Key fact
Summer and Winter Games have been held in different years since 1994.

The five interlocking rings, designed by Coubertin in 1913, stand for the union of five continents. With the white background, their colours covered every national flag of the time.

Key fact
The rings are blue, yellow, black, green and red.

Before each Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia using the Sun’s rays and a curved mirror, then carried by relay to the host city.

Key fact
The modern torch relay began at the 1936 Berlin Games.

Swimmer Michael Phelps won 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold, the most ever. Gymnast Larisa Latynina held the record before him, with 18.

Key fact
Usain Bolt won the 100 m at three Games in a row.

The Paralympic Games grew from a 1948 event for injured Second World War veterans at Stoke Mandeville, England. The first Paralympics were held in Rome in 1960.

Key fact
Since 1988, the Paralympics have used the same host city as the Olympics.

Some cities have hosted the Summer Games more than once. London has hosted three times, in 1908, 1948 and 2012, and Paris hosted for the third time in 2024.

Key fact
Los Angeles will host for the third time in 2028.