Sports in Britain - The Olympics

The Olympic Games

The Games have always brought people together in peace to respect universal moral principles. The Games feature athletes from all over the world and help promote the Olympic spirit.

The modern Olympics are modelled after the games played by the ancient Greeks starting in 700 BC. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896.

Today, there are two Olympic games: Winter and Summer. The games are played every two years, alternating between Winter and Summer. The Summer Olympics were held in Athens in 2004, and the next Winter Olympics will be in Turino, Italy in 2005.

swimming Great Britain last hosted the Olympics in 1948 and before that in 1908 when British athletes won 141 medals. Great Britain will host the 2012 Olympic Games.

Britain has won gold at the Olympics in a great many sports including archery, weightlifting, football, tennis, running, decathlon, swimming, cycling, shooting, hurdling, walking, rowing, yachting, equestrians, fencing, steeple-chase, boxing, long jump, relay, pentathlon, javelin, hockey, ice skating, bobsleigh and curling. running

One of the most successful British Olympians of recent years is Steve Redgrave who won gold medals for rowing at the 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

In 2004 at the Olympic Games held in Athens, Team Great Britain won a total of 30 medals.

The 2008 Beijing Games will show the world what the Olympic Games really are: a gathering of young people, the finest athletes in the world, who share the same goal and the same enthusiasm for sport. The Games run from 8-24 August 2008 and will then be handed over to London for the 2012 Games.

For further information visit:

www.london2012.com – London 2012 Olympic Games
www.olympic.org – Official website of the Olympic Movement
www.olympics.org.uk – British Olympic Association