Olympic Games History

The Olympic Games exist in two related senses. The ancient Olympic Games were a religious and athletic festival held at Olympia in the western Peloponnese of Greece, dedicated to Zeus, and celebrated for roughly twelve centuries before being suppressed in late antiquity. The modern Olympic Games are an international sporting event founded in 1894, first staged in Athens in 1896, and governed today by the International Olympic Committee. Although the two are separated by more than fifteen hundred years, the modern Games consciously draw symbolism, vocabulary, and prestige from the ancient festival.

Each four-year span between Summer Games is called an Olympiad, a unit of time used for dating in the ancient Greek world. The modern Summer Olympic Games are held every four years. Since 1994 the Winter Olympic Games have been staged on an offset four-year cycle, so that a Summer or Winter edition opens every two years. The Paralympic Games, organized by the International Paralympic Committee, take place in the same host cities shortly after each Olympic edition. The Youth Olympic Games, launched in 2010, provide a companion event for athletes aged fifteen to eighteen.

The fundamental principles of the modern movement are set out in the Olympic Charter. Central among them is the concept of Olympism, which defines sport as a way of life that blends physical effort, cultural expression, and ethical formation. The Charter enshrines non-discrimination, fair play, respect between athletes and nations, and the pursuit of peaceful international cooperation through sport. These principles are promoted by the International Olympic Committee, by National Olympic Committees in each participating territory, and by the International Federations that govern each sport on the Olympic programme.