24/07/2024
Wowlympics: Fun Facts About the Olympic Games!
Welcome to "Wowlympics," where we jump, run, and swim through the exciting world of the Olympic Games! Get ready for some super fun facts that will make you say, "Wow!". Make sure you are up to date and ready for the 26th July when the games start!
The Ancient Olympics
The Olympic Games began over 2,700 years ago in ancient Greece. Back then, only men could compete, and they did it all in the nude! The games were held to honour the Greek god Zeus.
Olympic Mascots
Every Olympic Games has its own mascot! These mascots are usually cute characters that represent the culture and spirit of the host country. For example, Wenlock was the mascot for the London 2012 Olympics, and he had a single eye like a camera. The 2024 Paris Olympics mascot is Phryge, representing freedom. We think Billy Barracuda would make an excellent Olympics mascot!
The Youngest Olympian
The youngest known Olympian is Dimitrios Loundras from Greece. He competed in gymnastics at the age of 10 in the 1896 Athens Olympics and won a bronze medal! Talk about starting young!
Gold Medals Aren’t All Gold
Did you know that Olympic gold medals are mostly made of silver? They are only coated with about 6 grams of gold. Still, winning one is a golden achievement!
First Winter Olympics
The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. These games featured cool sports like ice hockey, figure skating, and ski jumping. Now, winter sports are just as popular as summer ones!
Olympic Flame
The Olympic flame is lit in Olympia, Greece, and travels all around the world to the host city. The flame symbolizes peace, friendship, and unity. It even travelled to space in 2000!
The Oldest Olympian
Oscar Swahn from Sweden competed in shooting at the age of 72! He won a silver medal in the 1920 Olympics. Age is just a number when it comes to the Olympics!
Olympic Rings
The five rings on the Olympic flag represent the five continents of the world (Africa, Asia, America, Europe, and Oceania) and the colours (blue, yellow, black, green, and red) appear on all the national flags of the world.
The Most Medals
Swimmer Michael Phelps holds the record for the most Olympic medals ever won by a single athlete. He has 28 medals, including 23 golds! He’s truly a swimming superhero. The second highest number of medals won was by Larisa Latynina from the Soviet Union, winning 6 medals in each Olympic Games that she competed in, achieving 18 gymnastics medals in total.
From ancient traditions to incredible athletes, the Olympic Games are full of amazing stories and fun facts. So next time you watch the Olympics, remember these cool facts and share them with your friends. Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be an Olympian too!
We love sharing these facts with you and we're looking forward to our Sports Stars weekly theme next week, well timed for the Olympics! We hope these inspire your child and hope to see you on camp to enjoy our special activities and unique adventures!