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Essay on the Olympic Games
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This essay provides information on the timeline and origins of the Olympic Games, from Ancient Greece to the modern day. It is a super interesting topic to write and read about.
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The Olympic Games’ effect on our WorldEnglish Finished Essay
The Olympic Games
How do the Olympic Games affect the World and how does it
connect people?
This essay is going to cover the significant effect of the Olympic Games on the relationships
of many different countries and how they connect many people. It will discuss the negative
aspects of the Olympic Games and the different symbols associated with the Games and
their meanings. Furthermore, the purpose of the Olympic Games and the idea of Olympism
will be assessed. The Olympic Games are one of the largest sporting events in the world
and hence have affected the past and continue to affect the present, shaping relationships
between countries and creating new friendships.
This sporting event originated in ancient Greece around 3000 years ago. The Olympic
Games that were held in Olympia were the most popular sporting festival of these times.
Held in the honor of Zeus these games consisted of competitions between contestants in a
sport. In today's Olympics, the athletes are selected by their country's National Olympic
Committee (NOC). In general, the Olympic Games consist of the Summer Olympics and the
Winter Olympics. The games occur in Olympiads, defined by the Olympic Charter: “An
Olympiad is a period of four consecutive calendar years, beginning on 1 January of the first
year and ending on 31 December of the fourth year” (Olympic Charter; Chapter 6; Bye-law to
Rule 6). (1)
Often associated with the Games are the Olympic Rings which are seen as the official
symbol of the Olympics. Standing for unity and peace around the world and showing the
general idea of the world being connected by Olympism, the rings are shown as five,
differently colored, rings that are interlaced. The different colors of the rings stand for
different continents. Blue stands for Australia, black for Africa, red for America, yellow for
Asia, and green for Europe. The Olympic Movement is expressed by the rings accordingly
representing the union of our world's 5 different continents. In 1913 the Olympic Rings were
first introduced by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. In the
present time, there are seven different official Olympic Rings, the most popular remains the 5
colored rings on the white background. (4)
Adopted by the IOC in 1894 the official Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” is Latin and
stands for Faster, Higher, Stronger, which is supposed to represent the ambition of the
Olympic Movement. In 2021, the IOC approved the addition of “together” at the end of the
1
, The Olympic Games’ effect on our World
Olympic Motto, recognizing the significance and coalesce power of sports. The current IOC
president Thomas Bach explains the change and how it was linked to the original motto:
“Solidarity fuels our mission to make the world a better place through sport. We can only go
faster, we can only aim higher, we can only become stronger by standing together — in
solidarity.”(quoted in the article “the Olympic Motto”). (4)
Inspired by the practices of ancient Greece, the modern torch relay was first used in the
Berlin Summer Olympics 1936. In ancient Greece, fire was considered a divine element.
Each of the torches is unique and reflects the culture of the host country and is built to be
able to resist wind and weather conditions. The relay starts a few months before the start of
the Olympic Games. Starting in Olympia (Greece), the flame is lit at the site of the Ancient
Olympics. From there the flame is carried to the host city. Many different ways of transport
are used but the most common one is by foot. Announcing the beginning and arrival of the
Olympic Games, the Olympic Flame is supposed to be a symbol of peace and friendship.
The relay ends at the beginning of the Olympic Games at the opening ceremony, where the
cauldron is lit by the last runner marking the official beginning of the Olympic Games. Until
the year 2008, the olympic flame relay went through several countries, however, after 2010
the relay mainly takes place inside of Greece where from Athens the torch is directly
transported to the host city. (4)
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was established on 23 June 1894 by Dimitrios
Vikelas. As a large component of the Olympic Games, the IOC leads the Olympic Movement
and is in charge of planning and organizing the Olympic Games. Since 1894 there have
been nine presidents of the IOC. Elected in a secret ballot by the members of the IOC, the
president will then keep their position for eight years which can be renewed once for a term
of four years. The current president of the IOC is Thomas Bach. Their goal is to encourage
and support Olympism and to lead the Olympic Movement. Their main role is to ensure the
Olympic Games work well and that people continue to enjoy and participate in Olympic
Games-related matters and promote the idea of Olympism around the world.
Under the supreme authority and leadership of the IOC, the Olympic Movement is supposed
to contribute to building a better world by educating pupils through sports and Olympism. It is
made up of three main elements, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the
International Sports Federations (IFs), and the National Olympic Committees (NOCs). As
stated in the Olympic Charter “The goal of the Olympic movement is to contribute to building
a peaceful and better world by educating youth through sport practiced in accordance with
Olympism and its values.” (Chapter 1, Rule 1.1) (2)
In 1968 drug testing was introduced at the Olympic Games. Overall since 1968 (52 years)
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