Fact of the Day
Hammer thrower James B. Connolly from the United States was the first Olympic champion of the Modern Olympic Games.
The early Olympic Games were celebrated as a religious festival from 776 B.C. until 393 A.D., when the games were banned for being a pagan festival.
Though Russia had sent a few athletes to compete in the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games, they did not compete again until the 1952 Games.
For the first time in 56 years, the Olympic flame passed through London on route to Athens 2004.
Tennis was played at the Olympics until 1924, then reinstituted in 1988.
The Olympic Hymn, played when the Olympic Flag is raised, was composed by Spyros Samaras and the words added by Kostis Palamas.
Each Olympic medal must be at least three millimeters thick and 60 millimeters in diameter.
Women were first allowed to participate in 1900 at the second modern Olympic Games.
The Olympic symbol consists of five circles or rings. These five circles stand for the five continents.
The Olympic symbol consists of five circles or rings. These five circles stand for the five continents.