9781422273685

Stockholm, Sweden, hosted the 1912 Games, and the Olympics were cancelled in 1916 because of World War I (WWI). Other years in which the Olympic Games were not held include 1940 and 1944 because of World War II. Berlin, Germany, had been awarded the 1916 Olympics that were cancelled, but rather than reward the Germans following WWI by giving them the 1920 Games, they were instead awarded to Antwerp, Belgium, to honor the Belgians who suffered so many hardships during the war. The Olympic flag, which shows five interlocked rings to signify the universality of the Games, was first hoisted during the 1920 opening ceremonies in Antwerp. The Olympic rings have become a well-known symbol of sportsmanship and unity worldwide. The 1924 Games were back in Paris, and the Olympics became a recognized, bona fide worldwide event. The number of participating countries went from 29 to 44. There were more than 3,000 athletes competing and more than 1,000 journalists covering the competition. Also, in 1924, the annual event became known as the Summer Olympics, or Summer Games, as the Winter Olympics debuted in Chamonix, France. The Winter Games were held every four years through 1992. The Winter Olympics were then held again in 1994 and every four years since then. Two more long-standing traditions began at the 1928 Summer Games in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Olympic flame was lit for the first time in a cauldron at the top of the Olympic stadium. Also, during the opening ceremony, the national team of Greece entered the stadium first and the Dutch entered last, signifying the first team to host the modern Olympics and the current host. This tradition still stands today. The United States got its second Summer Olympics in 1932, when Los Angeles, California, hosted. The city built a lavish coliseum for

The Summer Olympics: Record Breakers

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