With the 2026 Winter Olympics officially in full swing, athletes from around the globe are chasing after that coveted gold medal. And if you can’t get enough of the games, here’s everything you need to know about the iconic sporting event:
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Fast forward to April 1896, the first modern Olympic Games were hosted in Athens, Greece.
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The Olympic Games are held every four years to honor the ancient Greek tradition.
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In 1913, the Olympic Rings were publicly introduced and have since become a famous symbol for the games.
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Traditionally, the Olympic Rings are blue, yellow, black, green, and red on a white background.
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The Olympic Rings “represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.”
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Olympism has three core values: excellence, respect, and friendship.
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The US has hosted the most Olympic Games in history, with eight so far.
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The first Olympic Winter Games were held in 1924, and were originally called “International Winter Sports Week.”
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And in a close second place, France has hosted six games to date.
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In 1936, the first Olympic Games were broadcast on television from Berlin.
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Women had their first chance to compete at the 1900 Olympic Games in Paris, with athletes in tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrianism, and golf.
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While thousands of athletes have participated over the years, swimmer Michael Phelps has won the most medals in history. He has 28 total, including 23 gold, three silver, and two bronze across five Olympic Games from 2000–2016.
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There is no specific age limit to participate in the Olympic Games. However, age limits can be imposed, but this depends on each International Sports Federation and the rules it lays down for its sport.
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The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing had the largest audience in history with 4.7 billion viewers, according to the Guinness World Records.
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During the 2024 Olympics in Paris, the US became the first country to win 3,000 medals during the Summer and Winter Games.
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Finally, the US will host for the ninth time when the 2028 Summer Games kick off in Los Angeles.
Do you know a unique fact about the Olympics? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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