The Olympics — History and Traditions

Built World

Jul 24

Thanks for joining us!
This episode was written by Jean and voiced by Kara and T.
Episode art was drawn by Jean.
It was originally released in July 2024.

— We love these books about the Olympics —

Click on each photo for a link to the book in our Bookshop.org Shop

Feel inspired by the
Olympics Fanfare & Theme

Download & color in our printable of the Olympic Rings

— Make your own Olympic torch! —

Materials

Card stock (ideally 8.5x11” or larger)
Tape and/or glue stick
Tissue paper for flame
Tin foil
Stickers, printout of Olympic rings,
and/or other fabulous decorations

Tear the tissue paper into thin, long strips

Fold the top of the foil down and/or trim

Glue the bottom of the tissue paper strip and stick inside the top of the torch holder

— Learn more about Olympic traditions —

The Torch Relay

Click on the image or **here to see more about the Olympic Torch Relay**

Flags of the Nations at the Summer Olympics

Wikipedia articles on the Flags of the Nations at the Olympics and the 2024 Summer Olympics Parade of Nations

— The Olympics: History and Traditions
Episode Summary —

The Olympics first began 2,800 years ago in Greece —

Runners would travel around Greece (because they had no cars or buses back then) to tell everyone that games were going to happen. People came from far away to compete in sports to see who was the best. Thousands of people went to watch in a large outdoor stadium.
The competitions at the time included foot races to see who could run the fastest; wrestling and boxing matches to see who was the strongest; chariot races, where men drove a small carriages pulled by horses to see who could race the fastest; and the Pentathlon, when an athlete had to do five things well: throw a disc, throw a long pole called a javelin, run a race, jump far, and wrestle.
The winner was given a crown made of olive leaves. Winners of the games became famous. Poems and songs were written about them and statues were made of them.
The Olympics of ancient Greece were held for over 1000 years, but over time, as different rulers came to Greece, the games in Greece stopped.

Many years later, the modern Olympic Games were created —

In 1894, a man from France named Pierre de Coubertin thought it would be great to have athletic competitions based on the Greek games – he believed that sport is good for the body.
In 1896, the first modern Olympic games were held in Athens, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics.
These days, there is a group called The International Olympic Committee who is in charge of organizing the Olympic Games.
They say that the reason they have these events is to bring people of the world together, to make the world a better place through sport. The motto of the Olympics is: “Faster, higher, stronger - together”, which are the same goals from the ancient Greek games (though the “together” was added recently).
There are Summer Olympics every 4 years and Winter Olympics every 4 years. Which means that there’s an Olympics every 2 years, but it switches between the two seasons.

The Olympics have some wonderful traditions —

There is a grand Opening Ceremony with singing and dancing and special performances. It is a big and beautiful event that is shown on TV. And there is a parade, where the athletes and coaches march into the stadium, one country at a time. A flag bearer carries their country's flag and they wear special outfits that show something about where they come from.
Because the 2024 Summer Olympics will be in Paris, France, and there is a large river running through that city, the country’s athletes will be traveling in a boat parade! This is the first time the Opening Ceremony has ever happened on boats!
There is a special Olympic Flag that has five large rings that are linked together. The man who created the flag said that the five rings represent the five parts of the world that take part in the Olympics: The Americas (North & South), Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. The rings are linked to show that people from different places are coming together.
The colors of the rings are: blue, yellow, black, green, red and the background is white. The flag was designed that way so every country is represented because the flag of every country competing in the games has at least one of those colors.
There is also a Torch Relay, where the torch is carried from Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held, all the way to the host country, where the Olympic flame will be lit, and stay lit throughout the duration of the games.
The torch is usually carried by runners on foot, but sometimes it goes on unusual trips. The flame has been on airplanes and boats. It has been held by swimmers, a scuba diver, ridden on dog sleds, horses and a camel. This year 2,000 torches were made and over 10,000 people will carry one! This year’s special torch is made of steel recycled from cars and household appliances.
When all the games have been played there is another ceremony, the Closing Ceremony. The athletes walk into a stadium all mixed together. The Olympic flag is taken down from its pole and the Olympic torch is put out.
Winners receive medals: Gold medal for first place, silver for second, and bronze for third. At the award ceremony, where medals are given out, the gold medal winner’s national anthem (the song of their country) is played.

Elm Place

The Olympics — History and Traditions