EVENTS THE OLYMPICS cont .
These Olympic ceremonies continued for 1,200 years after this first event , and would have gone on even longer except for the fact that Emperor Theodosius I declared that it was a pagan activity , and it should be banned . This happened in 393AD .
In 1894 , a 29-year-old French aristocrat , Baron Pierre de Coubertin , persuaded nine countries that bringing back the Olympic Games would be a good idea . Ironically , it was Dimitrios Vikelas of Greece ( as well as Professor William M . Sloane of the United States ) who was against the idea . But he and Sloane were outvoted , and the modern Olympic Games were born . Originally , the first of these new games was due to be held in 1900 in Paris , but Coubertin was so excited by the idea that he managed to get the whole thing brought forward to 1896 – and held in Athens .
Coubertin and the rest of the newly formed International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) managed to put unsettled and unsure minds at rest , and with very little time to organise anything , the games went ahead . There was no particular way of choosing competitors – anyone who fancied a go could join in providing there was space for them – and it wasn ’ t until 1906 in London that any special building or organising went on . It was at these fames that a 66,000-seat stadium was built especially for the competition .
Despite some games being rife with controversy ( such as the 1980 Moscow Olympics which , because of Russia ’ s invasion of Afghanistan , 60 national boycotted ), and some being cancelled altogether ( there were no games in 1916 due to World War I , and nothing for 12 years until 1948 because of World War II ), when it is done right , The Olympics is a spectacular , life affirming event .
The Summer Olympics 2016 is being held in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil , and it will run from 5th to 21st August . The intensely exciting and hugely anticipated sporting event , which is held every four years in a different country , consists of 42 sports and 306 different events held over 19 days in 37 venues . At the end , an impressive 306 medals ( 161 for men , 136 for women , and nine mixed ) will have been awarded .
This year there are a record number of countries participating ( 206 in all , including South Sudan
and Kosovo , for whom Rio will be their first Olympics ), and with over 10,500 athletes taking part , it is sure to be a breathtaking event .
Each Olympic Games opens with a beautiful and spectacular opening ceremony . These perfectly choreographed events take years to organise and arrange , and the event held in London in 2012 even involved Her Majesty The Queen !
And at the end of the games , when all the races have been run and all the medals have been won , there is a wonderful closing ceremony too . For some , these two ceremonies are the most important and exciting part of the games , and even for those who don ’ t enjoy sports or athletics , it is worth tuning in to see the dancing , the lights , the singing , the props , the effects and the excitement .
One can ’ t help but get caught up in ‘ Olympic fever ’ – there is something very special about everything that goes into making these games unique across the world . And even if it ’ s just for two and a bit weeks every four years , for a little while we can all be united in joy .
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