In the know: Olympic Games

MANILA, Philippines—Held every four years, the Olympic Games is an international event regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition.

The earliest recorded ancient Olympic Games was held at Olympia in Greece in 776 BC, although it is generally believed that the Olympics had been at least 500 years old at that time. Dedicated to the Greek gods, the ancient Games included running, long jump, shot put, javelin, boxing, pankration and equestrian events.

The Olympic Games continued for nearly 12 centuries until 393 AD, when the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, a Christian, abolished the Games because of their pagan influences.

In June 1894, at a press conference on international sports in Paris attended by 79 delegates from nine countries, Pierre de Coubertin, a young French baron, proposed reviving the Olympics. His proposal was unanimously approved and in the same year, he founded the International Olympic Committee to organize Olympic events.

PH debut in Paris

On April 6, 1896, the first modern Olympic Games was reborn. Held in Athens, Greece, it had 280 participants from 13 nations competing in 43 events.

The first Winter Olympics was held in 1924. Originally held a few months earlier than the Summer Olympics, it is now conducted two years apart from the summer Games.

The Philippines debuted in the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924, with a lone athlete-official delegation.

As of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Philippines has won two silver and seven bronze medals.

A total of 302 medals are at stake at the London 2012 Olympics, with participants from over 200 countries. Inquirer Research

Source: olympic.org, history.com, brittanica.com, about. com, london2012.com, Philippine Olympic Commission