About the Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympics are an international sports competition that happens every four years in a different location around the world. The Summer Olympics involve warm weather sports that differ from the cold weather sports used in the Winter Olympics. The Summer Olympics are intended to spread good will and peace through sports. However, its nature as an international showcase has made it the target of political activity and terrorism.
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History
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The Olympic Games were originally celebrated in ancient Greece and revived as an international competition in 1894 by French Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The first games of the modern Olympiad took place in Athens and featured 245 athletes from 14 countries. Women competed for the first time at the Paris Olympics in 1900. In 1924, the Winter Olympics were separated from the Olympic Games and became their own event. From that point on the original modern Olympics were known as the Summer Olympics.
Features
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The sports and events at the Summer Olympics change from Olympiad to Olympiad. The first modern games in 1896 featured 43 events in nine sports. The XXIX Olympiad in Beijing featured 302 events in 28 sports. Some sports appeared in the Summer Olympics but were later removed. Baseball appeared between 1992 and 2008, softball between 1996 and 2008, golf in 1900 and 1904, lacrosse in 1904 and 1908 and tug of war between 1900 and 1920. Polo appeared five times between 1900 and 1936, rugby four times between 1900 and 1924 and power boating in 1908. Cricket, croquet and basque pelota appeared in 1900 but never again.
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Function
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Each country has its own Olympic committee that determines the athletes it will send to the Summer Olympics. Since each country is limited to a certain number of entries in each event, this is an important function. Some countries, like the United States, have Olympic trials to determine the best performers. The top placers in each event make the Olympic team. Some countries have special rules allowing them to insert athletes who have demonstrated outstanding past performance even if they do not do well at the Olympic trials.
Geography
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Cities around the world compete to host the Summer Olympics. A great deal of international prestige and economic growth can come from hosting it. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) makes the decision seven years before the event. The IOC is made up of representatives from all over the world. Its decision is based on facilities in the host city and the ability of the hosts to run such a massive event. There is also a deliberate effort to move the Summer Olympics around so it takes place in all regions of the globe.
Significance
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Politics have often disrupted the Summer Olympics. The 1916 Berlin Olympic Games were canceled because of World War I. Adolph Hitler's claim of Aryan racial superiority was challenged when African-American athlete Jesse Owens won four gold medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The 1940 Tokyo Olympic Games and 1944 London Olympic Games were canceled because of World War II. Japan and Germany were banned from the 1948 Olympics after the war. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, 200 meter runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists at the medal ceremony to protest treatment of African Americans. At the 1972 Munich Olympics, Palestinian terrorists took Israeli athletes hostage and 17 people died. The United States and 65 other countries boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics to protest the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The USSR and 13 other countries then boycotted the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
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