Excited for the Olympic Games?
Celebrate this monumental event with three fascinating facts about the Olympics.
The Olympic torch serves as a symbol of the Games’ Greek origins.
In ancient times, a flame burned throughout the Games in honor of the goddess Hestia. This tradition was revived in the modern Olympics in 1928, with the flame now burning in a special torch instead of an altar. The torch flame is always ignited by the sun in Olympia, Greece, the site of the first ancient Games.
The story behind the iconic Olympic rings.
Introduced in 1913 by the visionary Baron Pierre de Coubertin, these five interlocking rings, set against a white background, represent the colors of all participating nations’ flags. The interlocking rings symbolize international cooperation and the unity of athletes from around the world.
Athletes biting their medals during the awards ceremony
This practice dates back to ancient times when merchants would bite coins to verify their authenticity. A genuine gold coin would not show teeth marks, while a lead forgery would.