In 1453 before Christ the first games were held in Olympia. Beginning
with approximately 776 before Christ the games were organised every
fourth year. These sports consisted of running, wrestling and other
exercises. The favourite games of that time were horse-racing and
jumping. The ancient winners received wreaths of palm leaves. The modern
Olympic Games were revived in 1896. They take place every four years.
They cannot take place in a country which is at war, and during the two
world wars there were no Olympic Games. So except in 1916, 1940 and
1944, the Olympic Games have been held every leap year. Women's events
were held beginning from 1912. Winter Olympic Games first took place in
1924.
The Games have been held in many countries. The 22nd Olympic Games were
held in 1980 in Moscow. The international Olympic Committee, which was
set up and began to work in 1896, chooses the country and the city for
the Olympic Games to be held in. The 26th Olympic Games were held in
1996 in Atlanta in the USA. It was a great sport event. There were
competitions on practically all summer sports. Russian sportsmen took an
active part in these Games. They won a lot of medals and we are very
proud of them. The Games were organised in a proper way. It was a
wonderful festival of sport, health, peace and friendship.
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