Modern Olympic games

• The Modern Olympic Games

  Inspired by the ancient Olympic Games held in Olympia, Greece from the 8th to 4th century AD
• The Modern Olympic Games were established in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator and historian
• The Modern Olympics


  • Bring different countries together
  • Provide competition that should be 'healthy' and devoid of politics
  • The taking part is more important than winning
• The International Olympic Committee was set up and has been retained ever since
• Aims of the Olympic Games

  • To promote the development of physical and moral qualities that are the basis of sport
  • To spread the Olympic principles throughout the world, thereby creating international goodwill
  • To bring together athletes of the world in the great four-yearly sports festival
  • To educate young people through sport in a spirit of better understanding between each other, and of friendship, thereby helping to build a better and more peaceful world
• Olympic Values


  • Encourage effort - striving for excellence
  • Preserve human dignity - demonstrating respect
  • Develop harmony - celebrating friendship
• Respect


  For all countries, cultures and individuals, and to play within the spirit of the rules, showing respect for other competitors
• Excellence


  Achieve to the best of your ability, striving to realise your potential
• Friendship


  Promotion of friendly competition, bringing the nations of the world together through sport and creating team spirit
• Courage


  Making personal sacrifice to achieve sporting goals
• Determination


  Perseverance to succeed despite obstacles or barriers
• Inspiration


  Role models inspire the next generation to participate in sport
• Equality


  All nations have equal opportunities to enter competitors in a spirit of inclusivity
• The British Olympic Association (BOA) was formed in 1905
• The BOA


  • Supplies delegates for the National Olympic Committee (NOC)
  • Responsible for the planning and execution of the Great Britain Olympic Team's participation in the Olympic and Winter Olympic Games
  • Provides support for Team GB before and during the Olympic Games
  • Selects Team GB from the best sportsmen and women
  • Delivers extensive support services to Britain's Olympic athletes and their National Governing Bodies throughout each Olympic cycle
• Great Britain is one of only five countries that have never failed to be represented at the Olympics since 1896
• The BOA is not funded or controlled by government, has no political interests and is completely dependent upon commercial sponsorship and fundraising income
• The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was created by the Paris Congress in 1894
• The IOC


  • Owns all of the rights to the Olympic symbol and the Games themselves
  • Its headquarters is in Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Members are appointed to the IOC and are responsible for selecting the host cities of the Olympic Games, both summer and winter
• The five rings on a white background is the Olympic symbol that has been used that way since 1912
• The Paralympic Games originated as a sports competition involving Second World War veterans with serious back injuries in Stoke Mandeville in the UK
• The first official Olympic-style games for athletes with a disability were organised in Rome in 1960
• In Toronto 1976, other disability groups were added along with different types of sports
• The first Paralympic Winter Games took place in Sweden in 1976
• Paralympic Values


  • Determination
  • Courage
  • Equality
  • Inspiration