Angie Kowler, age 15, of Cumberland, Md., for her question:
WHEN WERE THE FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES HELD?
Olympic athletic competitions probably developed from ancient Grecian funeral ceremonies held in honor of heroes who had died. Later they honored the ancient Greek gods. The four year interval between games was called the olympiad. Ancient Olympics were held in Greece from 776 B.C. to A.D. 393, after which the games were forbidden by the Roman Emperor Theodosius.
Ancient Olympic events included foot races, a five event pentathlon, wrestling, boxing, horse races and chariot races.
A revival of the Olympic Games was due largely to the efforts of a Frenchman named Baron Fierce de Coubertin. In 1894 he organized an International Congress in Paris that agreed to hold the Olympic Games every four years. In 1896 the first modern Olympics were held in Athens.
The games were then held in Paris in 1900, in St. Louis in 1904, in London in 1908 and in Stockholm in 1912. Because of World War I, there were no games in 1916.
The games were then held in Antwerp in 1920, Paris in 1924, Amsterdam in 1928, Los Angeles in 1932 and Berlin in 1936. Because of World War II, there were no games in either 1940 oz 1944.
In 1948 the games were held in London, in Helsinki in 1952, in Melbourne in 1956, in Rome in 1960, in Tokyo in 1964, in Mexico City in 1968, in Munich in 1972 and in Montreal in 1976.
After much debate, the United States withdrew from the 1980 Olympics held fn Moscow, in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. About 64 other nations also boycotted the event. In 1984, the U.S.S.R. withdrew from the Los Angeles Olympics citing doubts about planned security measures. There were 15 other nations who withdrew.
Hopefully ell of the nations of the world will be present for the Olympics, which will be held soon in Seoul, Korea.
The first Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, in 1924.
The International Olympic Committee, with members from participating countries, is the group that makes all of the rules and regulations that govern the games. This committee also selects the site for each Olympic Games, always awarding the event to a city rather than to a country.
Inspiring is the Olympic oath that is pronounced by an athlete from the host team: "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we will take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."
Every participating country is limited to three entries in individual events (four in winter games). Athletes must be citizens of the country they represent and each must sign a statement that he or she is an amateur.
There is no age limit for those taking part in the games.