Fun facts about the Olympics
Jul 22, 2021, 6:57 PM
A group of students from Uruguay pose for a souvenir picture on the Olympic Rings set outside the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Saturday, March 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
SALT LAKE CITY — As the Tokyo Summer Olympics officially get under way Friday evening with the opening ceremonies on KSL TV. Here are a few facts about the Games that you may not know.
- Athens, Greece hosted the first modern Olympics.
- The Olympics have been hosted by 19 different countries since 1896.
- The Olympic rings represent solidarity and unity among the continents of Africa, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Europe.
- Gold, silver and bronze medals were not awarded until 1904. During ancient Olympics, the winners were awarded with a olive wreath.
- The United States has won more than 2,800 medals. Entering the 2021 Games, no other country has won more than 1,000.
- Michael Phelps is the most successful Olympian. The U.S swimmer earned 28 medals, including 23 gold, over four Olympics.
- Originally, the Games were only in the summer. The Winter Olympics began in 1924.
- Golf made its Olympics debut in 2016. Baseball/softball, karate, skateboarding and sport climbing will be debuting in 2020.
- The United States has hosted the Summer Olympics four times: twice in Los Angeles (1932 and 1984), St. Louis (1904) and Atlanta (1996).
- Figure skating started out as an Summer Olympics sport.
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