Interesting Olympic Facts (Part 3)

The First Opening Ceremonies were organized during the 1908 Olympic Games in London. During which, the procession of athletes always begin by the Greek then all the other teams in alphabetical order followed by the last team which is always the team of the hosting country.

A City, Not a Country

When choosing venue for the Olympic Games, the IOC specifically gives the honor of hosting the Games to a city rather than a country.

IOC Diplomats

In order to ensure the IOC is an independent organization, the members of the IOC are not considered diplomats from their respective countries to the IOC, but rather are representatives of the IOC to their respective countries.

First Modern Champion

James B. Connolly from the United States is the first winner of the hop, step, and jump of the modern Olympic Games in 1896 Olympics.

The First Marathon

In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to inform the country leaders about the outcome of the battle with the invasion 0 the Persians. The distance was full of hills and obstacles making Pheidippides exhausted and bleeding feet as he arrived in Athens. After informing the townspeople of the Greeks’ success in the battle, Pheidippides dead. In 1896, at the first modern Olympic Games, thee distance of the race was approximately the same length to honor Pheidippides.

The Exact Length of a Marathon

During the first several modern Olympics, the marathon was always the same approximate distance. In 1908, the British royal family asked to set the marathon start at the Windsor Castle for the royal kids to witness the race. The distance from the Windsor Castle to the finish line at the Olympic Stadium was 42,190 meters (or approximately 26 miles and 385 yards). In 1924, this distance became the official standardized length of a marathon.

Women were first allowed to take part in the Olympic Games in 1900 as the second modern Olympic Games.