导读：I Ancient Olympic Games 古代奥运会 1． When was the first Olympic Games held 之一次奥运会在何时举行？ BC776 公元前776年。 2． Where was it held
I Ancient Olympic Games 古代奥运会
1． When was the first Olympic Games held 之一次奥运会在何时举行？
BC776 公元前776年。
2． Where was it held 之一次奥运会在哪里举行？
Olympia, Greece希腊奥林匹亚城。
3． Who could compete in the Olympics 什么样人可以参加奥运会？
The Olympics were open to any free born G reek in the world There were separate mens" and boys" divisions for the events 奥运会面向全世界的所有有人身自由权利的 希腊人开放, 分成人组和少儿组。
4． Were women allowed at the Olympics 妇女可以参加奥运会吗？
Not only were women not permitted to compete personally, married women were also barred from attending the games, under penalty of death 妇女不仅不能参加，而且 已婚妇女如果出席奥运会将会被判处死刑。
5． At that time, what prizes did Olympic victors get 古代奥运会上获胜的选手能得到何种奖励？
A crown made from olive leaves一个由橄榄树叶做成的桂冠。
6． Where did people get the Olympic flame for the first Olympic Games 之一次奥运会人们从哪里采集奥运圣火？Olympia 奥林匹亚城。
7． What was used to light the torch at that time 那时侯用什么点燃火炬？
The sun"s rays 阳光。
8． What does the torch relay stand for 火炬传递意味着什么？
Spirit, knowledge and life精神，知识和生命。
9． When did the Olympic Torch Relay begin 奥运火炬传递从什么时候开始？
The concept was revived in 1928 in Amsterdam The Olympic Torch Relay has be en a tradition since 19521928年在阿姆斯特丹的奥运会上这一思想又被重新启用。奥运火炬是从1952年以来一直沿用的一种传统。
10． Was the marathon one of the ancient Olympic events 古代奥运会有马拉松运动吗？Where did the marathon come from马拉松运动的起源是什么？ Never没有。It came from the story in the 5th century BC how a herald named P hidippides ran the 26 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory and died on the spot
它起源于公元前5世纪雅典长跑运动员费迪皮迪兹的故事，他以传令官的身份从马拉松到雅 典跑了26英里宣告希腊在战争中的胜利，最后却牺牲生命。
II Olympic Traditions 奥运传统
11． What"s the meaning of the five interlocked rings奥运的五环标志是什么含义？
The Olympic symbol, five interlocked rings, represents the union of the five original
major continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe)The five colors
of the rings, which always appear in the same order, are, from top to bottom
and left to right: blue, black, red, yellow and green According the Olympic Charter,
the Olympic five interlocked rings are the embodiment of the Olympic Movement五环代表五大州，即非洲，美洲，亚洲，大洋洲和欧洲的联合。五种颜色从上往下，从左到右依次是：蓝色，黑色，红色，**和绿色。根据奥运 *** , 这五环正是奥林匹克运动的体现。
12． What is the Olympic motto 奥林匹克格言是什么？
The Olympic motto “Swifter, Higher, Stronger” expresses the aspirations of all the athletes in the Olympic Movement 奥林匹克格言“更快、更高、更强”充分表达了奥林匹克运动倡导的不断进取、永不满足的奋斗精神。
13． What is the Olympic creed 奥林匹克的原则是什么？
“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well” “在奥林匹
克运动会上，重要的不是取胜，而是参加。正如在生活中最重要的事情不是胜利，而是斗争; 不是征服，而是奋力拼搏。”
14． Who is the founder of the modern Olympic Games 现代奥运的发起者是谁？ Coubertin, 顾拜旦 In 1894, Pierre de Coubertin launched his project to rest
ore the Olympic Games, and in 1896 the first modern Olympic Games took place in
Athens 奥运之父顾拜旦从1894开始准备重新发起奥运会。1896年之一届现代奥运会在雅 典举行。
15． What is the Olympic oath 奥运会的誓言是什么？
The oath is “In the name of all compe *** s, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit sport *** anship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams” “我，谨代表全体运动员，誓以至诚，参加奥林匹克运动会，恪遵大会一切规章，愿以真正的运动员精神，发扬运动光辉，争取队誉。”
16． What is the Olympic Spirit 什么是奥运精神？
The Olympic Spirit is the spirit of mutual understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play 奥运精神是: 理解, 友爱, 团结和公平。
III General Olympic Information 奥运常识
17． When and where was the first modern Olympic Games held 之一届现代奥运会什么时候在哪举行？
1896 Athens,Greece1896年希腊雅典。
18．What do the winners receive at the modern Olympic games现代奥运会获胜者会受到何种奖励？
Gold, silver and ponze medals金牌, 银牌和铜牌。
19． How often are the Olympic games held 奥林匹克比赛多少年举行一次？
Every four years每4年举行一次。
20． How many Olympic Games have been held 奥运会已举行了多少届
25 Games25届。
20． How many Olympic Games have been held 奥运会已举行了多少届
25 Games25届。
21． Is there an age limit for Olympic athletes 奥运会对运动员有年龄限制吗？
The only age limit for Olympic compe *** s are prescribed for health and safety reasons, diving (minimum of 14), judo (15 or older), soccer (under 23), team handball (over 18), weightlifting (17 or older) and wrestling (must be at least 17 on day of Opening Ceremonies) 奥运会对运动员年龄的限制主要从安全和健康的方面来考虑, 其中: 跳水更低年龄14岁, 柔道15岁以上, 足球23岁, 手球18岁以上, 举重17岁以上, 摔跤必须在17岁以上。
22． What happens in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games开幕式和闭幕式有什么节目？
Music, singing, dancing and fireworks 音乐，歌曲，舞蹈，焰火。
23． What"s the significance of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Olympic Games
开幕式和闭幕式有何意义？ To discover the culture of the country hosting the Games 发掘和表现举办国家的文化。
24． How many Olympic Winter Games were held before 曾举办过多少届冬季奥运会？ 18届
25． What are the dates for the next Olympic Winter Games 下届冬季奥运会何时举办？ In Turin, Italy, Feb 11-26, 2006 2006年2月11日至26日于意大利都灵举办。
26． Which countries took part in every Olympic Games 哪些国家每届奥运会 都参加过？
Greece, Britain, Switzerland, Australia 希腊，英国，瑞士，澳大利亚。
27． Which country hosted the Olympic Games for the most times 哪个国家举办奥运会次数最多？
The US A (7 times) 美国，举办过7次。
IV Olympic Organizations 奥运组织
28． What does IOC stand for IOC代表什么？
IOC:the International Olympic Committee (June 23, 1894,Paris) 国际奥委会，于1894年6月23日在巴黎成立。
29． Where is IOC located 国际奥委会座落在哪里？ In Lausanne(洛桑), Switzerland 瑞士的洛桑。
30． What do the following abpeviations stand for 以下简写形式分别代表什么？ IFs : International Sports Federations(国际体育联合会)
NOCs: the National Olympic Committees（国家奥委会）
OCOGs: Organizing Committees of the Olympic Games （奥组委）
31． Who is the first Chinese member of IOC国际奥委会的之一位中国成员是谁？ Wang Zhengting王正廷。
32．How many Chinese have been elected as IOC members 共有多少位中国人先后被选为国际奥委会成员？
Before 1949, the Liberation of China, three Chinese were elected as IOC members Kong Xiangxi(1939)was a famous one 在1949年解放以前有三位，其中孔详熙是最有名的一位。After 1970s, four Chinese from the sport world elected as IOC members He Zhenliang is the most famous70年代以后，体坛有四位中国人被选为其成员，何振梁是最有名的一位。
V Olympic Sports and Famous Athletes
奥运会项目及知名健儿
33． What time can the marathon date back to 马拉松可以追溯到何时？
It can date back to the 5th century BC 追溯到公元前5世纪。
34． What"s the distance the modern Olympic marathon covers 现代奥林匹克马拉松全程有多长？
Approximately 26 miles大约26英里。
35． How long does it take for athletes to finish 运动员要花多长时间跑完全程？ It usually takes over 2 hours for athletes to finish 通常要花2个多小时。
36． How many Olympic disciplines do aquatics consist of 奥林匹克运动会水上运动包括哪些项目？
Four disciplines: Swimming, Water polo, Diving, and Synchronized swimming四项：游泳，水球，潜水，花样游泳。
37．Who is the best jump player who poke the world record for 13 times in the world 谁是历史上成绩更佳的跳高运动员，并打破世界记录13次？
Sergei Bobka,UkrainianSince 1984, he poke the world record for 13 times (Pole Vault) 乌克兰运动员布伯卡。自1984年起，打破世界记录13次。 (撑高跳)
38． Who won the most gold medals at one Olympic Games 在一次奥运会上赢 得奥运金牌最多的运动员是谁？
Mark Spitz dominated in the Munich pool of 1972, accumulating an incredible seven
gold medals 。马克 斯毗茨在1972年慕尼黑奥运会赢得另人难以置信的7枚游泳项目金牌。
39． When did China begin to take part in the Olympic Games 中国何时起开始参加奥运会？
China took part in the Olympic Games in 1928 于1928年。
40． Where did China begin to take part in the Olympic Games 中国在何地开始参加奥运会？
In Holland在荷兰。
41．How many Olympic Games have Chinese athletes participated in 中国运动员参加过多少届奥运会？
Six Olympic Games参加过六届。
42． Which Olympic Games have Chinese athletes participated in 中国运动员共参加了哪几届奥运会？
15th, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th Olympic Games
中国运动员参加过15、23、24、25、26、27届奥运会。
43． How many gold medals have been won by Chinese at the Olympic Games中国共取得过多少枚金牌？
From the 23rd Olympic Games, Chinese athletes have won 55 gold medals
从第23届开始，中国运动员共取得过55块金牌。
44． In what sports do we Chinese do best 中国人最擅长哪些运动项目？ Badminton(羽毛球) Diving(跳水)
Weightlifting (举重) Women"s Judo (女子柔道)
Gymnastics men"s team event (男子体操) Shooting(射
击) Table Tennis(乒乓球)
Women"s Soccer(女子足球)
45． Who was China"s first medallist 谁是中国之一个金牌获得者？
Xu Haifeng徐海峰。
46． Who is the first Chinese woman to win a gold medal in the Olympic women"s balance beam competition？中国之一位在奥运会平衡木比赛中获得冠军的选手是谁？
Liu Xuan 刘旋。
47． Who won four gold medals in diving events at the 25th, 26th, 27th Olympic Games 连续在第25, 26, 27 次奥运会上获得四块跳水金牌的选手是谁？
Diving Queen(跳水皇后): Fu Mingxia（伏明霞）
48． Who won the first gold medal in Men"s Gymnastic for China谁在男子体操比赛
中为中国获得之一块金牌？ Li Ning李宁。
49． Who won the first gold medal in Women"s Swimming for China谁在女子游泳比赛中为中国为中国获得之一枚奥运金牌？
Zhuang Yong庄泳。
50． Who won three gold medals at the 23rd Olympic Gams
在第23届奥运会上谁获得三枚金牌？
Li Ning 李宁。
51． At the 27th Olympic games, in which sport did Chinese gymnasts win the gold medal for the first time in the history 在第27届奥运会上，中国体操运动员在哪个体育项目上首次获得金牌？
Men"s Team event男子团体。
52． In which year did Asia hold the first Olympic Games 奥运会在哪一年首次在亚洲举行？1964 (Tokyo) 1964年。（东京）
53． When did China win the first medal at Olympic Games
中国首次获得奥运奖牌是在哪一年？Nineteen fifty two1952年。
54． How many gold medals did China win at the 2000 Sydney Olympics In which place was China ranked 在2000年悉尼奥运会上中国共获得多少枚金牌？金牌总数位居第几？
28, ranked 3rd 28块金牌，金牌总数位居第三。
55． Which Chinese team won the most medals for China at Olympic Games
哪一个中国体育代表队为中国赢得了最多的奥运奖牌？
Swimming team游泳队。
56． Who is the first Chinese international communicator 谁是中国之一位奥运大使 Cheng Long成龙。
57． Who won the most gold medals at the Olympic games in Chinese history 谁在中国的奥运史上赢得了最多的金牌？
Deng Yaping & Fu Mingxia邓亚平和伏明霞。
58． Who was the Taekwondo champion in the 27th Olympic Games 第27届奥运会跆拳道冠军是？
Chen Zhong 陈中。
VI 2004 Olympic Games 雅典奥运会
59． When are the 2004 Olympic Games held 2004年奥运会将在何时举办
August 13-29, 2004The Paralympic Games will be held from September 17-28, 2004 2004年奥运会将在2004年8月13-29日举行。2004年残疾人运动会将在2004年9月17-28日进行。
60． What is the emblem of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games 2004年雅典奥运会的会徽是什么？
The emblem is an olive wreath with which the Olympic winner was crowned in classical times
Its circular shape projects universal meanings of the unity of the world, the circle of life and the link between times past and present 2004年雅典奥运会的会徽是一个由橄榄枝做成的花环（在古典的奥运会上奥运冠军会被授予这样的花环）。其圆形的设计象征了世界的团结，生命的循环和古今的联系。
61． What sports will be contested in Athens 雅典奥运会上将有哪些比赛项目？ In Athens, athletes from nearly 200 countries will compete in 28 sports in 296 events The sports are: aquatics (diving, swimming, synchronized swimming and water polo); archery;
badminton; baseball; basketball; boxing; canoe/kayak; cycling; equestrian; fencing; field hockey; gymnastics; handball; judo; modern pentathlon; rowing; sailing; shooting; softball; soccer; table tennis; taekwondo; tennis; track and field; triathlon; volleyball; weightlifting and wrestling 在雅典, 来自近200个国家的运动员将在28类296个项目上进行角逐。这28类体育比赛有：水上运动（跳水、游泳、水上芭蕾表演和水球），射箭，羽毛球，棒球，篮球，拳击，皮划艇，自行车，马术，击剑，曲棍球，体操，手球，柔道，新五项，划船，帆船，射击，垒球，足球，乒乓球，跆拳道，网球，田径，铁人三项，排球，举重和摔跤。
62． Will there be any new discipline in the 2004 Olympic Games
2004年奥运会有没有添加新的比赛项目？
Female wrestling女子摔跤。
63． How many days will the torch relay last at the 28th Olympic Games 第28界奥运会火炬传递将持续多少天？
78 days 78天。
64． How many torchbearers will take part in it 多少火炬手将参与这次传递？ Three thousand six hundred3600人。
65． How many kilometers will it cover 全程多少公里？
78，000 kilometers 78000公里。
66． When did the Athens Olympic torch relay begin in Beijing 奥运火炬的北京传递在什么时间举行的？
June 9, 20042004年6月9日。
67． How many people took part in the torch relay in Beijing 多少火炬手参与了这次北京传递？
One hundred and forty eight 148人。
68． Where did the torch relay begin in Beijing 北京火炬接力起点在哪？
The Great Hall of the People人民大会堂。
69． Where did the torch relay end in Beijing 北京火炬接力终点在哪？
The Summer Palace颐和园。
70． How long is it from the Great Hall of the People to the Summer
Palace 北京火炬传递全程是多少？
55 kilometers55公里。
71． Which stadium will be the centre of the 28th Olympic Games 哪一个体育馆会作为第28届奥运会的主会场？
Oaka, Athens, Greece The Athens Olympic Stadium (in Greek: “Olympiako Stadio Athinas”
or simply “OAKA”) is named after Spyros Louis, the winner of the Marathon in the first Olympic Games of the modern era (Athens, 1896)Oaka, Athens, Greece
雅典奥运体育馆是根据现代奥运会之一位马拉松冠军斯培洛斯 刘易斯（1896, 雅典奥运会） 的名字命名的。
72．What is the capacity of The Athens Olympic Stadium
雅典奥运体育馆能容纳多少观众？
Seventy six thousand76000名观众。
VII Beijing 2008 北京2008
73． What were the Candidate cities 哪些城市曾申办29届奥运会？
Istanbul (TUR), Osaka (JPN), Paris (FRA), Toronto (CAN), Beijing (PRC)
伊斯坦布尔（土耳其），大阪（日本），巴黎（法国），多伦多（加拿大），北京（中国）。
74． Which country will hold the 29th Olympic Games 哪个国家将主办第29届奥运会？ The People"s Republic of China中华人民共和国。
75． When did China win the bid for the 29th Olympic Games 中国何时获得29届奥运会的主办权？
July 13, 20012001年7月13日。
76． What is the emblem of Beijing"s bid 北京申办奥运会的会徽是什
么？ The emblem of Beijing"s bid for hosting the 2008 Olympic Games has the same colors of the Olym pic rings It looks like a “Chinese Hearts" Unit” also known as “Chinese Knot”,
a traditional handicraft It also resembles a person doing Taiji shadow boxing The graceful, harmonious and dynamic design of the emblem symbolizes unity, cooperation, exchange and development of the people all over the world
申办会徽由奥运五环色构成，形似中国传统民间工艺品的“中国结”，又似一个打太极拳的人形。图案如行云流水，和谐生动，充满运动感，象征世界人民团结、协作、交流、发展，携手共创新世纪；表达奥林匹克更快、更高、更强的体育精神。
77． What is the Motto of Beijing"s Bid What"s the meaning of it 北京申办奥运会的 口号 是什么？该口号有什么意义？ New Beijing, Great Olympics 新北京，新奥运
Reform and opening up to the outside world have pought about great changes in Beijing, a city with a 3,000-year history The city has taken on a completely new look as it enters
the new century It will empace the athletes and friends from the rest of the world attending
the Olympic Games with great enthusia *** 有三千余年建城史的北京，经过改革开放的洗礼，将以崭新的、多姿多彩的面貌进入新世纪，她将以饱满的热情欢迎全世界的体育健儿和各界朋友，共同参与奥运盛会。
78． What is the official emblem of Beijing 2008 2008年北京奥运会的官方会徽是什么
“Chinese Seal-Dancing Beijing” 中国印---舞动的中国。
79． What does the official emblem of Beijing 2008 stand for 北京奥运会会徽象征着什么？
It stands for the name of the host city and represents a particularly significant Chinese style
象征主办城市北京和重要的中国特色。
80． Please name one of the four meanings of this emblem 请说出北京奥运会会徽四层含义之一：
--- Chinese culture,
--- the color of red China
--- Beijing welcomes friends from all over the world
--- to challenge the extreme and achieve the perfect and promote the Olympic mot to of “Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger)
这一设计有以下四层含义：
----- 中国文化
----- 红色中国
----- 北京欢迎来自世界的朋友
----- 挑战极限，挑战自我，“更快，更高，更强”。
81． When will be the Opening date and Closing date for the 29th Olympic Games 第29届奥运会什么时候开始到什么时候结束？
Aug8-21,20082008年八月八日至二十一日。
82． What"s the name of the National stadium 中国国家体育馆的名称是什么？ The Bird Nest鸟巢。
83． What"s the name of the National Swimming center 中国国家游泳馆的名称是什么？
Water Cube水立方。
84． Where are the main stadiums 主要体育馆将坐落在什么地方？
Olympic Park 奥林匹克公园。
85． How many people can be seated in the National Stadium 国家体育馆将能容纳多少坐席？80,000 seats八万座位。
08奥运的英语短文
The 29th Olympic Games will be held in Beijing, China in 2008 Beijing chooses five friendlies as Olympic mascots They are Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini They mean “Welcome to Beijing” The Blue Beibei is a fish, the black Jingjing is a panda, the red Huanhuan is the Olympic flame, the yellow Yingying is the Tibetan antelope and the green Nini is a swallowThey carry a message of friendship and peace—the blessings from the Chinese to the people from all over the word
The government and people of China have always admired the purposes and principles of the Olympic spirit and supported the efforts made by the Olympics in promoting world peace The Chinese government and people are doing our utmost in preparation for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing It is our hope to make it a grand gathering that will carry forward the Olympic spirit, promote world peace and enhance the friendship among people of the world, so that the Olympic spirit will flourish once again, this time in China, an oriental country with an ancient civilization
I am looking forward the Beijing Olympics on August 8, 2008 very much This is the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, and the day the world sports family gathering together, as well as the day Chinese people are really proud of
翻译
2008年，第29届奥运会将在中国北京举行。北京选择了五个友好的形象作为奥运会的吉祥物。它们是贝贝，晶晶，欢欢，迎迎和妮妮。它们的意思是：“北京欢迎你”。蓝色的贝贝是条鱼，黑色的晶晶是只熊猫，红色的欢欢是奥运圣火，**的迎迎是藏羚羊，绿色的妮妮是只燕子。它们传递着友谊和和平——这是中国人民对世界的祝福。
中国人民一向赞赏奥林匹克精神的宗旨和原则，支持奥林匹克运动为促进世界和平所做的努力。中国 *** 和中国人民正全力以赴，做好2008年北京奥运会的筹备工作，力争把2008年奥运会办成一次弘扬奥林匹克精神、促进世界和平、增进各国人民友谊的盛会，让奥林匹克精神在中国这一东方文明古国 再次得到发扬。
我盼望着2008年8月8日快点到来。这是北京奥运会开幕的日子，是世界体育大家庭聚会北京的日子，更是每一个中国人倍感骄傲的日子。
A History of the Olympics
According to legend, the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Heracles (the Roman Hercules), a son of Zeus Yet the first Olympic Games for which we still have written records were held in 776 BCE (though it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years already) At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, Coroebus (a cook from Elis), won the sole event at the Olympics, the stade - a run of approximately 192 meters (210 yards) This made Coroebus the very first Olympic champion in history
The ancient Olympic Games grew and continued to be played every four years for nearly 1200 years In 393 CE, the Roman emperor Theodosius I, a Christian, abolished the Games because of their pagan influences
Approximately 1500 years later, a young Frenchmen named Pierre de Coubertin began their revival Coubertin is now known as le Rénovateur Coubertin was a French aristocrat born on January 1, 1863 He was only seven years old when France was overrun by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 Some believe that Coubertin attributed the defeat of France not to its military skills but rather to the French soldiers' lack of vigor After examining the education of the German, British, and American children, Coubertin decided that it was exercise, more specifically sports, that made a well-rounded and vigorous person
Coubertin's attempt to get France interested in sports was not met with enthusia *** Still, Coubertin persisted In 1890, he organized and founded a sports organization, Union des Sociétés Francaises de Sports Athlétiques (USFSA) Two years later, Coubertin first pitched his idea to revive the Olympic Games At a meeting of the Union des Sports Athlétiques in Paris on November 25, 1892, Coubertin stated,
Let us export our oar *** en, our runners, our fencers into other lands That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into Europe the cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally It inspires me to touch upon another step I now propose and in it I shall ask that the help you have given me hitherto you will extend again, so that together we may attempt to realise [sic], upon a basis suitable to the conditions of our modern life, the splendid and beneficent task of reviving the Olympic Games
His speech did not inspire action Though Coubertin was not the first to propose the revival of the Olympic Games, he was certainly the most well-connected and persistent of those to do so Two years later, Coubertin organized a meeting with 79 delegates who represented nine countries He gathered these delegates in an auditorium that was decorated by neoclassical murals and similar additional points of ambiance At this meeting, Coubertin eloquently spoke of the revival of the Olympic Games This time, Coubertin aroused interest
The delegates at the conference voted unanimously for the Olympic Games The delegates also decided to have Coubertin construct an international committee to organize the Games This committee became the International Olympic Committee (IOC; Comité Internationale Olympique) and Demetrious Vikelas from Greece was selected to be its first president Athens was chosen for the revival of the Olympic Games and the planning was begun
The very first modern Olympic Games opened in the first week of April 1896 Since the Greek government had been unable to fund construction of a stadium, a wealthy Greek architect, Georgios Averoff, donated one million drachmas (over $100,000) to restore the Panathenaic Stadium, originally built in 330 BCE, with white marble for the Olympic Games
Since the Games were not well publicized internationally, contestants were not nationally chosen but rather came individually and at their own expense Some contestants were tourists who happened to be in the area during the Games Athletes wore their athletic club uniform rather than a national team one
古希腊是一个神话王国，优美动人的神话故事和曲折离奇的民间传说，为古奥运会的起源蒙上一层神秘的色彩。传说：古代奥林匹克运动会是为祭祀宙斯而定期举行的体育竞技活动。另一种传说与宙斯的儿子赫拉克勒斯有关。赫拉克勒斯因力大无比获"大力神"的美称。他在伊利斯城邦完成了常人无法完成的任务，不到半天功夫便扫干净了国王堆满牛粪的牛棚，但国王不想履行赠送300头牛的许诺，赫拉克勒一气之下赶走了国王。为了庆祝胜利，他在奥林匹克举行了运动会。
关于古奥运会起源流传最广的是佩洛普斯娶亲的故事。古希腊伊利斯国王为了给自己的女儿挑选一个文武双全的驸马，提出应选者必须和自己比赛战车。比赛中，先后有13个青年丧生于国王的长矛之下，而第14个青年正是宙斯的孙子和公主的心上人佩洛普斯。在爱情的鼓舞下，他勇敢地接受了国王的挑战，终于以智取胜。为了庆贺这一胜利，佩洛普斯与公主在奥林匹亚的宙斯庙前举行盛大的婚礼，会上安排了战车、角斗等项比赛，这就是最初的古奥运会，佩洛普斯成了古奥运会传说中的创始人。
奥运会的起源，实际上与古希腊的社会情况有着密切的关系。公元前9-8世纪，希腊氏族社会逐步瓦解，城邦制的奴隶社会逐渐形成，建立了200多个城邦。城邦各自为政，无统一君主，城邦之间战争不断。为了应付战争，各城邦都积极训练士兵。斯巴达城邦儿童从7岁起就由国家抚养，并从事体育、军事训练，过着军事生活。战争需要士兵，士兵需要强壮身体，而体育是培养能征善战士兵的有力手段。战争促进了希腊体育运动的开展，古奥运会的比赛项目也带有明显的军事烙印。连续不断的战事使人民感到厌恶，普遍渴望能有一个赖以休养生息的和平环境。后来斯巴达王和伊利斯王签订了"神圣休战月"条约。于是，为准备兵源的军事训练和体育竞技，逐渐变为和平与友谊的运动会。
古代奥运会的盛衰
古奥运会从公元前776年起，到公元394年止，经历了1168年，共举行了293届。按其起源、盛衰，大致分为三个时期。
① 公元前776年至公元前388年，这一时期各城邦之间虽有纷争，但希腊是一个独立的国家，政治、经济、文化都较发达，是运动会的黄金时期。特别是公元前 490年，希腊雅典在马拉松河谷大败波斯军之后，民情奋发，国威大振，兴建了许多运动设施、庙宇等，参赛者遍及希腊各个城邦，奥运会盛极一时，成为希腊最盛大的节日。
② 公元前388年至公元前146年，开始衰落。由于斯巴达和雅典长期的伯罗奔尼撤战争（公元前431年至公元前404年），希腊国力大减，马其顿逐渐吞并了希腊。马其顿君王菲利普还亲制自参加了赛马。随后亚历山大帝虽自己不喜爱体育活动，仍积极支持，并视奥运会为古希腊的更高体育活动开幕式，为其增添设施。不过，这一时期古奥运会精神已大为减色，并开始出现职业运动员。
③ 公元前146年至公元394年，古奥运会由衰落走向毁灭。罗马帝国统治希腊后，起初虽仍举行运动会，但奥林匹亚已不是唯一竞赛地了。如公元前80年第 175届奥运会，罗马经济规律就把优秀竞技者召集在罗马比赛，而奥林匹亚只举行了少年赛。这时职业运动员已开始大量出现，奥运会成了职业选手的比赛，希腊人对之失去了兴趣。公元2世纪后，基督教统治了包括希腊在内的整个欧洲，倡导禁欲主义，主张灵肉分开，反对体育运动，使欧洲处于一个黑暗时代，奥运会也随之更趋衰落，直至名存实亡。公元393年罗马皇帝狄奥多西一世宣布基督教为国教，认为古奥运会有违基督教教旨，是异教徒活动，翌年宣布废止古奥运会。公元 895年，拜占廷人与歌德人的阿尔菲斯河发生激战，使奥林匹亚各项设施毁失殆尽。公元426年狄奥多西二世烧毁了奥林匹亚建筑物的残余部分。公元522、 511年接连发生的两次强烈地震，使奥林匹亚遭到了彻底毁灭。就这样顺延了1000余年的古奥运会不复存在了，繁荣的奥林匹亚变成了一片废墟。
古代奥运会的比赛项目
古代奥林匹克运动会的竞技比赛项目主要是田径，后来逐渐增加了摔跤、五项全能、拳击、赛马、角斗，以及战车赛、武装赛跑等等，最多时达23项。大多数比赛项目为现代运动项目的原始雏形，比赛规则简单，任意性很大，一些项目如最富有古希腊运动特色的角斗在现代运动中已经绝迹。
场地跑古代奥运会最早设立的竞赛项目，也是从第1届到第13届运动会上的唯一竞赛项目，距离是19227米，这正好是运动场的长度。后来有了中跑和长跑，距离是19227米的倍数。当时跑道无分道标志，运动场的边界铺以石块，就是起跑线，起跑姿势千姿百态，比赛时也只是比个先后，不计时间。古希腊人爱好跑步，在奥林匹亚阿尔菲斯河岸的岩壁上保留着古希腊人的一段格言："如果你想聪明，跑步吧!如果你想强壮，跑步吧!如果你想健康，跑步吧!"五项全能是运动会上的综合性比赛项目，与现代田径全能运动的比赛 *** 大不相同。例如，古代五项全能比赛有笛子伴奏，运动员路过时手持哑铃，铁饼实为石饼，标枪为当时的实用武器。前4项的竞技场内进行，摔跤则在神庙旁进行。摔跤参赛者必须是前4项的优胜者，摔跤必须获得之一名才能成为五项全能运动的冠军。在古代奥运会中，斯巴达人一直在这个项目上占优势，几乎包揽了历届的冠军。
角斗是古代希腊盛行的一种拳击和摔跤相结合的体育竞技项目，比赛十分激烈，常常吸引众多的观众。
在古代奥运会期间，少年比赛项目是从第37届才开始设立的，年龄的界限并不明确，比赛项目也只限于场地跑、摔跤、五项全能、拳击、角斗也曾举行过几次，但不持久。
此外，尚有精彩的文艺比赛举行，参加者为诗人、作家、艺术家和演说家等。文艺比赛是从公元前444年的第84届古奥运会开始的，当时被誉为希腊" 历史之父"的格罗多特宣读了他的名作《历史》中的某些章节，歌颂了公元前490年在马拉松河谷战役中大败波斯军队的希腊战士，最终赢得首次文艺比赛的桂冠。艺术比赛也有奖励，甚至比体育比赛的奖励高，如公元前338年马其顿征服希腊后的一届奥运会曾将属于体育比赛的奖励全部奖给了诗人。
现代奥林匹克运动的诞生
现代奥林匹克运动不论从发展规模，还是从发展水平上来看，都已为举世所瞩目。奥林匹克精神得到了广泛传播。人们看到，作为一种文化现象，奥林匹克主义以竞技的形式，将不同肤色、不同文化背景的民族紧密联系在一起，对人类的社会活动，对人类的文明产生了深刻的影响。作为一种体育现象，奥运会是人类探索体能极限的最引人入胜的赛场，奥运会纪录、奖牌成为运动员追求的崇高目标，奥林匹克运动已成为参与国家和地区众多、具有巨大吸引力、穿透力和凝聚力的一项全球性活动。
1893年，根据"奥运之父"顾拜旦的建议，在巴黎举行了讨论复兴奥运会问题的国际性体育会议。1894年1月，顾拜旦草拟了复兴奥运会的具体步骤和需要探讨的10个问题，致函各国体育组织和团体。6月16日，"国际体育运动代表大会"在巴黎索邦神学院开幕，到会代表79人，代表着12个国家的 49个体育组织。有2000人参加了开幕式。大会通过了《复兴奥林匹克运动》的决议。6月23日成立了国际奥林匹克委员会。国际奥林匹克委员会的成立，标志着奥林匹克运动的诞生。
现代奥运会历史
奥林匹克运动会的由来和发展，从历史上看，可分为两大阶段，公元1986年开始 至今举办的奥运会被统称为现代奥运会。 14世纪初，欧洲文艺复兴导致人们对古奥林匹克精神的赞扬。意大利早期活动家马泰奥·帕尔米里亚1450年提出要把古奥运会和平与友谊精神，贯注于人们的社会生活思想意识中去。在这一时期，对奥林匹亚的考察挖掘不断受到重视。德国人库齐乌斯率领的考察团，进行了长达6年之久的挖掘，获得大量文物和史料，被堙埋多年的奥林匹亚村得以重见天日。1852年1月10日，库齐乌斯在柏林宣读了以“奥林匹亚”为题的考察、挖掘报告，建议把这个运动会恢复起来，引起社会强烈反响。从1895年到 1889年之间，在希腊人札巴斯的倡导下，希腊举行过五次全国奥运会，但始终没有扩 大。
19世纪的欧洲，随着科学文化教育的发展，各国建立了本国的体育组织，有些国家举行了某些项目的竞赛，德国、瑞典、英国还形成了各自的体育制度或竞技运动。正当人们进而要求组织国际比赛时，之一批国际体育联合会成立，如1881年建立了国际体操联合会，1892年建立了国际赛艇联合会和国际滑冰联合会。此外，19世纪末，世界上出现了帝国主义和垄断资本，新的强大的威廉德国欲发动战争来重新瓜分世界市场，法国是德国的近邻，如果德国发动战争，战争的灾难首先就会落到法国人民头上，所以法国人民想保持和平。也就在这样的局面下，有人想了重新恢复象征过和平和友谊的奥林匹克 运动会。
法国教育家皮埃尔·德·顾拜旦，于1883年提出举办类似古奥运会的比赛，并把它扩大到世界范围。1892年，他遍访欧洲，宣传奥林匹克思想，呼吁复兴奥林匹克运动。同年，在巴黎运动联合会成立10周年会议上，倡议恢复“奥林匹克运动会”， 1894年1月，他致函各国的奥林匹克组织，建议于同年在巴黎召开国际体育会议。同年6月16日－24日，在巴黎举行的国际体育大会上，15国代表决议每4年举行一次奥林匹克运动会，为了筹办奥运会，6月23日成立了国际奥林匹克委员会，希腊人维凯拉斯出任主席，顾拜旦任秘书长，还亲自设计了奥运会的会徽、会旗。并于1896年4 月6日－15日在希腊的雅典举办了之一届现代奥运会，共有13个国家的311名运动员参加了雅典大会。美国运动员詹·康诺利以13．71米的成绩获三级跳远金牌，从而 成为之一位现代奥运会冠军。
现代奥运会历史上最有意义的一件事是打破了古代不允许女子参加的规定。在第二届奥运会上，尽管顾拜旦执意反对女子参加，女运动员还是踏上了在此之前一直属于男子的体育场。但性别歧视并未就此了结，田径运动直到1928年第九届奥运会才对女子开放。奥运史上另一个让人刻骨铭心的事是开始了现代奥运会诞生地希腊雅典引燃奥林匹克火炬，之后以接力方式传递至奥运会举办地，并在开幕式上点燃奥运圣火的仪式。从1924年开始，现代奥运会又分为夏季奥运会、冬季奥运会两种。当时在巴黎举 行的是第8届夏季奥运会，在夏蒙尼举行的是第1届冬季奥运会。
以政治问题为由 *** 奥运会于1956年墨尔本奥运会上首开先河。英、法出兵苏伊士运河造成埃及、伊拉克和黎巴嫩 *** ，而前苏联出兵匈牙利导致瑞士、西班牙和荷兰拒绝跨进当时奥运会大门。1980年莫斯科奥运会，发生了由美国倡议、61个国家加入的奥运史上更大“ *** 事件”， *** 前苏联入侵阿富汗。为此，前苏联纠集其东欧盟友在 四年后的洛杉矶奥运会以安全问题为由回敬了美国。
丹麦自行车选手詹森在1960年罗马奥运会比赛中倒地身亡，自此，药物问题便形影不离地尾随奥运会。直到1988年汉城奥运会，世界和奥运会双料冠军、世界纪录创 造本·约翰逊仰仗类固醇的事昭然天下。现代奥运会诞生100年来，历尽艰难，它的兴衰、荣辱牵动着全世界亿万民众，它为加强世界各国人民和运动员之间的友谊，促进世界和平及世界体育事业的发展，起到了 不可抹灭的功绩，这是人们在回忆奥运会历史时所不会忘记的。
The first Games were held at a place called Olympia in Greece over 3000 years ago The Games were ceremonies for the Greek god Zeus Young men ran a race of about 184 meters-the length of a stadium-to see who would be crowned champion
3000多年前，最早的奥林匹克运动会在希腊一个名为奥林匹亚的地方举行。那是一个祭拜希腊主神宙斯的典礼。青年男子会进行约184米的赛跑，看谁是冠军，这个比赛距离其后成为运动场标准跑道的长度。
The first recorded Olympic Games were held in 766 B C Although there was only one event-a running race-other events were added in later years Men competed in chariot racing, wrestling, boxing, horse- riding, and many kinds of running races In one race men had to run wearing a full suit of armor!
之一个有记录的奥林匹克运动会在公元前766年举行。当时只有一个比赛项目——赛跑，后来才加入了其它的项目，有赛战车、摔跤、拳击、赛马以及各种形式的赛跑。有种赛跑选手们还得穿着一整套盔甲上场！
The ancient Olympic Games were held in Greece for over 1000 years But when the Romans conquered Greece the Games were banned, and battles between slaves and animals became a more popular competition Fifteen hundred years were to pass before the Olympics would be born again
古代奥林匹克运动会在希腊举行了1000多年。但罗马征服希腊后，运动会被禁止了，奴隶和动物之间的搏斗则成为更流行的比赛。过了1500年，奥林匹克运动会才得以重新举行。
The Modern Olympic Games 现代奥林匹克运动会
The modern Olympic Games were started by a Frenchman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin During his travels around the world, he noticed that many people from many different countries liked sports So in 1894 he arranged a meeting of people from nine countries to discuss holding a sports competition for athletes from all around the world
现代奥林匹克运动会的创始人是法国男爵皮埃尔德顾拜旦。他在环游世界的时候发现许多国家的人都喜欢运动。于是，他于1894年召集了九国会议，商议举办一场由全世界运动员参与的运动比赛。
Two years later the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, with 311 men competing At the next Olympic Games in 1900, 19 women joined the competition
两年后，首届现代奥林匹克运动会在雅典举行，当时有311名男子运动员参加。在1900年举行的第二届奥运会有19名女运动员参加。
In the century to follow, the Olympics traveled to many countries around the world, meeting many different cultures and people, facing new challenges, growing and evolving And now they have returned to Athens, the country of their birth
在接下来的一个世纪里，奥运会在世界多个国家举行，与许多不同的文化和民族擦出火花，面对各种新的挑战、成长和发展。现在，奥运会又回到了它的发源地-——雅典。
