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Researched by Emily H.
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Introduction
The Olympics are a whole bunch of sports, which lots of different nations,
and countries compete in, against each other. The five continents that
compete in the Olympics are America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe.
Olympic Symbol
The Olympic symbol is five colored rings. From left to right
the colors are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. All of the colors have
at least one of the colors of the of the countries or nations etc. flags
that compete in the winter games.
Olympic Motto
The Olympic Motto comes from Latin. Which in Latin is Citius,
Altius, Fortius. Or translated in English are Swifter, Higher, Stronger.
Olympic Schedule
The winter Olympics are held every four years. Except in 1994 the schedule
changed. The schedule was that the winter games were one year and then
summer games the next.
7 Basic Events
There are seven basic events. They are speed skating, Biathlon, Bobsledding,
Figure skating, Ice hockey, skiing, and Luge. Speed skating is when the
skaters race against each other. Biathlon is a mix of cross-country skiing
and rifle marksmanship. Bobsledding is when 2 to 4 men ride down an icy
run in steel fiberglass sleds. Figure skating is when 2 people do a dance
together on ice. Ice hockey is when different teams compete in. Skiing
is when the competers where 2 long wood or metal skis. Luge is when 1 or
2 people race down an ice covered course feet first.
History
The first modern Olympics were in 1924, and they were held at Chamonix,
France. Not until two years later did the IOC (International Olympic Committee)
name it the first winter Olympics. The second winter games were in 1928,
St. Moritz, France. That year they had bad weather because it was really
hot. The third winter games were in 1932, Lake Placid, New York. This was
the first time the winter games were held in the U.S. The fourth winter
games were held in 1936, Garmisch- Partenkirchen. That year was the first
time the Olympic flame was lighted during the winter games. The fifth winter
games were held in 1948, due to the fact of World War 11. That year
they were held in St. Moritz France Germany and Japan were not invited
due to the fact of World War 11. The sixth Winter Games were held in 1952,
in Oslo, Norway. The seventh games were held in 1956, in Cortinad’ de Ampezzo,
Italy. That year they had the first televised games. The eighth winter
games were held in 1960, in Squaw Valley, California. That year women’s
speed skating and biathlon were introduced. The ninth winter games were
held in 1964, in Innsbruck, Austria. This was the year technology was introduced
to the games. The tenth year of the games was in 1968, in Grenoble. This
year west and east Germany was forced to act as one team. The eleventh
winter games were held in 1972, in Sapporo, Japan. This year was the first
year the games were held in Asia. The twelfth winter games were held in
1976, in Innsbruck, Austria. That year the games were supposed to be in
Denver, Colorado but taxpayers wouldn’t pay. The thirteenth winter games
were held in 1980, in Lake Placid, New York. The fourteenth winter games
were held in 1984, in Serejevo, Bosnia. The fifthteenth winter games were
in 1988, held in Calgary, Canada. That year short track speed skating and
curling were demonstration sports. The sixteenth winter games were in 1992,
and held in Albertville, France. That year Freestyle Skiing and Short track
speed skating became official, but curling was still a demonstration sport.
The seventeenth winter games were in 1994 and were held in Lillehammer.
That year there was a new schedule of every other year. The eighteenth
winter games were in 1998 and were held in Nagano. That year Snowboarding
was introduced and became official.
Types of Skiing
Skiing has seven different events, they are Freestyle (Aerials and
Moguls) Aerials is when you do jumps and tricks, and moguls is when you
race down a hill with bumps. Alpine skiing is when you just ski down mountain
slopes. Ski Jumping is when skiers jump off a 70 to 120 meter jump. Ski
Racing is when skiers have a coarse. It is usually 3.1 miles long. The
coarse has up hills, down hills, and flats. Nordic Skiing is usually don
on a flat surface and has two combined tracks. Slalom, Giant Slalom.
Future
In 2002 it will be the nineteenth Winter Olympics. They will be held
in Salt Lake City, Utah. The mascots will be the hare, the bear, and the
coyote. The hare represents swifter, the bear represents stronger, and
the coyote represents higher. (According to old Indian myth) In 2002 there
will be 10 new events. This will also be the first year the torch will
go through Alaska.
Conclusion
The Winter Olympics were interesting considering all of the things
that happen and go on in the Winter Olympics. Lots of different countries
and nations enjoy competing and being in the Winter Olympics.
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