Olympic Games

No sporting event is as steeped in history as the Olympic Games. With its origins in ancient Greece, the Olympic Games stretch back to 776 B.C., enjoying their heyday in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. In 393 A.D., the games were halted by Emperor Theodosius I, who banned all pagan cults and practices. The next Olympic Games were held in 1894 with 14 nations and 241 athletes. Under the guidance of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Games have been contested every four years since then. The only break in the action occurred during 1916, 1940 and 1944 when the games were cancelled due to World War. Currently, 13,000 athletes compete in 400 events in 33 different sports in the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

Until 1992, the Olympic Games were held in the same year at different locations. Now the Summer and Olympic Winter Games alternate every two years. The Olympics peaked in popularity in 1992 when the Summer Olympic Games at Los Angeles had 3.5 billion viewers. By 2000, however, that number had decreased significantly due to competition. Due to the high-profile nature of the Olympic Games, they have attracted protests and various attacks.

In addition to the events themselves, the Olympic Games are known for the pageantry of their opening and closing ceremonies. Some visitors buy tickets for those spectacular events alone. A trip to the Olympic Games is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and draws one of the largest global gatherings. The 2012 Summer Olympics will be held in London.