The Modern OlympicsBy Rose and Rhys

PIERRE DE COUBERTIN

The Baron Pierre De Coubertin was born on the 1st January, 1863. He was born in Paris, France. He died on the 2nd of September 1937 at the age of 74.

Pierre was known as the “Instigator of the Modern Olympic Movement”.

In 1894, Pierre had an insightful idea. He decided that people should learn not just with their minds, but with their whole bodies. He believed people should think, feel, and do, to learn. He invited his friends to a congress in Paris, and told them of his idea to start the Modern Olympics. The group became known as the IOC (International Olympic Committee). 13 nations (including New Zealand) were represented at the signing of the IOC. The IOC then made some aims for the games. Pierre created symbols and encouraged music, culture, and pageantry in the Modern Olympics.

OLYMPIC OATH

The Modern Olympic Oath is: In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams.

The Modern Olympic Oath was made by Pierre De Coubertin and the IOC.

The first Olympic Oath was spoken in the 1920 Summer Olympics by Victor Boin, Fencer/Water Polo player.

MASCOTS

The London 2012 mascots are Wenlock and Mandeville. They were designed by Iris, a London based creative agency.

They are named after the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock, which has a Forerunner of the current Olympic Games, and Stoke Mandeville Hospital, a facility in Buckinghamshire that initially organised the Stoke Mandeville Games, the precursor of the Paralympic Games.

Wenlock and Mandeville are mascots for both the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

OLYMPIC FLAG

The Olympic Flag represents the Modern Olympics.

The Flag was created by Pierre De Coubertin in 1914.

The Olympic flag has a white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green and red. This design is symbolic; it represents the five inhabited continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colors are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time. - Pierre De Coubertin

CREED AND MOTTO

The Olympic Motto is: “Faster, Higher, Stronger”.

The Olympic Creed is: “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”.

Pierre De Coubertin and the IOC made both of these.

TORCH RELAY

Over the years, it has become a tradition to let famous athletes, former athletes and/or athletes with significant achievements and milestones be the last runner in the Olympic torch relay and have the honor of lighting the Olympic Cauldron.

The Olympic torch travels routes that symbolise human achievement.

For each Olympics, there is a different torch that is uniquely similar to the host country. Torches often represent cool aspects of the country.

HOST CITIES

Every Olympic Games has a different host.

Since the modern Olympic Games began in 1896, there have been 29 Summer Olympic Games held in 22 different cities and 21 Winter Olympic Games held in 18 different cities.

The cities are: Athens, St Louis, London, Stockholm, Berlin, Antwerp, Chamonix, St Moritz, Amsterdam, Lake Placid, Los Angeles Garmisch Partenkirschen, Sapporo, Tokyo, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Oslo, Helsinki, Melbourne, Squaw Valley, Rome, Innsbruck, Montreal, Moscow, Sarajevo, Calgary, Seoul, Albertville, Barcelona, Lileharrmer, Atlanta, Nagano, Salt Lake City, Turin, Beijing, Vancouver, Sochi, Pyeonchang, Rio De Janeiro, and Torino.

Seven cities have hosted the Olympic Games more than once: Athens, Paris, London, St Moritz, Lake Placid, Los Angeles, and Innsbruck.

VALERIE ADAMS

Valerie Adams is a New Zealand Shot Putter born 6 October 1984. Her Mother’s name is Lilika and her father’s name is Sydney. Valerie was born in Rotorua.

Valerie is the reigning women's Olympic champion and three-time World champion, two-time Commonwealth and World Indoor champion. She currently holds the New Zealand, Oceanian, Commonwealth, and equal World Championship Records. Her personal best throw is 21.24 metres.

Valerie’s trainer was Kirsten Hellier, a former Javelin thrower. They worked together for 11 years. Now her trainer is Jean-Pierre Egger.