New @ MPL: Summer Olympics

Friday, July 27, 2012

Summer Olympics

Who doesn't love the Olympics? Even if I'm not excited about them before they start, by the time I watch the Opening Ceremonies, I am hooked! Watching nations from all over the world march into the stadium, after the spectacle of the performers, is magical. By the end of the evening I'm ready to watch every single sporting event, no matter how obscure. Whether it's Handball, Water Polo, or Badminton, if I have the time, I will be watching it.

So, to get you ready for the next 16 days, here are some facts about the Olympics, followed by further resources on the web and here in the library.

London is the first city to host the Summer Olympics three times -- 1908, 1948, and 2012.
Over 200 countries and over 10,000 athletes were invited to this year's Olympic Games.
The first Games of the Modern Olympiad were held in Athens, Greece in 1896.
American James Connolly was the first Olympic champion of the modern era when he won the triple jump on April 6, 1896.
The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France in 1924.
1992 was the last year that the Winter and Summer games were held in the same year. Since then, there is either a Winter or Summer Olympiad every two years.
The most medals ever won by one athlete is 18, between 1956 and 1964, by Larisa Latynina.
From 1904 until 1928, the Olympic games were held over several months. In 1932 at Los Angeles, it was shortened to take place over 16 days.
The 1936 Games in Berlin were the first to be televised.