10 Random Olympics Facts

[Auto Europe]

We all know what the modern day Olympic Games are all about but over the years many changes have taken place and there have been some rather strange rulings to the games!

Here are some very random and strange facts about the Olympic Games:

1. The first Olympians right back in ancient Greek times participated in the nude! Why I hear you ask; it was a tribute to the gods.
2. Married women were not allowed at the games, so they created their own; The Heraea Games. So there you go girl power was around long before the Spice Girls.
3. The last gold medals actually made from real gold were awarded in 1912. Nowadays they are made up of 92.5% silver with a cover of six grams of gold.
4. In the years of 1916, 1940 and 1944 World War I and World War II put a spot to the games being held.
5. The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, France in 1924
6. The USA has won the most combined medals across the summer and winter games, with an amount of 2549 to date.
7. The London Olympic Games of 1908 lasted 187 days! Starting in April and ended in October.
8. A Swedish shooter named Oscar Swahn is to date the oldest athlete to have taken part in the games, he was 72.
9. The winners of gold in the 1904 France Games were awarded with paintings rather than the usual gold medals. The reasoning behind this radical move was that the French believed the painting to be of more value than the medals.
10. The first games to be televised were the 1936 Berlin Games.

 

If you would like to head to the country where this amazing sporting event first originated then book a Greece car hire with Auto Europe and enjoy visiting the ancient sites.