The Olympic Games

The modern Olympics are modelled after the games played by the ancient Greeks starting in 700 B.C. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896.

Today, there are two Olympic games: Winter and Summer. The games are played every two years, alternating between Winter and Summer.

Great Britain last hosted the Olympics in 1948 and before that in 1908 when British athletes won 141 medals. Britain will be hosting the 2012 Olympic games in London.

Britain has won gold at the Olympics in a great many sports including archery, weightlifting, football, tennis, running, decathlon, swimming, cycling, shooting, hurdling, walking, rowing, yachting, equestrianism, fencing, steeple-chase, boxing, long jump, relay, pentathlon, javelin, hockey, ice skating, bobsleigh and curling.

One of the most successful British Olympians of recent years is Steve Redgrave who won gold medals for rowing at the 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

In 2004 at the Olympic Games held in Athens, Team Great Britain won a total of 30 medals.

Read about the British Olympic Association, and the Olympic movement.