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Olympics: Home

Use this guide to conduct research on the Olympics.

Olympic Symbol

Five rings linked together represent the sporting friendship of all people.  They symbolize 5 geographic areas: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.  Each ring is a different color - blue, yellow, black, green or red.

Olympic Creed

"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."


Olympic Motto

"Citius, Altius, Fortius." (Latin)

"Swifter, Higher, Stronger."

Olympic Oath

"In the name of all competitors I promise that we will take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."

Olympic Flame

The modern version of the flame was adopted in 1936.  The torch used to kindle it is first lit by the sun's rays at Olympia, Greece, then carried to the site of the Games by relays of runners.

Recent Sites of the Summer Olympics

1980  Moscow, USSR                        2004  Athens, Greece

1984  Los Angeles, CA                      2008  Beijing, China

1988  Seoul, South Korea                 2012  London, England

1992  Barcelona, Spain                     2016  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

1996  Atlanta, GA                              2020 Tokyo, Japan

2000  Sydney, Australia               

Recent Sites of the Winter Olympics

1980  Lake Placid, NY                               2006  Turin, Italy         

1984  Sarajevo, Yugoslsavia                     2010  Vancouver, BC, Canada

1988  Calgary. Canada                              2014  Sochi, Russia

1992  Albertville, France                            2018 PyeongChang, Republic of Korea

1994  Lillehammer, Norway                   

1998  Nagano, Japan                            

 2002  Salt Lake City, UT                                           

History of Olympic Stadiums 1980-2016

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