Welcome to our exciting journey into the world of the Olympics! With the Winter Olympics just around the corner, let’s explore some fascinating facts and clear up a few common misconceptions about this incredible event.
Many people believe that women were completely banned from watching the ancient Olympic Games in Greece. However, this isn’t entirely true. While married women were not allowed to attend, unmarried women could watch the games. In fact, the priestess of Demeter had a special seat at the altar in the stadium. Some women even participated in the games, like Kanishka, the daughter of King Archidamus of Sparta, who owned a winning chariot. There was also a special event for women called the Heraean Games, which included a foot race. Winners received an olive crown and some cow meat, similar to today’s medals and prize money.
Think commercialism is a new thing? Think again! Even in ancient times, people attending the games bought souvenirs like statues and pottery with images of athletes. Food and drinks were also available for purchase, much like today’s Olympic venues.
The marathon race is often thought to date back to ancient Greece, inspired by a runner who traveled from Marathon to Athens to announce a military victory. However, the official marathon distance of 26.2 miles was established much later, in 1908, to give the British royal family a better view during the London Olympics. The first modern marathon in 1896 was actually 24.8 miles long.
Many assume that modern Olympians are fully supported by their countries and sponsors. While some athletes do receive bonuses for winning medals, like American gymnast Aly Raisman, most need to work regular jobs. For example, Emil Malev teaches physical education, Maura Abbott works at a farmers market, and Pete Fenson owns a pizza place. These athletes compete out of passion and the dream of winning medals.
Did you know that Olympic medalists tend to live longer than the general population? A study of 15,174 medalists from 1896 to 2010 found they lived an average of 2.8 years longer. This was true regardless of their country or sport, with endurance and mixed athletes living the longest.
Athletes stay in the Olympic Village during the games. The first village was set up for the 1924 Paris Olympics, and they’ve improved over time. The 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid even turned its village into a federal prison afterward. The 2016 Rio Games had a massive village with 31 buildings, costing $700 million, though much of it is now abandoned.
Want to train like an Olympian? Here are some tips from the pros:
The 1993 Disney movie “Cool Runnings” tells the story of the Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. While the film isn’t entirely accurate, it helped make the team famous. They trained hard in Austria and Lake Placid, New York, and despite challenges, they ranked 30th in the two-man bobsled event. The movie’s popularity helped them raise funds to compete in later Olympics.
Thanks for joining us on this Olympic adventure! What’s your favorite Winter Olympic sport? Let us know, and don’t forget to stay awesome!
Imagine you are living in ancient Greece. Choose a role: a married woman, an unmarried woman, or a participant in the Heraean Games. Write a short script and perform a role play with your classmates to explore what your experience at the ancient Olympics might have been like.
Design a souvenir that could have been sold at the ancient Olympics. Use materials like clay, paper, or cardboard to create a model of your souvenir, such as a statue or pottery with athlete images. Present your creation to the class and explain its significance.
Calculate the difference in distance between the first modern marathon in 1896 and the official marathon distance established in 1908. Discuss why the distance was changed and how it might have affected the runners. Present your findings to the class.
Research a modern Olympian who has a career outside of sports. Create a poster that highlights their achievements both in and out of the Olympics. Share your poster with the class and discuss the challenges athletes face in balancing their careers and sports.
Work in groups to design a modern Olympic Village. Consider the needs of athletes, such as training facilities, living quarters, and recreational areas. Create a blueprint or model of your village and present it to the class, explaining how it supports the athletes’ well-being.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the YouTube transcript:
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Hello and welcome to Mental Floss video! Today we’re going to talk about the Olympics, as the Winter Olympics are beginning soon. Before we dive into the main topic, here’s an interesting side note about the Winter Olympics: it’s the only Olympics where I can’t participate in any of the sports, even at an amateur level. However, I can do most of the summer sports.
Let’s kick off this episode with some misconceptions about the Olympics, starting with a common one: that women couldn’t watch the ancient games in Greece. This misconception is a generalization of a truth; married women weren’t allowed to watch the Olympics, and the punishment for those who tried was severe. However, unmarried women were allowed to watch, and the priestess of Demeter was a VIP who could watch from the stadium altar. Some women even participated, like Kanishka, the daughter of King Archidamus of Sparta, who owned a four-horse chariot that won two Olympic races. There was also a lesser-known event called the Heraean Games, which was for women and held at Olympia. One chronicler noted that it involved a foot race, and the winner received an olive crown and some sacrificial cow meat, which isn’t too different from contemporary Olympics—now you just get money, which is often used to buy food.
Moving on to our second misconception: that commercialism is a modern phenomenon. Attendees of the ancient games bought souvenirs, such as statues of competitors or vessels with images of their athletic feats. Food and drink were also available for purchase.
Misconception number three is that the marathon race dates back to ancient Greece. It’s said that a runner ran the 25 miles from Marathon to Athens to announce the defeat of the Persians in the Battle of Marathon around 490 BCE. However, a marathon is officially a 26.2-mile race, which was first run at the Olympic Games in 1896. The first marathon featured 17 runners who actually traveled 24.8 miles. The distance became 26.2 miles in 1908, believed to have been extended to give the Royals a better view of the race.
Now, let’s address the misconception that modern Olympians are financially supported by their countries and sponsors. About 11,000 athletes compete in the Summer Olympics, and nearly 3,000 in the Winter Olympics. Not all athletes earn the same amount; for instance, Aly Raisman, an American athlete, receives bonuses for winning medals—$25,000 for gold, $15,000 for silver, and $10,000 for bronze. The US Olympic Committee provides some funding, but most Olympians need jobs. For example, American pistol shooter Emil Malev teaches physical education, cyclist Maura Abbott works at a farmers market, and curler Pete Fenson owns a pizza place. Most Olympians pursue their sports out of passion, with the dream of winning medals.
Now, let’s delve into a scientific study. Researchers examined 15,174 Olympic athletes who won medals between 1896 and 2010. They found that Olympic medalists lived, on average, 2.8 years longer than the general population thirty years after winning. Medalists lived longer regardless of country or sport, with endurance athletes and mixed athletes living the longest.
Athletes competing in the Olympics stay in a place called Olympic Village, which has evolved over time. The first Olympic Village was established for the 1924 Olympics in Paris, and it has since improved. The 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, received funding for an Olympic Village, which was later converted into a federal prison.
A frequently reported statistic is the number of condoms provided at the Olympic Village. At the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, that number was reported to be 8,500. At the 2016 Rio Games, 18,000 athletes, coaches, and officials lived in the Olympic Village, which contained 31 buildings and cost $700 million, much of which is now abandoned.
Now, let’s look at some athletic tips from Olympians. American swimmer and five-time gold medalist Katie Ledecky practices at 100% intensity. Canadian bobsledder Lyndon Rush advocates for visualization, keeping the track in his mind throughout the year. USA gold medalist swimmer Natalie Coughlin emphasizes recovery, using techniques like massage and smoothies. Usain Bolt, an eight-time Olympic gold medalist, believes in the importance of relaxation between training sessions. Michael Phelps made headlines for his high-altitude sleep chamber, which is thought to aid recovery.
Simone Biles, a four-time gold medalist, incorporates cross-training into her regimen, while Julie Chu of the US women’s hockey team advises knowing the difference between injury and soreness.
One popular movie featuring the Olympics is the 1993 Disney film “Cool Runnings,” which tells the story of the Jamaican bobsled team at the 1988 Winter Olympics. The film grossed $155 million worldwide, but it doesn’t accurately depict the team’s story. George Fitch, who founded the team, spent a significant amount of his own money on it. The team trained in Austria and Lake Placid, New York, and they had to qualify to compete. Despite initial challenges, they ranked 30th in the two-man bobsled event.
Despite the inaccuracies in the film, it helped popularize the team, and they raised funds to compete in Sochi in 2014. They plan to compete again in 2018.
Thanks for watching Mental Floss video! Let me know what you’re most looking forward to about the Winter Olympics. My favorite Winter Olympic sport is ice dancing. Subscribe to our channel for more videos, and don’t forget to be awesome!
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This version removes any inappropriate or sensitive content while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
Olympics – A global sports event held every four years where athletes from around the world compete in various sports. – The Olympics are a celebration of athletic excellence and international unity.
Ancient – Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence. – The ancient Greeks were the first to hold the Olympic Games in Olympia.
Women – Female individuals, who have increasingly participated in sports over time. – Women were first allowed to compete in the modern Olympics in 1900.
Marathon – A long-distance running race of 42.195 kilometers, inspired by the ancient Greek messenger Pheidippides. – The marathon is one of the most challenging events in the Olympics.
Athletes – Individuals who are trained or skilled in sports and physical exercises. – Athletes from all over the world train hard to qualify for the Olympics.
Village – A small community or group of houses, often used to describe the housing area for athletes during the Olympics. – The Olympic Village is where athletes stay during the games.
Games – Competitive sporting events, especially those held as part of the Olympics. – The Olympic Games bring together the best athletes from around the globe.
Medals – Awarded to athletes who achieve first, second, or third place in their events at the Olympics. – Winning a gold medal is the highest honor for an Olympic athlete.
Training – The process of preparing and practicing for a sport or event. – Olympic athletes undergo rigorous training to compete at the highest level.
Commercialism – The emphasis on the maximizing of profit, often seen in the sponsorship and advertising surrounding the Olympics. – Some people criticize the commercialism of the Olympics, arguing it distracts from the spirit of the games.
