The 2020 Summer Olympics were supposed to be held from July 24 to August 9, 2020, but were postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Games took place from July 23 to August 8, 2021 and the Greek delegation consisted of 83 athletes.
Our country left Tokyo with a total of four medals. The first medal, gold, was won by Stefanos Douskos in rowing. With a time of 6:40.45 and an incredible race, the champion from Ioannina set an Olympic record and broke that of Mahe Drysdale (6:41.34) from the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro 2016. It was the first gold for rowing and the fourth overall in the history of the event.
The same color of  medal was worn by Miltos Tedoglou in the men’s long final a few days later. The Olympic champion from Grevena, despite being only 23 years old, managed to write his name in golden letters. With a jump of 8.41 meters, the Greek champion won the first medal in men’s athletics since Kostas Kenteris’ 200-meter race in Sydney in 2000 and the first medal in the long jump.
Lefteris Petrounias followed by winning the bronze medal in the rings final. The second Olympic medal of Lefteris Petrounias is the sixth in the modern history of Greek gymnastics in this institution. The last medal in our country came from the men’s national waterpolo team, which achieved the impossible for many. Thodoris Vlachos’ players, with a steely defense and great fighting spirit, reached the final, where they suffered a defeat against the mighty Serbia.

The 31st Olympic Games were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5-21, 2016. 11.303 athletes from 207 countries participated in 306 events. Greece was represented by 93 athletes, with our country winning six medals and finishing 26th in the medal table.

Gold and bronze for Anna Korakaki in shooting, gold for Lefteris Petrounias in gymnastics, rings and Katerina Stefanidis in pole vault, silver for Spyros Gianniotis in 10,000-meter open water race and bronze for the team of Panagiotis Mantis and Pavlos Kayali in 470 sailing. The six medals are Greece’s fifth-best haul at the Olympics, the first, of course, being Athens 1896 (50 medals) and the second being Athens 2004 (16 medals). Michael Phelps made history at the Games, as in the last race of his career he achieved his unassailable record of 28 Olympic medals, 23 of which were gold. The 31-year-old swimming superstar won five gold and one silver in Rio, a better haul than in 2012 (when he won 4-2-0).
The unbeaten Usain Bolt also made history after winning gold in three consecutive events in the 100m and 200m, as well as gold in the 4x100m relay with the Jamaican team, bringing his total to 9 medals.

The 2012 Olympic Games took place in London between July 27 and August 12. 10.768 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees participated in 302 events.
The Games were considered a success and were especially notable for the strict security measures taken due to several threats of terrorist attacks.
These were the first Olympic Games in history to include women in all sports.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei had female representation for the first time.
Women’s boxing was included in the competition program for the first time with 36 athletes in three weight classes. After 1924, mixed doubles also returned in tennis.
American Mike Phelps won 22 Olympic medals in swimming, and Jamaican Usain Bolt became the first to repeat his victories in the 100 m, 200 m and 4×100 m at two consecutive Olympic Games.
In tennis, Scotland’s Andy Murray caused an absolute sensation by defeating Roger Federer in the final, while the USA basketball team went undefeated to win the gold medal.
Greece won two bronze medals and lost another almost at the last minute in the 10-km open sea swim with Spyros Gianniotis.
Elias Iliadis, who won the gold medal in 2004, won the bronze in the 90 kg class, while he finished third in rowing and in the double sculls with Alexandra Tsiavou and Christina Giazitzidou. In fencing, Vasso Vouyouka won the bronze medal with broken teeth and finally finished 5th in epee.

Beijing was the Games of records and superlatives. The Opening Ceremony was unforgettable; the athletes’ achievements were astonishing, the organisation was excellent; the venues breathtaking and the anti-doping tests were stricter. Several hundred million watched worldwide on TV as more than 40 world records and over 130 Olympic records were broken.

Modern and ancient

The National Stadium, nick-named the “Bird’s Nest”, and the National Swimming Centre, known as the “Water Cube”, were both stunning symbols of the new Beijing. In cycling, the road race followed the Great Wall and passed in front of the “Forbidden City” – two symbols of the thousand-year-old history of the city.

First medals

A record 204 National Olympic Committees took part in the Games. Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Mauritius and Togo all experienced podium finishes for the first time. However Mongolia, Bahrain and Panama managed to go one better with their athletes bringing home their country’s first Olympic gold.

Memorable champions

There were many memorable champions but it was Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt who stole the headlines. Phenomenal US swimmer Michael Phelps bettered Mark Spitz’s achievement at the 1972 Munich Games by claiming eight swimming golds and the incredible Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt broke both the 100m and 200m world records and claimed a third gold and record with the Jamaican 4 x 100m relay team.

Greek medals

Vassilis Polymeros – Dimitris Mougios (rowing): silver Alexandros Nikolaidis (taekwondo): silver Pigi Devetzi (athletics): bronze Sofia Bekatorou, Sofia Papadopoulou, Virginia Kravarioti (sailing): bronze

NOCs 204

Athletes 10,942 (4,637 women, 6,305 men)

Events 302

Volunteers 100,000 (70,000 Olympic Games, 30,000 Paralympic Games)

Media 24,562 accredited media representing 159 countries

A record 201 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated in the Olympic Games. The overall tally for events on the programme was 301 (one more than at the Sydney Games in 2000).

Most popular

Popularity in the Games also soared, as 3.9 billion people had access to the television coverage compared to 3.6 billion for Sydney. This global audience enjoyed coverage of never-before seen sports such as women’s wrestling, which was included in the programme for the first time.

Records tumble

Swimmer Michael Phelps won six gold medals and set a single-Games record with eight total medals. Leontien Ziljaard-van Moorsel became the first female cyclist to earn four career gold medals, reaching a total of six Olympic medals, while canoeist Birgit Fischer became the first athlete in any sport to win two medals in each of five Olympic Games.

Memorable champions

Runner Hicham El Guerrouj won both the 1500m and the 5000m, while on the women’s side Kelly Holmes triumphed in both the 800m and the 1500m. In team play, Argentina won the men’s football tournament without conceding a goal, and the US softball team outscored their opponents by an aggregate score of 51-1.

The Greek medals

GOLD MEDALS

Nikolaos Siranidis and Thomas Bimis (sychronized diving), Ilias Iliadis (judo) Emilia Tsoulfa and Sofia Bekatorou (sailing – 470), Dimosthenis Tampakos (gymnastics), Athanasia Tsoumeleka (athletics), Fani Halkia (athletics) SILVER MEDALS Anastasia Kelesidou (athletics), Nikos Kaklamanakis (sailing – mistral), Hrysopigi Devetzi (athletics), Elisavet Mystakidou (taekwondo), Alexandros Nikolaidis (taekwondo), Greece (polo of women)

BRONZE MEDALS

Pyrros Dimas (weightlifting), Vassilis Polymeros and Nikos Skiathitis (rowing), Artiom Kiouregkian (wrestling), Mirela Maniani (athletics)

NOCs 201

Athletes 10,625 athletes (4,329 women, 6,296 men)

Events 301

Volunteers 45,000

Media 21,500

The first Olympics of the millenium took place in Sydney between 16 September and 1 October. Triathlon and taekwondo were two new additions to the Olympic programme. Susanthika Jayasinghe became the first Sri Lankan woman to win a medal, claiming bronze in the 200m, whilst Birgit Fischer earned two gold medals in kayaking to become the first woman in any sport to win medals 20 years apart. Women also took part in weightlifting and the modern pentathlon for the very first time.

The Greek medals

Greece collected 13 medals from 155 member’s delegation. Four gold from Pyrros Dimas(weightlifting) , Kahi Kahiasvili (weightlifting) , Kostas kenteris (athletics), Mihalis Mouroutsos (taekwondo), 6 silver from Thanou (athletics), Kelesidou (athletics), Tzelili (athletics), Mitrou (weightlifting), Sabanis (weightlifting), Tabakos (gymnastics) and 3 bronze from the national team (gymnastics-ansample), Karntanof (wrestling) and Chatzioannou (weightlifting).

Comeback kings

There were some wonderful comebacks in Sydney but none more so than the US softball team. After losing three games in a row, they regrouped and won gold in stirring fashion by beating each of the teams they had previously lost to. Memorable champions Ryoko Tamura had lost in the judo 48kg final in both Barcelona and Atlanta, but came back to win the gold medal in Sydney. Steven Redgrave gained sporting immortality by becoming the first rower to win gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. In the 400m freestyle, 17-year old Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe won gold by breaking his own world record in front of a jubilant home crowd.

NOCs 199 (+ four individual athletes (IOA))

Athletes 10,651 (4,069 women, 6,582 men)

Events 300

Volunteers 46,967

Media 16,033 (5,298 written press, 10,735 broadcasters)

The 1996 Games were given a dramatic and emotional start when the cauldron was lit by sporting legend Muhammad Ali. However, on 27 July tragedy struck when a terrorist bomb exploded in the Centennial Olympic Park. One person was killed and a further 100 people were injured.

Olympic firsts

For the first time in Olympic history, all 197 recognised National Olympic Committees were represented at the Games. Beach volleyball, mountain biking, lightweight rowing and women’s football made their first appearance and sailor Hubert Raudaschl (AUT) became the first person ever to compete in nine Olympic Games.

Memorable champions

In track and field, Marie-José Pérec, the French athlete, won the 200m and successfully defended her 400m title. She became the most successful French female athlete of all time and the first athlete to win the 400m twice. Not to be outdone, Michael Johnson of the US became the first man in Olympic history to run and win both the 200m and 400m. His victory over 200m in 19.32 seconds established a new world record.

Greek medals

Four gold and four silver medals was the tally for Greece. Gold medalist were Pyrros Dimas (weightlifting), Kahi Kahiasvilli (weightlifting), Ioannis Melissanidis (gymnastics), Nikos Kaklamanakis (sailing). The silver medals belongs to Valerios Leonidis (weightlifting), Leonidas Sabanis (weightlifting), Leonidas Kokas (weightlifting), Niki Bakoyianni (athletics).

NOCs 197

Athletes 10,318 (3,512 women, 6,806 men)

Events 271

Volunteers 47,466

Media 15,108 media (5,695 written press, 9,413 broadcasters)

For the first time since 1972, the Games were boycott-free, due to important global political changes. Apartheid had been abolished in South Africa. Then there was the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of West and East Germany. Communism had ended and the Soviet Union was divided into 15 separate countries which participated as a “unified team”.

Newcomers and youngsters

Baseball debuted as a full medal discipline having appeared as an exhibition or demonstration sport at six previous Games. Badminton and women’s judo were also added to the Olympic programme, and Spain’s coxswain in the eights, 11-year-old Carlos Front, became the youngest Olympic competitor since 1900.

Memorable champions

Men’s basketball became open to all professionals and the US sent a “Dream Team” of superstars including Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Larry Bird. Needless to say they dominated the event and won gold. Another impressive performer was gymnast Vitaly Scherbo, who won six golds, including four in one day.

Greek medals

Greece took two gold medals, with Pyrros Dimas in weightlifting and Voula Patoulidou in athletics

African hope

In the last lap of the 10,000m final, Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia darted into the lead and went on to win. At the finishing line, she waited for her opponent Elana Meyer, a white South African. They set off hand-in-hand for a victory lap that symbolised hope for a new Africa.

NOCs 169

Athletes 9,356 (2,704 women, 6,652 men)

Events 257

Volunteers 34,548

Media 13,082 media (5,131 written press, 7,951 broadcasters)

Awarding the Summer Games to South Korea provided the impetus for the country to embrace democracy. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) boycotted, and was joined by Cuba, Ethiopia and Nicaragua. Still, records were set with 159 nations participating, 52 winning medals and 31 taking home gold medals.

Sprint scandal

Canadian Ben Johnson set a world record in the 100m sprint, but tested positive for steroids. Johnson was the first world-famous athlete to be disqualified for using drugs. After his disqualification, Carl Lewis was awarded the 100m gold, meaning he had successfully defended his 1984 Olympic title.

Debuts and firsts

For the first time, all three medallists in equestrian dressage were women. Swedish fencer Kerstin Palm became the first woman to take part in seven Olympic Games, and table tennis made its Olympic debut. Tennis also returned to the programme after a hiatus of 64 years. The event was open to professionals, and Steffi Graf concluded her Grand Slam tennis season by winning Olympic gold.

Greek medal

Haralampos Cholidis took the only medal for Greece in Seoul’s Olympics. He was 3rd in wrestling

Memorable champions

German cyclist Christa Luding-Rothenburger, who was also a speed skater, earned a silver medal in cycling. Having already won two medals at the Winter Games, she became the only person in history to win winter and summer medals in the same year. Greg Louganis successfully defended his titles in both diving events and American swimmer Matt Biondi won seven medals, including five golds.

NOCs 159

Athletes 8,391

Events 237

Volunteers 27,221

Media 11,331 media (4,978 written press, 6,353 broadcasters)

After the financial problems of 1976, only Los Angeles bid for the right to host the 1984 Olympic Games. The bid was criticised for depending heavily on existing facilities and corporate sponsors. However, the Games produced a healthy profit of USD 223 million and became the model for future Games.

No boycott blues

Although a revenge boycott led by the Soviet Union depleted the field in certain sports, 140 National Olympic Committees took part, which was a record at the time. Good feelings prevailed to such an extent that at the Opening Ceremony the athletes broke ranks to join in spontaneous dancing, something usually reserved for the Closing Ceremony.

Debuts and firsts

Archer Neroli Fairhall of New Zealand was the first paraplegic athlete to take part in a medal event, competing in a wheelchair. The first Olympic women’s marathon was staged, and was won by Joan Benoit of the US. Rhythmic gymnastics, synchronised swimming and the women’s cycling road race also made their debuts.

Greek medals

Greece continues the great tradition of wrestling, with the silver of Dimitris Thanopoulos and the bronze of Babis Holidis in greco roman.

Congratulations Carl

Carl Lewis entered the history books by matching the Berlin 1936 achievement of fellow American Jesse Owens, winning gold medals in the same four events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.

NOCs 140

Athletes 6,829 (1,566 women, 5,263 men)

Events 221

Volunteers 28,742

Media 9,190 media (4,327 written press, 4,863 broadcasters)

A US-led boycott reduced the number of participating nations to 80, the lowest number since 1956, as part of a series of measures to protest against the December 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Olympic firsts

Aleksandr Dityatin of Russia earned medals in every men’s gymnastics event to become the first athlete to win eight medals at one Olympic Games. Super-heavyweight Teófilo Stevenson of Cuba became the first boxer to win the same division three times, and Gerd Wessig of East Germany became the first male high jumper to break the world record at the Olympic Games.

British duel

British middle-distance runners Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe faced each other in a memorable confrontation. In the 800m, Ovett won the gold medal ahead of his compatriot. Six days later, a determined Coe redeemed himself in the 1500m. He took the gold, while Ovett managed only a bronze.

Greek medals

The wrestler Stelios Migiakis returned to Greece with the gold in greco roman. Bronze medals for Giorgos Chatzioannidis in wrestling and for Boudouris (captain) , Gavrilis, Rapanakis in sailing (soling)

Last-minute gold

The boycott deprived the inaugural women’s field hockey tournament of all of its entrants except the hosts, USSR. Zimbabwe responded to a late invitation, selecting members less than a week before the Games and rushing to Moscow, then surprised everyone by finishing first.

NOCs 80

Athletes 5,179 (1,115 women, 4,064 men)

Events 203

Volunteers n/a

Media 5,615 media (2,865 written press, 2,930 broadcasters)

The 1976 Montreal Games were marred by an African boycott involving 22 countries. The boycott was organised by Tanzania to protest the fact that the New Zealand rugby team had toured apartheid South Africa and that New Zealand was scheduled to compete in the Olympic Games.

Debuts and firsts

Women’s events in basketball, rowing and team handball all made their Olympic debut. Hockey was played on an artificial pitch for the first time, and boxer Clarence Hill of Bermuda earned a bronze medal to give Bermuda the honour of being the least populous nation (53,500) ever to win a medal at the Summer Games.

Memorable champions

Alberto Juantorena of Cuba completed the first 400m and 800m double victory. The Japanese women’s volleyball team proved untouchable, winning all their matches in straight sets, and Miklos Németh of Hungary won the javelin to become the first son of an athletics gold medalist to win a gold of his own.

Perfect Nadia

Fourteen-year-old gymnast Nadia Comaneci of Romania was the undoubted star of the Games. She shot to fame when, for her performance on the uneven bars, she was awarded the first-ever perfect score of 10.0. She went on to earn seven maximum marks in total.

NOCs 92

Athletes 6,084 (1,260 women, 4.824 men)

Events 198

On 5 September, eight Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village, killing two members of the Israeli team and taking nine hostages. In the ensuing battle, all nine Israeli hostages were killed, as were five of the terrorists and one policeman. In defiance of the terrorists, the IOC ordered the competitions to resume after a pause of 34 hours.

Highlights

All other details of the Munich Games pale in significance, but it did have its highlights. The Munich Games were the largest yet, setting records in all categories, with 195 events and 7,173 athletes from 121 National Olympic Committees.

Debuts and firsts

Men’s indoor handball, slalom canoeing and kayaking all made their Olympic debuts. West German Liselott Linsenhoff, competing in the dressage event, became the first female equestrian to win a gold medal, and archery returned to the Olympic programme after a 52-year absence.

Memorable champions

US swimmer Mark Spitz won an incredible seven gold medals and broke seven world records. Yet the media star of the Munich Games was the tiny Soviet gymnast, Olga Korbut, whose dramatic cycle of success in the team competition, failure in the individual competition and renewed success in the apparatus finals captured the attention of fans worldwide.

Greek medals

Two silver for Greece with the wrestler Babis Holidis and Ilias Chatzipavlis in sailing

NOCs 121

Athletes 7,134 (1,059 women, 6,075 men)

Events 195

The choice of Mexico City to host the 1968 Olympic Games proved to be a controversial one because of the city’s high altitude, 2,300m. The altitude proved an advantage in explosive events such as short-distance running, jumping, throwing and weightlifting. But the rarefied air proved disastrous for those competing in endurance events.

Records tumble

The high altitude led to world records in all of the men’s races that were 400m or shorter, plus the long jump and triple jump. Probably the most memorable achievement was Bob Beamon’s spectacular long jump of 8.90m – a world record that would last for 22 years.

Olympic firsts

Mexican hurdler Enriqueta Basilio became the first woman to light the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony. Wyomia Tyus of the US became the first athlete to win the 100m twice. Dick Fosbury won the men’s high jump with a new jumping style now known as the “Fosbury Flop”, and for the first time winners had to undergo a doping test.

Drama and beauty

The Games were blessed with many outstanding heroines but none more so than Vera Caslavska. The attractive and vivacious Czech gymnast won four golds and two silver medals. Her victories were dramatic – defeating Soviet gymnasts two months after the Soviet invasion of her homeland.

Greek medal

Petros Galaktopoulos took the bronze in wrestling

NOCs 112

Athletes 5,516

Events 172

The 1964 Tokyo Games were the first to be held in Asia. The carrier of the flame, Yoshinori Sakai, was chosen because he was born on 6 August 1945, the day the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, in homage to the victims and as a call for world peace.

Evolving technology

A cinder running track was used for the last time in the athletics events, whilst a fibreglass pole was used for the first time in the pole vaulting competition. The Tokyo Games was also the last occasion that hand timing by stopwatch was used for official timing.

Memorable champions

Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia became the first athlete to win the marathon twice, whilst Ukrainian gymnast Larysa Latynina brought her career medal total to an incredible 18. It also proved fourth time lucky for Greco-Roman wrestler Imre Polyak, who finally won gold after finishing second in the same division at the previous three Olympic Games.

Olympic spirit

The first official Fair Play Trophy for setting an outstanding example of sportsmanship was awarded to Swedish yachtsmen Lars Gunnar Käll and Stig Lennart Käll. The Swedes gave up their race to come to the aid of two other competitors whose boat had sunk.

NOCs 93

Athletes 5,151 (678 women, 4,473 men)

Events 163

Rome finally got its chance to stage the Olympic Games, 54 years after Italy had to give up hosting the Games. The Italians made the most of their ancient history, holding the wrestling competition in the Basilica of Maxentius and gymnastics in the Caracalla Baths.

Repeat performers

Paul Elvstrom of Denmark won his fourth consecutive yachting gold medal in the single-handed dinghy class. Hungarian fencer Aladar Gerevich earned his sixth consecutive gold medal in the team sabre event, and in canoeing Sweden’s Gert Fredriksson won his sixth gold medal.

Barefoot and victorious

Running barefoot, the Ethiopian runner Abebe Bikila did not go unnoticed when he entered the marathon. He refused to be daunted by condescending remarks, however, leaving all his opponents behind and crossing the finishing line victorious under Constantine’s triumphal arch. In doing so, he became the first black African Olympic champion.

A star is born

Cassius Marcellus Clay of the US, later known as Muhammad Ali, first gained international prominence by winning the light-heavyweight gold medal. He would later turn professional and embark on a phenomenal career.

Bronze medal for Greece

Greece took his first medal after many years, with the bronze in sailing (Dragon class)

NOCs 83

Athletes 5,338 (611 women, 4,727 men)

Events 150 events

Melbourne won the right to host the 1956 Olympic Games by one vote over Buenos Aires. Australian quarantine laws were too severe to allow the entry of foreign horses, so the equestrian events were held separately in Stockholm in June.

Great rivalry

French long-distance runner Alain Mimoun had tasted Olympic defeat on the track three times at the hands of Czech Emil Zátopek. However, in the marathon it was Mimoun who pulled away to record a comfortable victory. He waited at the finish line for Zátopek, his old friend and great rival, who trotted home in sixth place.

Dominant team

The US basketball team, led by Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, put on the most dominant performance in Olympic history. They scored more than twice as many points as their opponents and won each of their games by at least 30 points.

Symbol of unity

Prior to 1956, the athletes in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies marched in alphabetical order by National Olympic Committees. However, in Melbourne, following a suggestion by a young Australian named John Ian Wing, the athletes entered the stadium together during the Closing Ceremony as a symbol of global unity.

NOCs 72

Athletes 3,314 (376 women, 2,938 men)

Events 145

Israel and the Soviet Union entered the Olympic Games for the first time, and fears that Cold War rivalries would lead to clashes proved unfounded. Particularly impressive were the Soviet women gymnasts who won the team competition easily, beginning a streak that would continue for 40 years until the Soviet Union broke up into separate republics.

Star performer

Czech long-distance runner Emil Zátopek produced a brilliant display of running. He won the 5,000m, successfully defended his 10,000m title and then took his third gold medal in his first-ever marathon to complete a triple that remains unique in Olympic history.

Equestrian becomes mixed

A change in the rules for equestrian competitions allowed women not only to enter, but also to compete alongside men in mixed events. One of the first women to do so was Lis Hartel of Denmark. Paralysed below the knees, Hartel had to be helped on and off her horse. Despite this, she claimed silver in the equestrian dressage.

For you, Dad

Back in 1924, Bill Havens was chosen to represent the US in coxed eights rowing. However, he declined in order to stay home with his wife, who was expecting their first child. Twenty-eight years later, that child competed in Helsinki. His name was Frank Havens, and he claimed gold in the Canadian singles 10,000m canoeing event.

NOCs 69

Athletes 4,955 (519 women, 4,436 men)

Events 149

The Olympic Games had not been held in either 1940 or 1944 due to World War II, and London was called upon at short notice to host them. Despite shortages of essential products due to rationing, the city rose magnificently to the challenge – a true victory over dark times.

Innovation and progress

The London Games were the first to be shown on home television, although very few people in Great Britain actually owned sets. Starting blocks for athletes in sprint races were introduced for the first time, and the Empire Pool was the first covered Olympic pool to be used at the Games.

Memorable performances

Seventeen-year-old American Bob Mathias won the decathlon only four months after taking up the sport. He remains the youngest athlete in Olympic history to win a men’s athletics event. The dominant woman of the Games was sprinter Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands. She entered four sprint events and won all four.

Overcoming adversity

Karoly Takacs was a member of the Hungarian world champion pistol shooting team in 1938 when a grenade shattered his right hand – his pistol hand. Takacs taught himself to shoot with his left hand and, 10 years later, he won an Olympic gold medal in the rapid-fire pistol event.

The Greek team

Fifty six Greek athletes traveled to London to participate in the Olympics. The best performance came from Giorgios Petmezas who was 6th in greco roman wrestling

NOCs 59

Athletes 4,104 (390 women, 3,714 men)

Events 136

The Berlin Games are best remembered for Adolf Hitler’s failed attempt to use them to prove his theories of Aryan racial superiority. As it turned out, the most popular hero of the Games was the African-American sprinter and long jumper Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay and long jump.

Television coverage

The 1936 Games were the first to be broadcast on television. Twenty-five television viewing rooms were set up in the Greater Berlin area, allowing the locals to follow the Games free of charge.

Young Olympians

Thirteen-year-old Marjorie Gestring of the US won the gold medal in springboard diving. She remains the youngest female gold medallist in the history of the Summer Olympic Games. Twelve-year-old Inge Sorensen of Denmark earned a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke, making her the youngest medallist ever in an individual event.

Debuts and firsts

Basketball, canoeing and field handball all made their first appearances. The Berlin Games also became the first to introduce the torch relay, in which a lighted torch is carried from Olympia in Greece to the site of the current Games.

NOCs 49

Athletes 3,963 (331 women, 3,632 men)

Events 129

The 1932 Olympic Games were held in the middle of the Great Depression and, given the transport links of the time, in the relatively remote region of California. Consequently, participation in the Games was the lowest since 1904, with only half as many athletes taking part as had in 1928. Despite this, the standard of competition was excellent.

A record crowd at the Opening Ceremony

The Coliseum Olympic stadium astonished the whole world. Its scale and quality were beyond anything that had come before, creating the first Games we would recognise today. The crowds were also without precedent, starting with the 100,000 people who attended the Opening Ceremony.

Innovative thinking

Between 1900 and 1928, no Summer Games had been shorter than 79 days, but in Los Angeles this was cut to just 16. It has remained between 15 and 18 days ever since. Other firsts included the male athletes being housed in a single Olympic Village (the women stayed in a luxury hotel), and medal winners standing on a podium with the flag of the winner being raised.

Olympic spirit

The spirit of the Olympic Games was exemplified by British fencer Judy Guinness. Contesting the final, she gallantly gave up her hopes for a gold medal when she pointed out to officials that they had not noticed two touches scored against her by her final opponent, Ellen Preis of Austria. The greek team consisted of 10 athletes with no medals.

NOCs 37

Athletes 1,332 (126 women, 1,206 men)

Events 117

For the first time, a symbolic fire was lit during the Games. The fire was lit in a cauldron that was placed at the top of a tower in the stadium, which had been designed by Jan Wils, a celebrated Dutch architect.

Olympic firsts

At the Opening Ceremony, the team from Greece led the Parade of Nations, with the host Dutch team marching in last. Greece-first, hosts-last has been Olympic protocol ever since. The number of female competitors more than doubled as women were finally allowed to compete in gymnastics and athletics, and Asian athletes won gold medals for the first time.

Winning streaks begin

The team from India swept to victory in field hockey. Between 1928 and 1960, India’s men would win six straight gold medals in this event. Another winning streak also began in 1928, when Hungary earned the first of seven consecutive gold medals in team sabre fencing.

Innocent times

The actions of Australian rower Henry Pearce at Amsterdam have since become legend. He stopped midway through his quarter final to let a family of ducks pass, but still went on to win the race and eventually the gold medal.

NOCs 46

Athletes 2,883 (277 women, 2,606 men)

Events 109

The number of participating National Olympic Committees jumped from 29 to 44, signalling the advent of the Olympic Games as a major event with widespread appeal. This newfound popularity was confirmed by the presence of over 1,000 journalists.

Closing Ceremony

These Games introduced the Closing Ceremony ritual as we know it today. This involves the raising of three flags: the flag of the International Olympic Committee, the flag of the host nation and the flag of the next host nation.

No time to lose

Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi won five gold medals to add to the three he had won in 1920. His most spectacular performance occurred on 10 July. First, he easily won the 1500m and then, a mere 55 minutes later, he returned to the track to win the 5,000m.

Hollywood material

American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller won two golds. He claimed two further golds at the 1928 Games and went on to become famous playing Tarzan of the Apes in 12 movies. The Paris Games themselves became immortalised in “Chariots of Fire”, the Oscar-winning film about principled British runner Eric Liddell.

The Greek team

At these Games, the greek flag appeared for the first time in the Opening Ceremony, to honor the birthplace of the Olympic games. The greek delegation consisted of 37 athletes while Konstantinos Dimitriadis took the first place in the Sculpture Contest, which included in the official programme.

NOCs 44

Athletes 3,089 (135 women, 2,954 men)

Events 126

Volunteers n/a

Media 1,000 journalists

The 1916 Olympic Games were scheduled to be held in Berlin but were cancelled due to World War I. The 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honour the suffering that had been inflicted on the Belgian people during the war.

Opening Ceremony

During the Opening Ceremony, the Olympic flag was raised for the first time, with the five rings signifying the universality of the Olympic Games. The Olympic oath was taken for the first time by competitors, and for the first time doves were released as a symbol of peace.

Memorable champions

In a performance unequalled in Olympic history, Nedo Nadi of Italy earned gold medals in five of the six fencing events. Ethelda Bleibtrey of the US won gold medals in all three women’s swimming contests. Including preliminary heats, she swam in five races and broke the world record in every one.

Age no barrier

At age 72, Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn earned a silver medal in the team double-shot running deer event to become the oldest medallist ever. NOCs 29 Athletes 2,626 (65 women, 2,561 men) Events 154

The Stockholm Games were a model of efficiency. The Swedish hosts introduced the first Olympic use of automatic timing devices for the track events, the photo finish and a public address system.

Last man standing

If there was an unofficial theme of the 1912 Games, it was endurance. The course for the cycling road race was 320km (199 miles), the longest race of any kind in Olympic history. In Greco-Roman wrestling, the middleweight semi-final match between Russian Martin Klein and Finland’s Alfred Asikainen lasted 11 hours.

Debuts and firsts

For the first time, competitors in the Games came from all five continents. It was also the first time Japan participated. The modern pentathlon, women’s swimming and women’s diving all made their Olympic debuts.

Mighty Jim

Jim Thorpe, a Native American from Oklahoma, won the pentathlon and decathlon by huge margins. He was later disqualified when it was discovered that he had accepted a modest sum to play baseball before the Games. But in 1982, the IOC decided to reinstate him and gave his medals back to his daughter.

NOCs 28

Athletes 2,407 (48 women, 2,359 men)

Events 102

The 1908 Olympic Games were originally awarded to Rome, but were reassigned to London when it became apparent that Rome would not be ready. Despite the short notice, the Games were exceptionally well organised. For the first time, a stadium was specially prepared for the Games, and swimming events did not take place in the open water.

Fit for a king

The Organising Committee fixed the distance of the marathon at 42km and 195m, the last 195 metres being added on to ensure the race finished below the royal box in the London stadium. This distance became official from the 1924 Games onwards.

Courageous competitor

When Dorando Pietri of Italy entered the stadium at the end of the marathon, it was immediately apparent that something was wrong. Dazed, he headed in the wrong direction and then collapsed. The officials helped him to reach the finish line in first place and so he was disqualified for receiving outside aid, but his courage earned him immortality..

Olympic spirit

Sportsmanship existed at a level unimaginable in today’s more competitive world. One wonderful example took place when the middleweight Greco-Roman wrestling final between Frithiof Martensson and Mauritz Andersson was postponed by one day to allow Martensson to recover from a minor injury. Martensson duly recovered and won.

NOCs 22

Athletes 2,008 (37 women, 1,971 men)

Events 110

Unfortunately, the St Louis Games repeated all of the mistakes of 1900. The various competitions were spread out over four-and-a-half months and became lost in the chaos of a World’s Fair celebrating the purchase of the Louisiana territory from France.

Debuts and firsts

The 1904 Olympic Games were the first at which gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded for first, second and third place. Boxing, freestyle wrestling, decathlon and a dumbbells event all made their debuts on the programme.

A marathon drive

Thomas Hicks of the US won the marathon after the disqualification of his fellow countryman Fred Lorz, who had covered a large part of the 40 kilometres in a car, getting out just before the finish!

Memorable champions

Archie Hahn, known as the Milwaukee Meteor, won the 60m, 100m and 200m. In the 200m, he ran an Olympic record time of 21.6 seconds, a record that would stand for 28 years. One of the most remarkable athletes was the American gymnast George Eyser, who won six medals even though his left leg was made of wood.

NOCs 12

Athletes 651

Events 91

The Games of 1900 were held in Paris as part of the World’s Fair. The organisers spread the competitions over five months and under-promoted their Olympic status to such an extent that many athletes never knew they had actually participated in the Olympic Games.

Mixed teams and women

Tennis was one of five sports in which athletes from different nations competed on the same team. The others were football, polo, rowing and tug of war. Women made their first appearance in the modern Games. The first to compete were Mrs Brohy and Miss Ohnier of France in croquet.

Low attendance

An Englishman travelled all the way from Nice to watch the women’s croquet event, which consisted only of French players. According to the records, his was the only entry ticket sold for the competition!

Memorable champions

The star of the Games was American Alvin Kraenzlein, who won the 60m, the 110m hurdles, 200m hurdles and the long jump. In general, there were many French champions at these Games, which was not surprising given several events were entered only by French competitors.

The Greek team

Greece participated with four athletes who didnt achieve something awesome.

NOCs 24

Athletes 997 (22 women, 975 men)

Events 95

Τhe Panathenaic Stadium

In ancient times, it was used to host the Panathenaic Games, in honour of the Goddess Athena. A wealthy businessman George Averoff agreed to pay for the restoration of the Panathinaiko Stadium, which would eventually cost 920,000 drachmas. As a tribute to his generosity, a statue of Averoff was constructed and unveiled on 5 April outside of the stadium, where it still stands.

James Brendan Connolly, became the first Olympic champion of the modern era on the first day of the Games, winning the triple jump with a leap of 13.71 meters. Connoly later became a journalist and he died on 1951, at the age of 88.

The participation

Although the number of participating athletes was low by current standards, it had the largest international participation for any sports event to that date. In spite of the absence of many of the time’s top athletes, the Games were a success with the Greek public. The concept of national teams was not a major part of the Olympic movement until the Intercalated Games ten years later, though many sources list the nationality of competitors in 1896 and give medal counts. Most sources list 13 competing nation including Greece.

The hilight of the Games

Yet the most impressive story of the Games was one involving a marathon-winning from the Athens area: Spiridon Louys. Emulating the journey in 490 BC of the soldier Philippides, who ran 40km between the village of marathon and the olympic stadium in Athens to announce the victory of Greece over Persia, Louys ran the distance in 2 hours, 58 minutes and 50 seconds. Louys’ triumph sent the country wild. It was just one of many eventual victories for the host country, who finished with 50 places of honor (given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places).

Athens proved that the rebirth of the Olympic Games was a worthwhile project, and one which could be expanded in the future. Although the competition was not of the highest quality, the 1896 Olympics were considered a great success, in large part because of the enthusiasm of the Greek spectators. At the closing banquet, King George of Greece suggested that Athens should become the permanent home of the Olympic Games, but Coubertin and the IOC stuck to the original idea of holding the 1900 games in Paris.