Olympics history and India's performance in recent Olympics

Olympics history and India's performance in recent Olympics

(இதன் தமிழ் வடிவத்திற்கு இங்கே சொடுக்கவும்)

Origins of the Olympic Games

• Ancient Beginnings
• The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece as part of a religious festival in honor of Zeus, the Greek god of the sky, at Olympia.

Revival of the Modern Olympic Games

• Modern Olympics 
• The modern Olympic Games were revived in the late 19th century.
• The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896 in Athens, Greece.
• Pierre, Baron de Coubertin, is credited as the architect of the modern Olympic Games.

Governance and Organization

• International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• Foundation and Role
• The IOC was founded in 1894 and is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland.
• It is a non- governmental sports organization responsible for organizing the Olympic Games and governing National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

• Recognition by the UN
• In 2009, the UN General Assembly granted the IOC Permanent Observer status.
• IOC Session
• The IOC Session is the annual meeting of IOC members where each member has one vote, and its decisions are final.

Pattern and Hosting of the Olympic Games

• Scheduling and Hosting
• Since 1948, the Olympics have been held every four years.
• The responsibility of hosting the Olympic Games is given to a city, not a country, and the choice of the host city is determined solely by the IOC.
• Since 1994, the Summer and Winter Olympics have alternated every two years during the four-year Olympiad.

Evolution and Extensions

• Additional Olympic Events
• The Olympic Movement has evolved to include:
• Winter Olympic Games for snow and ice sports.
• Paralympic Games for athletes with disabilities.
• Youth Olympic Games for athletes aged 14 to 18.
• Continental Games (Pan American, African, Asian, European, and Pacific).
• World Games for sports not contested in the Olympics.
• Deaflympics and Special Olympics for various athlete groups.

Olympic Symbols and Motto

• Olympic Symbol 
• The Olympic rings, consisting of five intertwined rings, represent the unity of the five
• inhabited continents: Africa, the Americas (considered one continent), Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

• The flag was adopted in 1914 and first flown at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.
• Olympic Motto
• The motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" means "Faster, Higher, Stronger."

Olympic Games Programme

• Summer Olympics
• The Summer Olympics programme includes 26 sports.

• Winter Olympics
• The Winter Olympics programme features 15 sports.

• Overall Programme
• The Olympic Games programme consists of 35 sports, 30 disciplines, and 408 events.

Recent Olympic Events

Tokyo 2020 Olympics 

• Opening Ceremony 
• The Tokyo Olympics officially kicked off with an opening ceremony on 23rd July 2021 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
• It was attended by world leaders from 15 nations.
• Participation
• Tokyo became the first Asian city to host the Summer Olympics more than once.
• The event saw participation from over 11,000 athletes from 206 countries, competing in 339 events across 33 sports.
• New sports included 3×3 basketball, Madison cycling, freestyle BMX, karate, surfing, sports climbing, and skateboarding, while softball and baseball returned since their last appearance in 2008.

Mascot and Motto of Tokyo 2020

• Mascot
• The mascot for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 was Miraitowa, a combination of the Japanese words 'Mirai' (Future) and 'Towa' (Eternity).
• Designed by Ryo Taniguchi, Miraitowa symbolizes both the old and the new, representing 'innovation from harmony.'

• Motto
• For the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, it was amended to "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together" to express unity and solidarity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

India's Participation

• India competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, sending its largest-ever contingent of 119 athletes.
• This marked India's 25th appearance at the Summer Olympics.

India's Achievements at the Tokyo Olympics 2020

Overall Medal Tally

• India achieved its highest medal tally at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, securing a total of 7 medals: 1 Gold, 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze.

Notable Individual Performances

• Mirabai Chanu: Won a Silver medal in the 49 kg Weightlifting category, marking only the second-ever Olympic medal in this discipline for India.
• Lovlina Borgohain: Secured a Bronze medal in Welterweight Boxing.
• Neeraj Chopra: Claimed Gold in Javelin Throw, becoming the first Indian to win a medal in Athletics and the second Indian to win individual Gold at the Olympics.
• P.V. Sindhu: Earned a Bronze in Women's Singles Badminton, becoming the second consecutive Olympic medallist in this category for India.
• Shri Ravi Dahiya: Won Silver in the 57 kg Men’s Wrestling.
• Bajrang Punia: Achieved a Bronze medal in the 65 kg Men’s Wrestling.
• Hockey: Hockey Men's Team Secured Bronze, ending a 41-year medal drought since the 1980 Olympics.

India’s Success at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020

• Overall Achievement: India set a new record with 19 medals at the Tokyo Paralympics 2020, significantly surpassing its previous total of 12 medals won across all previous Paralympics.
• Ranking: India achieved its highest-ever ranking in the Paralympic Medal Table, finishing 24^th, an improvement from the previous best of 25th place in 1972.
• Participation: A record number of 54 para-athletes from India competed across 9 different sports disciplines.

Paris Olympics 2024 Highlights

Event Overview

• Official Name: Games of the XXXIII Olympiad
• Edition: 33rd Summer Olympics
• Opening Ceremony: July 26, 2024
• Closing Ceremony: August 11, 2024
• Slogan: Games Wide Open
• Total Events: 329 events
• Number of Sports: 32 sports, including 4 additional sports
• Athletes: Approximately 10,500
• Athletes From: 200 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team
• Host City: Paris, France

India’s Participation

• India is set to compete with a contingent of 117 athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Paris Olympics 2024 Logo

• Design Concept
• The logo for the Paris Olympics 2024 uniquely combines three symbols: the gold medal, the Olympic flame, and Marianne, a personification of France.
• This design signifies achievement, shared energy, and the spirit of the French Republic.

Symbolism

• Gold Medal: Represents achievement.
• Flame: Symbolizes the energy shared among people.
• Marianne: Embodies France and its values.

• Historical Note
• This logo will be used for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time, marking a historic milestone.

Paris Olympics 2024 Mascot

Mascot Design

• The official mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympics is the ‘Phryge,’ inspired by the Phrygian hats, which symbolize liberty and are allegorical figures of the French Republic.
• The mascot reflects the spirit of revolution and freedom, commemorating France’s rich history.

• Appearance
• The Phryge mascot is dressed in blue, white, and red, the colors of France’s tricolor flag.
• It features the Olympic logo on its chest and promotes the motto: “Alone we go faster, but together we go further.”

Paris Olympics 2024 Slogan

• Slogan 
• The slogan for the Paris 2024 Olympics is “Games Wide Open.”
• This phrase emphasizes boldness, creativity, and a break from traditional models, inviting
• people from around the world to experience an inclusive, responsible, and equal Olympics.

• Purpose
• The slogan aims to inspire unity and collective pride among participants and spectators, reflecting the Games' commitment to inclusivity and innovation.

India’s Flag Bearers at Paris Olympics 2024

• Opening Ceremony
• Pusarla Venkata Sindhu and Achantha Sharath Kamal served as India’s flag bearers during the opening ceremony, leading the Indian contingent in the Parade of Nations on the River Seine.
• Closing Ceremony
• PR Sreejesh and Manu Bhaker were the flag bearers for the closing ceremony, representing India’s achievements and spirit at the Games.

India’s Performance at the Paris Olympics 2024

• Overall Results
• India concluded the Paris Olympics 2024 with a total of 6 medals, including 1 Silver and 5 Bronze, placing 71st out of 206 participating National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
• This was India’s second-highest medal haul after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Notable Performances

• Manu Bhaker: Won two bronze medals in shooting, becoming the first Indian to achieve this feat in a single Olympic Games since Independence.
• She won a Bronze in the women’s 10 m air pistol event and another in the mixed 10 m air pistol team event with Sarabjot Singh.
• Swapnil Kusale: Secured a Bronze medal in the men’s 50 m rifle three positions event, adding to India's shooting medal tally.
• Men’s Field Hockey Team: Earned a Bronze medal by defeating Spain, achieving the country’s second consecutive Olympic bronze in men’s hockey.
• Neeraj Chopra: Claimed Silver in the men’s javelin throw, following his gold medal in the 2020 Olympics, making him the fifth individual multiple medallists for India and the first to win both Gold and Silver.
• Aman Sehrawat: Won a Bronze medal in the men’s freestyle 57 kg wrestling, becoming the youngest Indian to win an Olympic medal.

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