Olympic Games

plural noun

1. Also called Olympian Games. the greatest of the games or festivals of ancient Greece, held every four years in the plain of Olympia in Elis, in honor of Zeus.
2. O·lym·pics. a modern international sports competition, held once every four years.

Olympic Games

noun

1. the greatest Panhellenic festival, held every fourth year in honour of Zeus at ancient Olympia. From 472 bc , it consisted of five days of games, sacrifices, and festivities
2. See Winter Olympic Games
   Also calledthe Olympics the modern revival of these games, consisting of international athletic and sporting contests held every four years in a selected country since their inception in Athens in 1896 See also Winter Olympic Games

Olympic Games

1. Games held in ancient times on the plain of Olympia in Greece every four years. It was a time for laying aside political and religious differences, as athletes from all the Greek cities and districts competed. The games included patriotic and religious rituals as well as athletic contests, and high honors were given to the winners. The Greeks counted their years by olympiads (periods of four years) and dated events from the first Olympics in 776 b.c.

Notes

The Olympic Games deteriorated under Roman rule of Greece and were halted in the fourth century. They were revived in the late nineteenth century, with goals of peace and fellowship modeled on those of the ancient Olympics. The modern Olympics include many athletic events of the original games, such as the discus throw.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Olympic Games¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

McNeal’s first strike came four months before the 2016 Olympic Games, when she missed a test that April.

From Washington Post

Kate KayeFor Japan, this summer’s Olympic Games cannot come soon enough.

From Digiday

The playoffs are set to run from May 22 to July 22, finishing the season before this year’s Olympic Games.

From Washington Post

We know that 13-year-old may not have an impact this year, but history tells us it makes a big impact for the next Olympic Games.

From Washington Post

Her first strike came four months before the 2016 Olympic Games, when she missed a test that April.

From Washington Post

We did a lot in our seven years for the kids, brought the Olympic Games to the country.

From The Daily Beast

“They beat us right before the eyes of police, who were supposed to protect people during the Olympic Games,” Kniadlikovsky said.

From The Daily Beast

She was also the first European to be arrested during the Sochi Winter Olympic games for demonstrating about gay rights.

From The Daily Beast

Sidorova competed in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games when she was only 19 years old, serving as Skip for several matches.

From The Daily Beast

“The Olympic Games, like a big bulldozer, keep rolling all over our lives,” Martynov said with a sigh.

From The Daily Beast

These races, like the Olympic Games, were celebrated at intervals of four years, and were called Her.

From Project Gutenberg

Cimon gave an honourable sepulture to the mares with which he had three times gained the prize of the course at the Olympic Games.

From Project Gutenberg

Of the six paintings making up the series, only one, that of the Olympic Games, shows any artistic power.

From Project Gutenberg

So long ago as the last Olympic Games he published his intention of cremating himself at the next.

From Project Gutenberg

Represented Persia in the Olympic Games of 1072, winning the sitting high-jump and the egg-and-spoon race.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Olympic Games

What are the Olympic Games?

The modern Olympic Games, commonly called the Olympics, are an international athletic competition featuring multiple sporting events between athletes  representing their country.

There are two related but separate events called the Olympic Games: one hosted in winter, called the Winter Games, and one hosted in summer, called the Summer Games (they are commonly called the Winter Olympics and the Summer Olympics). The Winter Games feature winter sports, including figure skating, skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and many others. The Summer Games feature traditionally warm weather and indoor sports, like track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and basketball, among many others.

The Olympic Games are sometimes referred to as the Olympiad or the Games of the Olympiad, often incorporating the number of the current event. For example, the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo will be known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad. The event is often referred to with the name of the host city, as in the Tokyo Olympics. Athletes who compete in the Olympic Games are called Olympians.

At the Olympic Games, the top three finishers in each event are famously awarded Olympic medals: gold for first place, silver for second place, and bronze for third place.

Because the Olympic Games often feature the best athletes in the world, winning a medal—or even competing—in them is considered one of the peaks of athletic achievement.

The modern Olympic Games are based on an ancient Greek festival and competition that’s also referred to as the Olympic Games. The ancient games featured a range of athletic competitions as well as patriotic and religious rituals.

When are the Olympic Games?

The Olympic Games are now usually staggered so that there is two years between the Summer Games and the Winter Games, with each being held every four years (usually in even-numbered years). The Summer Games are usually in July and August and the Winter Games are usually held in February.

The 2024 Summer Olympics are scheduled for July 26–August 11. They will be held in Paris, France.

The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled for February 6–22, 2026. They will be held in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

More information and context on the Olympic Games

The ancient Greek Olympic Games are thought to have been first held in 776 b.c.e., and they were held regularly—often every four years—until the 4th century c.e. They were held in a place known as Olympia, the plain of Mount Olympus, which in Greek mythology was believed to be the realm of the gods. The ancient Olympic Games featured a number of athletic competitions—some of which are still events today, such as discus—but they were also a major religious festival.

In 1892, French scholar Pierre de Coubertin began a movement to reinstate the Olympic Games as a global event. In 1896, the first global modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece.

The Winter Games and the Summer Games used to be held in the same year, but they started to be staggered in the 1990s. Today, the Olympic Games host thousands of athletes from more than 90 countries. They are organized by the International Olympic Committee with the goal of gathering the world’s best athletes and creating global connections and peace between nations.

The Summer Games and the Winter Games are both known for having elaborate opening and closing ceremonies that celebrate the culture of the host country.

The Paralympic Games, an international competition for athletes with a range of bodily differences and disabilities, are usually held in the same city as the Olympic Games.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing the Olympic Games?

• Olympics
• Summer Games
• Winter Games
• Olympian
• gold medal
• silver medal
• bronze medal
• opening
• closing
• ceremony
• athlete

How are the Olympic Games discussed in real life?

The Olympic Games are popularly referred to as the Olympics. Many Olympic events are widely considered the pinnacle of athletic competition.

What an absolutely amazing Olympic games!!! Britain should really be proud! RIO has a very tough act to follow in 2016!

— Tom Daley (@TomDaley1994) August 13, 2012

The Reign will be well represented at the delayed Tokyo Summer Olympic Games. Forward Megan Rapinoe and midfielder Rose Lavelle were named to the USWNT squad on Wednesday, while midfielder Quinn was selected to Canada's national team. https://t.co/6y5HDjMpCH

— Seattle Times Sports (@SeaTimesSports) June 23, 2021

The Nigerian women's bobsleigh team made history at the Winter Olympic Games last year as the first Africans to compete.

Now, a race is on to popularise the sport https://t.co/mg5bJjZ3pO pic.twitter.com/9zqgfdwiQc

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) October 30, 2019

Try using Olympic Games!

True or False?

The Olympic Games are based on an ancient Greek festival.