1896 Olympic Medals and Awards - Olympic-Legacy.com E-Mail The 1896 Olympic Medals and Awards In ancient Greece, an Olympic victory had immense impact on the athlete and his home city-state. Spiritual gratification, rather than material gain, motivated participation in the ancient Games. Based on that heritage, the awards of the 1896 Olympic games were simple tokens, yet rich in meaning and symbolism. Above: Marathon race winner, Spiros Louis, with his awards Awards of the First Modern Olympiad At the first modern Olympic games there were no gold medals for the winners, nor were there separate awards ceremonies. (Gold medals were first distributed at the Olympic games of 1904 in Saint Louis.) Instead, all of the prizes were given out by King George at a special ceremony just prior to the closing ceremony on the last day of the Games. All competitors in the Athens 1896 Games received some kind of award. In this way, the revived Games differed sharply from the ancient model, where only first place merited any kind of recognition.

The official awards of the 1896 Olympics were a silver medal, crown of olive branches, and certificate for first place; a bronze medal, crown of laurel, and certificate for second place; and a commemorative medal for each athlete who competed. The marathon race, however, was treated differently. Michel Br�al, who was fascinated by the legend of Phidippides , proposed "marathon run" for the first Olympic games. He promised a silver cup to the runner who could duplicate Phidippides' famous exploit (but without dying, of course). Lambros, a wealthy collector of Greek antiquities, offered an antique vase as a prize, to be added to Br�al's cup, for the marathon champion. So much excitement grew up around the introduction of this new kind of race that when Spiros Louis, a Greek national like Phidippides, won the race, the reaction of the spectators was understandable exuberant. 1896 Victor's Medal This medal was designed by Nicolas Gysis of Greece, who was then teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. It was cast in silver for first place and bronze for second place.

On the front is a portrait of Zeus with the globe in his right hand, upon which stands the goddess of victory, Nike. She is holding an olive branch in her hands. On the left the script reads in Greek "OLYMPIA." Olympic Summer Games Medals - Athens Info Guide 1896 Athens First place winners were awarded a silver medal, an olive branch and a diploma. Those in second place were given a copper medal, a branch of laurel and a diploma. The obverse side of the medal has Zeus' face along with his hand holding a globe with the winged victory on it and the caption in Greek "Olympia". The reverse side had the Acropolis site with the caption in Greek "International Olympic Games in Athens in 1896." 1900 Paris On the obverse, a winged goddess holding laurel branches in both hands, arms raised. In the background, underneath, a view of the city of Paris and the monuments of the Universal Exhibition. On the reverse, a victorious athlete standing on a podium holding a laurel branch in his right hand, arm raised. In the background, a stadium and the Acropolis of Athens.

1904 Saint Louis On the obverse, an athlete standing on some steps, holding a laurel crown in his right hand, symbol of victory, and raising his left arm. In the background, a bas relief illustrating the sports disciplines from Antiquity. Behind, a Greek temple. Above the figure of the athlete, the inscription "Olympiad" and on the rock bottom right "1904". On the reverse, Nike, goddess of victory, standing on a globe. She is holding a laurel crown in her left hand and a palm leaf in her right hand. In front of her, a great crown, with in the centre a space for the name of the sports discipline. Behind Nike, the bust of Zeus on a plinth. The inscription "Universal Exposition St.-Louis USA". The design of these two sides was inspired by the medal of the 1896 Athens Games and 1900 Paris Games. 1908 London On the obverse, two female figures placing a laurel crown on the head of a young victorious athlete, with, in the bottom half, the inscription "OLYMPIC GAMES LONDON 1908".

On the reverse, the figure of St.-George, patron saint of England. Legend says that he was a fighting saint who slew a dragon to free a princess. 1912 Stockholm On the obverse, two female figures placing a laurel crown on the head of young victorious athlete. On the reverse, a herald proclaiming the opening of the Games with, on the left, the statue of Ling, the founder of the institutions and the Swedish gym system. All around, the inscription "OLYMPISKA SPELEN STOCKHOLM 1912". 1920 Antwerp On the obverse, a tall, naked athlete, holding a palm leaf and a laurel crown, symbols of victory, in his left hand. Behind him, the figure of the Renomm?e playing the trumpet. In the background, a frieze with a Greek motif with the inscription "VII OLYMPIADE" underneath. On the reverse, the Antwerp monument, commemorating the legend of Brabo throwing the hand of the giant Druoon Antigoon, who had been terrorizing the river, into the Schelde.

The legend sais that in Antiquity, this cruel giant forced all vessels on the river to pay a toll. If the captain refused to pay, he cut off his hand. The giant spread terror amongst the sailors for many long years, until the day he met Silvius Brabo. This courageous Roman soldier dared to take on the giant and succeeded in killing him. As revenge for his victims, he cut off the giant's hand and threw it into the river. This is where the name of the city comes from. "Antwerp" means "thrown hand". In the background the cathedral and port of Antwerp. In the top half, the inscription "ANVERS MCMXX". A total of 1.250 copies were made: 450 gold medals, 400 silver medals and the same number in bronze. 1924 Paris On the obverse, a naked victorious athlete, taking the hand of his rival, seated on the ground, to help him to get up. Underneath, the Olympic rings. On the reverse, a harp as a symbol of the cultural program of the Games and the different sports equipment, winter as well as summer, forming an arch.

In the centre, the inscription "VIIIe OLYMPIADE PARIS 1924". A total of 912 copies were made: 304 gold medals and the same number of silver medals, as well as 306 bronze medals. 1928 Amsterdam On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee. For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: "IXe OLYMPIADE AMSTERDAM 1928". On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd with the Olympic stadium in the background. (from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical.

The Organizing Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1932 Los Angeles On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee. For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: "Xth OLYMPIAD LOS ANGELES 1932". On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background. (From 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical. The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1936 Berlin On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right.

A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee in 1921. On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background. (from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical. The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1948 London On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee. For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: "XIV OLYMPIAD LONDON 1948". On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background.

(from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical. The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1952 Helsinki On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee. For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: "XV OLYMPIA HELSINKI 1952". On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background. (from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical.

The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1956 Melbourne/Stockholm On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee. For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: "XVIth OLYMPIAD MELBOURNE 1956". On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background. (from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical. The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1960 Rome On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right.

A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee in 1921. For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: "GIOCCHI DELLA XVII OLIMPIADE ROMA MCMLX". The medals in Rome were set in a circle of bronze featuring a laurel wreath matched with a chain also designed like a sequence of bronze laurel leaves. On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background. (from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical. The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1964 Tokyo On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right.

A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee in 1921. On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background. (from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical. The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1968 Mexico On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, holding a palm in her left hand and a winner’s crown in her right. A design used since the 1928 Games in Amsterdam, created by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli and chosen after a competition organized by the International Olympic Committee in 1921. For these Games, the picture of victory is accompanied by the specific inscription: “XIX OLIMPIADA MEXICO 1968”. On the reverse, an Olympic champion carried in triumph by the crowd, with the Olympic stadium in the background.

(from 1928 to 1968, the medals for the Summer Games were identical. The Organising Committee for the Games in Munich in 1972 broke new ground by having a different reverse which was designed by Gerhard Marcks.) 1972 Munich On the obverse, the traditional goddess of victory, a design used since the 1928 Amsterdam Games, accompanied by the specific inscription "XX Olympiade Munchen 1972". On the reverse, Castor and Pollux, the twin sons of Zeus and Leda, the patrons of sports competitions and friendship, represented by two naked youths. This design was created by Gerhard Marcks, one of the last representatives of the Bauhaus. 1976 Montreal On the obverse, the design of Guiseppe Cassioli, created for the Amsterdam Games in 1928. The principal symbols are Victory, Fraternity and Universality. The reverse was designed as intentionally bare. It comprises a stylized laurel crown, symbol of victory since the Games of Antiquity, and the emblem of the Montreal Games.

1980 Moscow On the obverse, the traditional Olympic symbol of victory: the goddess Nike holding a laurel wreath; in the lower right-hand corner, a fragment of the colisseum and above it, the inscription in Cyrillic XXII Olimpiady Moskva 1980 (Games of the XXII Olympiad Moscow 1980). On the reverse, a stylized Olympic Bowl with a burning flame against the background of a stadium arena. The upper right-hand segment carries the insignia of the Moscow Olympics. The name of the sport appears on the rim. 1984 Los Angeles The medals for 1984 were an adaptation of the original design by Florentine artist Giuseppe Cassioli created for the 1928 Games in Amsterdam. The obverse of the medal features the ancient coliseum and the goddess of victory holding a winner's crown. The reverse of the medal features a victorious athlete, a palm branch carried by jubilant athletes and a stadium in the background. 1988 Seoul On the obverse, the ancient coliseum and the goddess of victory holding the laurel crowns and the caption: "XXIV Olympiad Seoul 1988".

On the reverse, a dove, the symbol of peace, soaring up, holding a laurel branch in its mouth and the Seoul Olympic sash composed of three Taeguk patterns from the Korean national flag and the five Olympic rings. 1992 Barcelona On the obverse, a medallion 56mm in diameter, superimposed on the medal and slightly off-centre, on which the image of the goddess of victory appeared, drawn in a Modernist style, together with the words "XXV Olimpiada Barcelona 1992".On the reverse the official emblem of the Barcelona Games. The medal was designed by the sculptor Xavier Corbeo. 1996 Atlanta On the obverse, a drawing that has been in use since the Amsterdam Games of 1928, representing Nike, the goddess of victory, holding palms in her left hand, and, in her right hand, held over her head, a winner's crown. On the reverse, the logo of the 1996 Games and a stylized olive branch. In total, 633 gold medals, 635 silver, and 661 bronze medals were cast for these Games.

2000 Sydney The customary symbols, including the Victory Goddess holding a winner's crown, are engraved on the obverse face. The Sydney Opera House, the Olympic torch and the Olympic rings are represented on the reverse. The designers are Australian: Woljciech Pietranik and Brian Thompson. 2004 Athens The main feature of the medals is the Greek character shown on both sides since their basic side has been changed for the first time since the Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928. This is of particular importance as from now on all Olympic medals will reflect the Greek character of the Games as regards both their origin and their revival. On the medals awarded to Olympic athletes from 1928 until the Sydney Games, goddess Nike was seated, holding an ear of corn in one hand and a wreath in the other. Here, she flies into the stadium bringing victory to the best athlete. The Organizsing Committee has chosen to show the Panathenaic stadium, where the Games were first renewed in 1896. On the obverse, the athlete’s discipline is also engraved.

The reverse side of the medal is composed of three elements: - the eternal flame that was lit in Olympia and traveled through the five continents by way of the 2004 Torch Relay - the opening lines of Pindar's Eighth Olympic Ode composed in 460 BC to honor the victory of Alkimedon of Aegina in wrestling - the Athens 2004 Olympic Games emblem. The design of the Medal was created by Elena Votsi. Olympic medal | Olympics Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia A gold medal awarded at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver , Canada . An Olympic medal is awarded to successful competitors at one of the Olympic Games . There are three classes of medal : gold , awarded to the winner; silver , awarded to the runner-up; and bronze , awarded to the third-place competitor. In addition to generally supporting their Olympic athletes, some countries provide sums of money and gifts to medal winners, depending on the classes and number of medals won. Medal designs have varied considerably since the first Olympic Games in 1896, particularly in size and weight.

A standard obverse (front) design of the medals for the Summer Olympic Games began in 1928 and remained for many years, until its replacement at the 2004 Games as the result of controversy surrounding the use of the Roman Colosseum rather than a building representing the Games' Greek roots. The medals of the Winter Olympic Games never had a common design, but regularly feature snowflakes. Contents Edit The olive wreath was the prize for the winner at the Ancient Olympic Games . It was an olive branch, of the wild-olive tree that grew at Olympia , [1] intertwined to form a circle or a horse-shoe. According to Pausanias it was introduced by Heracles as a prize for the winner of the running race to honour Zeus . [2] When the modern Olympic Games began in 1896 medals started to be given to successful competitors. However, gold medals were not awarded at the inaugural Olympics in 1896 in Athens , Greece . [3] The winners were instead given a silver medal and an olive branch, [4] while runners-up received a laurel branch and a copper or bronze medal .

[5] In 1900, most winners received cups or trophies instead of medals. The custom of the sequence of gold , silver , and bronze for the first three places dates from the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States . The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has retroactively assigned gold, silver and bronze medals to the three best placed athletes in each event of the 1896 and 1900 Games. [6] [7] If there is a tie for any of the top three places all competitors are entitled to receive the appropriate medal according to IOC rules. [8] Medals are not the only awards given to competitors; every athlete placed first to eighth receives an Olympic diploma . Also, at the main host stadium, the names of all medal winners are written onto a wall. [8] Production and design A collection of medals won by Polish athletes, at the Museum of Sport and Tourism in Warsaw The IOC dictates the physical properties of the medals and has the final decision about the finished design.

Specifications for the medals are developed along with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) hosting the Games, though the IOC has brought in some set rules: [8] [9] Recipients: The top three competitors receive medals Shape: Usually circular, featuring an attachment for a chain or ribbon Diameter: A minimum of 60 mm Thickness: A minimum of 3 mm Material: First place: It is composed of silver (at least .925 grade) covered with 6 grams of pure gold . Second place: It has the same composition as the first place medal without the gilding. [10] Third place: It is mostly copper with some tin and zinc (worth approximately $3). [11] Event details: The sport for which the medal has been awarded should be written on the medal The first Olympic medals in 1896 were designed by French sculptor Jules-Clément Chaplain and depicted Zeus holding Nike , the Greek goddess of victory, on the obverse and the Acropolis on the reverse. [3] They were made by the Paris Mint who also made the medals for the 1900 Olympic Games hosted by Paris.

This started the tradition of giving the responsibility of minting the medals to the host city. For the next few Olympiads the host was also given the ability to choose the medal design. Trionfo File:1980 Summer Olympics bronze medal.JPG In 1923 the International Olympic Committee (IOC) launched a competition for sculptors to design the medals for the Summer Olympic Games . Giuseppe Cassioli 's Trionfo design was chosen as the winner in 1928. [3] [12] [13] The obverse brought back Nike but this time as the main focus, holding a winner's crown and palm with a depiction of the Colosseum in the background. [12] In the top right section of the medal a space was left for the name of the Olympic host and the Games numeral. The reverse features a crowd of people carrying a triumphant athlete. His winning design was first presented at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam . The competition saw this design used for 40 years until the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich became the first Games with a different design for the reverse side of the medal.

[3] Cassioli's design continued to inspire the obverse of the medal for many more years, though recreated each time, with the Olympic host and numeral updated. The obverse remained true to the Trionfo design until the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona , Spain , where the IOC allowed an updated version to be created. For the next few events they mandated the use of the Nike motif but allowed other aspects to change. [9] The trend ended in 2004 due to the negative publicity in reaction to the design of medal for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney . Wojciech Pietranik , the designer of the medal, along with the organisers of the Games were criticised by the Greek press for using the Roman Colosseum rather than the Greek Parthenon . [3] [14] Pietranik's original design had featured the Sydney Opera House on the obverse but the IOC concluded that it should be replaced by the Colosseum and a chariot rider.

He made the changes and, despite the criticism, the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games decided to continue with the design as it was, noting that there was insufficient time to complete another version and that it would be too costly. [9] The error had remained for 76 years until a new style depicting the Panathinaiko Stadium was introduced at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens . [15] This new obverse design would go on to be used at the 2008 and 2012 Games. Custom reverse designs Edit The German Olympic Committee, Nationales Olympisches Komitee für Deutschland , were the first Summer Games organisers to elect to change the reverse of the medal. The 1972 design was created by Gerhard Marcks , an artist from the Bauhaus , and features mythological twins Castor and Pollux . [16] Since then the Organising Committee of the host city has been given the freedom of the design of the reverse, with the IOC giving final approval. Comparison between Summer and Winter Edit The IOC has the final decision on the specifications of each design for all Olympic medals, including the Summer Games, Winter Games , and Paralympic Games .

There has been a greater variety of design for the Winter Games; unlike with the Summer Games, the IOC never mandated one particular design. The medal at the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix , France did not even feature the Olympic rings . Nike was featured on the medals of the 1932 and 1936 Games but has only appeared on one medal design since then. One regular motif is the use of the snowflake, while laurel leaves and crowns appear on several designs. The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius features on four Winter Games medals but does not appear on any Summer Games medal. For three events in a row, hosts of the Winter Games included different materials in the medals: glass (1992), sparagmite (1994), and lacquer (1998). It was not until the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing , China that a Summer Olympic host chose to use something different, in this case jade . While every Summer Olympic medal except for the 1900 Games has been circular, the shapes of the Winter Games have been considerably more varied.

The Winter Games medals are also generally larger, thicker, and heavier than those for the Summer Games. Individual design details File:Thorpe gold medal.jpg The presentation of the medals and awards changed significantly until the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles brought in what has now become standard. Before then all the medals were awarded at the closing ceremony, with the athletes wearing evening dress for the first few Games. For the first time at the 1932 Games the competitors received their medals immediately after each event atop a podium. [8] The 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome , Italy were the first in which the medals were placed around the neck of the athletes. The medals hung from a chain of laurel leaves, while they are now hung from a coloured ribbon. [16] When Athens hosted the 2004 Summer Olympics the competitors on the podium also received an olive wreath crown.

Gallery 1896 Summer Olympics medal table explained 1896 Summer Olympics medal table 1896 Summer Olympics medal table explained The 1896 Summer Olympics medal count is a list of National Olympic Committee s ranked by the number of medal s won during the 1896 Summer Olympics —the first Olympic Games of the Modern era —held in Athens , Greece , from 6 to 15 April 1896. A total of 241 athletes from 14 nations participated in 43 events in nine sports at these games. [1] Ten of the fourteen participating nations earned medals, in addition to three medals won by mixed team s, i.e. teams made up of athletes from multiple nations. The United States won the most gold medals (11), while host nation, Greece, won the most medals overall (46) as well as the most silver (17) and bronze (19) medals, finishing with one less gold medal than the United States. [2] In the early Olympic Games, several team events were contested by athletes from multiple nations.

[3] Retroactively, the IOC created the designation " Mixed team " (with the country code ZZX) to refer to these group of athletes.Some athletes won medals both individually and as part of a mixed team, so these medals are tabulated under different nations in the official counts. Dionysios Kasdaglis , an athlete of Greek origins living in Alexandria , Egypt , is listed by the IOC as Greek during his competition in the singles tennis competition but Kasdaglis and his doubles tennis teammate, Greek athlete Demetrios Petrokokkinos , are listed a mixed team. [2] During these inaugural Olympics, winners were given a silver medal and an olive branch, while runners-up received a copper medal and a laurel branch. [4] The IOC has retroactively assigned gold, silver and bronze medals to the three best placed athletes in each event to comport with more recent traditions. [2] Three ties resulted in medals being shared between athletes, increasing the medal count of various nations.

These include ties between Francis Lane of the United States and Alajos Szokolyi of Hungary , for the third place in the 100 metres ; between Evangelos Damaskos and Ioannis Theodoropoulos of Greece in the pole vault ; and between Konstantinos Paspatis of Greece and Momcsilló Tapavicza of Hungary, in singles tennis .In addition, bronze medals were not awarded in a number of events where there was no third-place finisher. [4] [5] Medal count This is the full table of the medal count of the 1896 Summer Olympics , based on the medal count of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). These rankings sort by the number of gold medals earned by a country. The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals. If, after the above, countries are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically. This information is provided by the IOC, however the IOC does not recognise or endorse any ranking system. [2] To sort this table by nation, total medal count, or any other column, click on the icon next to the column title.

1 Ancient Olympic Prizes - Olympic-Legacy.com E-Mail Ancient Prizes It is impossible to overstate the glory of being an Olympic victor in antiquity. An Olympic victory was the highest honor for a mortal to attain and Olympic victors shared in the divine splendor and immortal fame of the first mythical heroes. The monetary prizes offered at non-amateur athletic festivals were insignificant compared to the fame and glory earned by the Olympic victor. Sacred Amateurism The honors and prizes that Olympic victors received reflected the philosophy of amateurism central to the Games. In ancient Greece there were two kinds of games: the "stephanos" (sacred) in which the prize was a wreath, and the "thematikoi," in which winners also received a monetary award. The Olympic games were the most important of the four panhellenic games, which were all "stephanitai." For each sacred festival, the prize was a wreath made from the branches of the sacred plant of the patron god.

In the Pythian games it was a laurel wreath, in the Nemean it was from the celery plant, in the Isthmian games it was a pine wreath, and in the Olympic games it was made from an olive branch. This crown was a symbolic and sacred honor and was believed to transfer mystical powers to the athlete. The Rewards of Victory Immediately after an athlete won his event, the herald would announce his name, father's name, and city of origin to the crowd. He was given a palm branch and adorned with red woolen ribbons around his head, arm, and leg as marks of victory as the crowd cheered wildly. As soon as possible a custom-made victory song was commissioned. That night the victor would feast with his friends. The party would often extend all night as they adorned themselves with garlands and paraded around the Altis, singing the new victory hymn and other songs. The next morning, the winning athlete presented offerings and prayers at the altars of the appropriate deities. The awards ceremony at the end of the Games was an awe-inspiring event. The wreaths made from the sacred olive tree were displayed on a gold and ivory table.

The senior Hellanodikos (judge) crowned each victor while the onlookers tossed petals. Then the winners would be celebrated and feted at a grand feast. The greatest of the prizes awarded an Olympic victor was the honor of placing his statue at Olympia, in the holy sanctuary dedicated to the gods. The Triumphal Return An Olympic winner brought glory not only to himself, but also to his hometown. In those days, personal achievement was inexorably linked to with contribution and acknowledgment of the athlete's city. In fact, some states would pay for an athlete's training. Such was the stigma of disappointing your sponsoring city that a defeated athlete would slink home via back alleys, "smitten by his misfortune." Those who did win were comparable to heroes and deities; thus, they received excessive honors. While honorary distinctions and privileges varied from place to place, usually a city would go all out to welcome their new hero. There would be a grand reception and perhaps a parade with the assembled crowd throwing flowers and leaves. A great feast would be held worthy of the mighty achievements. In gratitude for divine assistance, the victor would visit his local temple and offer the olive wreath to his patron deity.

The victor may or may not receive actual money, but there were usually plenty of "perks" such as free meals for life and a seat in the Prytaneion, free board and lodging, theater seats, and (after the fifth century BC), exclusion from taxation. Quite often a victor's city would erect a local statue in his honor and possibly other public monuments. Winning Is Everything Part of the reason for such glory was the relatively small number of winners. For the first thirteen Olympiads, there was only one event and therefore only one winner. Even after the number of events grew, only the first place finisher for each event was considered a victor. Coming in second or third place counted for nothing and were not even recorded. In the event of a draw, the crown was dedicated to the god. Such was the pressure to win that some athletes prayed for either victory or death. King of the Calendar A system of dating was devised according to the four-year Olympiad. For the first thirteen Games, the Olympic winner (there was only one event: the 200-meter sprint) lent his name to the next four years.

It is easy to imagine that an Olympic victor would become a household name if he became part of the calendar, against which other dates were calculated! Forever Famous The most prestigious of all honors afforded an Olympic victor was the privilege of erecting a statue at Olympia to commemorate his achievement for all generations. It would bear the name of the athlete, family names, and his city. If he could not afford it, friends, relatives, or his city might sponsor it. Peons of Praise It was a common practice to commission one of the popular poets of the day (such as Pindar, Bacchylides, and Simonides) to compose a victory ode written especially for the triumphant athlete. These poems, called "epinicians," were extremely popular. In those days, the songs and folklore passed by word of mouth were the ancient version of "mass media." It was through verse and song that a victor's fame spread nationally and internationally. The poems, and the athletes, live on in people's memories long after the day of victory. The epinician odes have lasted longer than many of the statues and inscriptions that were made for the same purpose.

The Legacy Lives On It is interesting to see these traditions shadowed in the story of Spiros Louis, the Greek runner who won the marathon at the first revived Games in Athens in 1896. The adulation of the crowd and the honors lavished on him are strongly reminiscent of the way victors were feted in ancient times. Even the little "perks," such as free meals, free shaves, free theater tickets, etc. for life are the heritage of the many national and civic honors bestowed on the Olympian Victors "Olympionikai" of ancient times. The Rio Olympic Games - Enchanted Learning We’re converting to a new website design – keep your eyes open! Enchanted Learning Advertisement. EnchantedLearning.com is a user-supported site. As a bonus, site members have access to a banner-ad-free version of the site, with print-friendly pages. The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Table of Contents Rio 2016 Summer Games Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics. For information and activities on Brazil, click here . For a page on Brazil’s flag, click here .

The Games of the XXXI Olympiad—the 2016 Summer Olympics—were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The opening ceremony was on August 5, 2016. The closing ceremony was on August 21, 2016. Over 200 nations and more than 10,000 athletes competed. The motto of the Rio Olympics was “A New World.” The Ancient Olympics The ancient Greeks dedicated the Olympic Games to the god Zeus. The original games were held on the plain of Olympia in Peloponnesos, Greece . The Greeks held the first Olympic games in the year 776 BC (over 2700 years ago), and had only one event, a sprint (a short run that was called the “stade”). The race was run by men who competed in the nude. A wreath of olive branches was placed on the winner’s head (in Greek, this is called a kotinos). The olive tree was the sacred tree of Athens, Greece. Women were neither allowed to compete in the games nor to watch them, because the games were dedicated to Zeus and were therefore meant for men.

The four-year period between the Olympic games was called an olympiad. Every four years, for 1,170 years, the Greeks held an Olympics, which continued to grow and change. Many other sports were added, including other races, wrestling, boxing, pentathlon (five events, including the long jump, javelin throw, discus throw, foot race, and wrestling), and equestrian events (events with horses and people, like chariot races and horse races) The Olympic games were banned by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius II in the year AD 394. The Modern Olympics Over a fifteen hundred years later, Pierre de Frédy, Baron de Coubertin (1863-1937) (a French educator and sportsman) revived the Olympic Games. An all-male Olympic games were held in 1896, in Athens, Greece. The first winter Olympics were held in 1924, in Chamonix, France. The Flag of the Olympic Games The flag of the Olympic Games has five interlocking rings (blue, yellow, black, green, and red) on a white ground.

The rings represent the five parts of the world that were joined together in the Olympic movement: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe. Baron de Coubertin designed the flag of the Olympics in 1913-1914. The Olympic flag was first used in the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. The Olympic flag is paraded during the opening ceremony of each Olympic Games. At the end of an Olympics, the mayor of the host-city presents the flag to the mayor of the next host-city. The flag will remain in the town hall of the next host-city until the next Olympic Games, four years later. History of the Olympic Flame The tradition of the Olympic flame began during the ancient Olympic Games, over 2700 years ago in Greece. A flame was lit for each Olympics, every four years, and it burned throughout the games. The flame symbolized the death and rebirth of Greek heroes. There was no torch relay in the ancient Olympics. The first torch relay took place at the 1936 games in Berlin, Germany.

The Torches of the Olympics For each Olympics, a new flame is started in the ancient Olympic stadium in Olympia, Elis, Greece , using a parabolic mirror to focus the rays of the Sun. This flame begins its Olympic Torch Relay by touring Greece. The flame is normally taken to the country where the games will be held (usually by airplane). Following that, the flame is then carried around the country where the games are to be held, using a series of torches carried by people running, walking, riding horses and camels, scuba diving, and using other means of human conveyance. The last runner uses a torch to light the large Olympic torch which burns throughout the games. The flame is extinguished during the closing ceremony. A new Olympic torch is designed for each of the games. The Olympic Motto World Commemorative Medals - Greece - First Modern Olympics 1896 - Commemorative Copper Participation Medal - Lot No. 2984 World Commemorative Medals - Greece - First Modern Olympics 1896 - Commemorative Copper Participation Medal Medals - Commemorative Sold for (Inc.

premium): £546 WORLD COMMEMORATIVE MEDALS - GREECE - FIRST MODERN OLYMPICS 1896 - COMMEMORATIVE COPPER PARTICIPATION MEDAL Dated 1896 AD By N. Lytras and W. Pittner, Austria. Obv: seated Nike holding laurel wreath over phoenix emerging from flames, Acropolis in background, with ΟΛΥΜΡΙΑΚΟΙ ΑΓΩΝΕΣ (Olympic Games) to right and ΑΘΗΝΑΙ (Athens) below. Rev: ΔΙΕΘΝΕΙ ΟΛΥΜΡΙΑΚΟΙ ΑΓΩΝΕΣ ΑΘΗΝΗΣΙ (International Olympic Games Athens) legend and date in five lines, within wreath. 58.87 grams, 50mm. Very fine/good very fine; weakly struck to obverse. Scarce. [No Reserve] Literature See Gad. 2.

Footnotes The 1896 Olympic Games, the first full Games of the modern era, opened in Athens on 6 April following the congress organised by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and the formation of the International Olympic Committee; some 80,000 spectators watched the opening ceremony and sports including athletics, cycling, gymnastics, swimming, shooting, tennis, weightlifting, wrestling, fencing and sailing, totalling forty-three events with winners receiving an olive branch, certificate and a silver medal and the runners-up receiving the olive branch, certificate and a copper medal (which was also given to all participants and was available to the public attending; it is believed that 20,000 were struck). Although recorded as representing their country, athletes (strictly amateurs) often made their own travel and accommodation arrangements with the full modern concept of national teams, selected and organised by each nation, not being universal until the Games of 1906.

Date Wednesday 9th September 2015 - Saturday 12th September 2015, Antiquities, Coins & Natural History TimeLine Auctions Ltd arranges printed catalogue rostrum Auctions, eAuctions and Timed Auctions where we offer antiquities, ancient artefacts / artifacts, antiques, collectibles, coins, medals and books for public sale. Lot - jump to:

Question: At the 1896 Athens Summer Olympic Games, the winners were given a silver medal and a branch from which type of tree?
Answer: Olive