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Beauty & Health

10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Olympics

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Beauty & Health

10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Olympics

Four years in the making, the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have finally arrived! Here are 10 things you need to know about the historic event

by By Natalya Molok  /   August 5, 2016

The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have finally arrived!

The world’s greatest sporting event will feature new faces and old but whether it’s in the pool, on the track, in the sand, on a balance beam or on the roads, one thing is for sure: History will be made.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, here are some fun facts about the games that you might not have known:

https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/gallery/beauty-and-health/10-things-didnt-know-olympics/
10 Things You Didn't Know About The Olympics
1. The Show Doesn't Always Go On
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The modern Olympic games have been canceled three times, and always on account of war. The 1916 Summer Olympics in Berlin were canceled because of WWI. The 1940 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, as well as the 1944 Summer Olympics in London were canceled because of WWII.

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
2. There's No Perfect 10 Anymore
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Remember when Nadia Comenaci of Romania became the first gymnast to record a perfect score of 10.0 in 1976? No gymnast since 2006 has achieved that feat. The Olympic committee abandoned their old scoring system that year making it impossible for future gymnasts to score the big 10.

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
3. There's A Meaning Behind The Symbol
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The rings are meant to represent five continents (America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Oceania). While every single flag of every country in the world contains at least one of the colours present in the symbol: yellow, green, red, black, and blue.

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
4. Rio Has Never Hosted The Games Before
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Rio 2016 will be the first time in Olympic history that a South American country has hosted the Games. The Brazilian government has taken a no holds barred approach to their budget, spending a reported $12 billion on building the venues and other preparations for the games.

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
5. Athletes Can Drink Coffee And Energy Drinks
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Despite the hoopla surrounding doping in sports, athletes aren’t completely cut off from some performance-enhancing drugs. Sportsmen and women are allowed to drink coffee and energy drinks before competing – both of which can perk up an athlete’s speed and stamina!

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
6. The Olympic Torch Was Borne Out Of Tradition
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The ritual of lighting the Olympic flame using a torch that is relayed around the world was first carried out at the 1936 Berlin Games. Its origins lie in ancient Greece, where a fire was kept burning throughout the celebration of the ancient Olympics.

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
7. Gold Medals Aren't Pure
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Looks can be deceiving huh? Medals made with pure gold were last awarded in 1912, and winners today receive medals that are 93% silver and 6% copper, with just 6 grams of gold. That probably doesn’t matter to the athletes though, who work hard to gain glory and fame through sheer grit and determination.

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
8. Shakespeare Influenced The Games
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How is England’s most famous bard connected to the Olympics? Shakespeare was apparently the first person to use the word “Olympian” in 1591, in Henry VI, with the line: “Promise them such rewards, As victors wear at the Olympian games.”

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
9. There Will Be An Influx Of Food
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Organizers say they will prepare 60,000 meals per day to feed the athletes. Brazilian staples like rice, black beans and barbecued meat will be accompanied by other local offerings, such as tapioca, cheese bread and the superfood, acai berry. Yum!

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
10. Rio Is Set To Be Rauchiest Olympics Yet
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Athletes in the Olympic Village reportedly used 70,000 condoms at the 2000 games, and 100,000 at the 2008 games but Rio will raise the bar. Organisers will distribute 350,000 male condoms and 100,000 female for the athletes. Lubricant will also be provided.

Photo: The Official Olympics Instagram
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