Sports in News — Olympics
1. Olympics — Origin & History
ABOUT OLYMPICS
- Origin: The Olympic Games originated in Ancient Greece in 776 BC, held every four years in Olympia to honour Zeus.
- The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896.
- Women in Olympics: Women first participated in the Paris 1900 Games. Over time, women's participation grew significantly, reaching 48.9% at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
OLYMPIC RINGS
- The rings symbolise the union of the five continents.
- The five-coloured rings represent the five inhabited continents of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS
- 1904: First medals (gold, silver, bronze) awarded
- 1920: Olympic flag and oath introduced
- 1924: First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix
- 1936: First Olympic torch relay, live broadcast begins
- 1960: First Paralympic Games in Rome
- 1994: Winter and Summer Games held in different years
- 2010: First Youth Olympic Games (Singapore)
- 2014: Olympic Charter amended to oppose all forms of discrimination
2. Paris Olympics 2024 (Summer Olympics)
KEY FACTS
- Slogan: "Games Wide Open" ("Ouvrons Grand les Jeux")
- Top Nations:
- USA: 126 total medals (40 Golds) — 1st place
- China: 91 medals (40 Golds) — 2nd place
- Host for 2028: Los Angeles ("LA28")
- Five new sports approved for LA28: Baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, squash, and T20 cricket
- Winter Olympics 2026: Milan, Italy
INDIA'S MEDAL WINNERS — PARIS 2024
- India won six medals — one silver and five bronze.
- Manu Bhaker won the first medal (Bronze) for India at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
| Athlete | Medal | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Manu Bhaker | Bronze | Women's 10m Air Pistol (Shooting) |
| Manu Bhaker & Sarabjit Singh | Bronze | Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol (Shooting) |
| Swapnil Kusale | Bronze | Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (Shooting) |
| Indian Men's Hockey Team | Bronze | Men's Hockey |
| Neeraj Chopra | Silver | Men's Javelin Throw (Athletics) |
| Aman Sehrawat | Bronze | Men's Freestyle 57kg (Wrestling) |
OLYMPIC WRESTLING RULES
- Context: Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the 50 kg women's freestyle wrestling event after exceeding the weight limit ahead of her final match.
- Weight Classes: 6 each for Men's Freestyle, Women's Freestyle, and Greco-Roman.
- Match Duration: 2 periods of 3 minutes each, with a 30-second break.
- Point System: Points awarded in 1, 2, 4, 5. Win by pin (fall), technical superiority (10-point lead in freestyle), or more points.
- Styles:
- Freestyle: Allows leg use in attack and defense.
- Greco-Roman: No leg holds; only upper-body moves allowed.
- Repchage: Wrestlers who lose to a finalist get a chance to fight for bronze via repchage rounds.
3. Paris 2024 Paralympics
- The Paralympic Games evolved from sports competitions for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries in 1948, culminating in the first official games in Rome in 1960.
INDIA'S PERFORMANCE — PARIS 2024 PARALYMPICS
- India recorded its best-ever performance at the Paris 2024 Paralympics with 29 medals (7 gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze).
- Surpassed the 19-medal haul from Tokyo 2020 and crossed the 50-medal mark in its Paralympic history.
- A record 84 para-athletes competed across 12 sports, including debut appearances in para cycling, para rowing, and blind judo.
- India finished in 18th place.
- Top Nations: China (1st), Great Britain (2nd), United States (3rd).
- Avani Lekhara: First Indian woman with two Paralympic golds; world record in 10m air rifle SH1.
4. Summary: Olympics at a Glance
| Event | Year | Host | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Modern Olympics | 1896 | Athens | Modern Olympics began |
| Women's Debut | 1900 | Paris | Women first participated |
| First Winter Olympics | 1924 | Chamonix | First Winter Games held |
| First Paralympics | 1960 | Rome | First official Paralympic Games |
| Paris Olympics | 2024 | Paris | India: 6 medals; Slogan: "Games Wide Open" |
| Los Angeles Olympics | 2028 | Los Angeles | 5 new sports: T20 cricket, squash, lacrosse, flag football, baseball/softball |
| Paris Paralympics | 2024 | Paris | India: 29 medals (7 Gold, 9 Silver, 13 Bronze) |
Key Takeaways for UPSC
- Olympic Rings: Represent 5 continents — Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania
- Paris 2024 Slogan: "Games Wide Open" ("Ouvrons Grand les Jeux")
- India's Medal Count (Paris 2024): 6 medals (1 Silver, 5 Bronze)
- First Medal for India: Manu Bhaker — Bronze in Women's 10m Air Pistol
- Neeraj Chopra: Silver in Men's Javelin Throw
- LA28 New Sports: T20 Cricket, Squash, Lacrosse, Flag Football, Baseball/Softball
- Paris 2024 Paralympics: India's best-ever performance — 29 medals
- Avani Lekhara: First Indian woman with 2 Paralympic golds
- Olympic Wrestling: Freestyle (leg allowed) vs Greco-Roman (no leg holds)
- Repchage: Bronze medal opportunity for wrestlers losing to finalists
High-Yield Interactive UPSC Quiz (Sports — Olympics)
Q1. The first modern Olympics were held in which year and city?
Correct Answer: B. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896.
Q2. The Olympic rings represent how many continents?
Correct Answer: B. The five-coloured rings represent the five inhabited continents: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Q3. The first Paralympic Games were held in which year?
Correct Answer: C. The first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome in 1960.
Q4. Who won the first medal for India at the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Correct Answer: B. Manu Bhaker won the first medal (Bronze) for India at the Paris 2024 Olympics in Women's 10m Air Pistol.
Q5. What is the slogan for the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Correct Answer: C. The official slogan for the 2024 Paris Olympics is "Games Wide Open" ("Ouvrons Grand les Jeux").
Q6. The 2028 Summer Olympics will be hosted by which city?
Correct Answer: C. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, dubbed "LA28".
Q7. Which of the following is NOT a new sport approved for LA28?
Correct Answer: C. Karate is NOT among the five new sports approved for LA28. The new sports are: baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, squash, and T20 cricket.
Q8. How many medals did India win at the Paris 2024 Paralympics?
Correct Answer: C. India won 29 medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics — 7 gold, 9 silver, and 13 bronze.
Q9. Who is the first Indian woman with two Paralympic gold medals?
Correct Answer: B. Avani Lekhara is the first Indian woman with two Paralympic golds and holds a world record in 10m air rifle SH1.
Q10. In Olympic wrestling, which style allows leg use in attack and defense?
Correct Answer: B. In Freestyle wrestling, leg use is allowed in attack and defense. In Greco-Roman, no leg holds are permitted.