People of ancient Greece believed the body was just as important as the mind. They participated in foot and chariot races and enjoyed boxing and wrestling. The date of 776 B.C. was the first recoreded results in a sport competition held during a ceremony to honour Zeus, the Greek god. The Games were then held every four years in the Valley of Olympia, and thus became known as the Olympic Games. On April 6, 1896, the first modern Olympic Games opened in Athens, Greece. The first Winter Games took place in 1924 in France.

Olympic Flag

The flag shows the five interlacing Olympic rings in black, blue, green red and yellow. The symbol represents fairness, friendship, understanding and respect among all those who take part in the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Motto

"Citius, Altius, Fortius" means "Faster, Higher, Stronger" in Latin, representing the Olypic principles and spirit.

Summer Olympics success

Did you know that equestrian Ian Millar leads the way among Canadian athletes, named to nine summer Olympic Games teams? His string began in 1972, with subsequent inclusions in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. The 1980 Canadian team did not compete, boycotting the Games in Moscow. Next on the list with seven each are Evert Bastet (sailing), James Elder and Christilot Hanson-Boylen (equestrian).

The most successful summer Olympic athlete in Canadian history is Philip Edwards, a middle distance runner who won five bronze medals from 1928 to 1936. His success on the track came in the 4x400m relay, 800m and 1,500m. On the women's side, rowers Kathleen Heddle, Marnie McBean and Lesley Thompson are all tied with four each. Heddle and McBean won three golds and a bronze each, while Thompson won a pair of silver medals and one each of gold and bronze.

Through the years, track and field events have produced the most medals by Canadian athletes at the Summer Games with 50 (13 gold, 14 silver, 23 bronze). Rounding out the top five are swimming 39 (7-13-19), rowing 31 (8-13-10), canoe/kayak 19 (4-8-7) and boxing 17 (3-7-7).