Olympic Movement
This section examines the modern Olympic Movement: its founder, institutions, symbols, values, history and India’s participation. Questions often test dates and the meaning of symbols.
Core facts
- The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894; Pierre de Coubertin is called the father of the modern Olympics.
- The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. The Winter Olympics began in 1924.
- The five interlocking rings represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from around the world. The colours, with the white background, appear on national flags.
- The Olympic motto is Citius, Altius, Fortius - Communiter: Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together. The Latin phrase Communiter was added in 2021.
- The Olympic values include friendship, respect, excellence, determination, inspiration, courage and equality.
- India first competed in 1900; Norman Pritchard won two silver medals. India’s hockey team won its first Olympic gold in 1928 at Amsterdam.
Worked example
Question: What do the five Olympic rings symbolise? Answer: the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes at the Olympic Games. The colours are not assigned one to each continent in the official explanation; they were chosen so that at least one colour, plus white, appears on every national flag. This reasoning avoids the common error of writing “blue for Europe, yellow for Asia” as official fact.
Marks-losing traps
Do not confuse 1894 (IOC founded) with 1896 (first modern Games). Do not say the Olympics are held every two years; Summer and Winter alternate in a four-year cycle. Do not assign ring colours to continents. Do not omit the 2021 addition to the motto.