ST G E O RG E ’S E X PR E SS
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The Olympic Games Olympic History Researched and written by Matthew Goold and illustrated by Lukas Roberts The Olympic Games started over 2,700 years ago in Olympia, in southwest Greece. According to legend, the Ancient Olympics were founded by Heracles, a son of Zeus. However, the first Olympic Games, for which there are written records, were held in 776 BC. The Greek Olympics were held in honour of Zeus, the King of the Gods, and were staged every 4 four years at Olympia, a valley near a city called Elis. The games were part of a religious festival. People all over the Greek world came to watch and take part. The ancient Olympics grew bigger and bigger until a Roman emperor called Theodosius abolished them. Then about 1500 years later, a Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin brought them back again. The Greek Olympics inspired the modern Olympic games which began in 1896. Great Britain, is the name under which the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland competes at the Olympic games. Great Britain was one of 14 teams to compete in the first Games in the 1896 summer Olympics and has competed at every Olympic Games since then. Athletes representing Great Britain have won 715 medals at the summer Olympic Games, and another 22 at the winter Olympic Games. Great Britain is the only team to have won at least one gold medal at every summer Games!
The Olympic Torch Researched and written by Claire McHugh and illustrated by Lukas Roberts The Olympic flame is lit in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece, showing the connection between the ancient games and the modern ones. The modern use of the Olympic Flame began in 1936. 8,000 people are carrying the Olympic torch this year. Torchbearers are carrying the flame through more than 1,000 cities, towns and villages in the UK! The Olympic Flame arrived in the UK on the 18th of May 2012 before setting out the next day on a 70-day Olympic torch relay, bringing the excitement of the games to everyone. Some 1400 cities will have been visited by the Olympic torch. Here is a list of the first cities visited on each day. Day 1-19/5
Day 11-29/5 Day 21-8/6
Day 31-18/6 Day 41-28/6 Day 51-8/7
Day 61-18/7
Lands End
Beaumaris
Middlesbrough Lincoln
Hastings
Day 2-20/5
Day 12-30/5 Day 22-9/6
Day 32-19/6 Day 42-29/6 Day 52-9/7
Day 62-19/7
Plymouth
Chester
Hull
Deal
Day 3-21/5
Day 13-31/5 Day 23-10/6 Day 33-20/6 Day 43-30/6 Day 53-10/7 Day 63-20/7
Exeter
Stoke-on-
Kirkwall
Day 4-22/5
Day 14-1/6
Day 24-11/6 Day 34-21/6 Day 44-1/7
Day 54-11/7 Day 64-21/7
Taunton
Bolton
Stornoway
Reading
Day 5-23/5
Day 15-2/6
Day 25-12/6 Day 35-22/6 Day 45-2/7
Day 55-12/7 Day 65-22/7
Bristol
Liverpool
Aberdeen
Salisbury
Day 6-24/5
Day 16-3/6
Day 26-13/6 Day 36-23/6 Day 46-3/7
Day 56-13/7 Day 66-23/7
Gloucester
Belfast
St Andrews
Portland Bill
Day 7-25/5
Day 17-4/6
Day 27-14/6 Day 37-24/6 Day 47-4/7
Day 57-14/7 Day 67-24/7
Worcester
River Bann
Edinburgh
Bournemouth
Day 8-26/5
Day 18-5/6
Day 28-15/6 Day 38-25/6 Day 48-5/7
Day 58-15/7 Day 68-25/7
Cardiff
Londonderry
Alnwick
Southampton
Day 9-27/5
Day 19-6/6
Day 29-16/6 Day 39-26/6 Day 49-6/7
Day 59-16/7 Day 69-26/7
Swansea
Dublin
Gateshead
Portsmouth
Stranraer
Glasgow
York
Dumfries
Kendal
Lytham St
Salford
Leeds
Sheffield
Nottingham
Derby
Birmingham
Coventry
Leicester
Peterborough
Norwich
Ipswich
Cambridge
Luton
Oxford
Maidstone
Greenwich
Redbridge
Lewisham
Kingston
HARROW
Camden
Day 10-28/5 Day 20-7/6
Day 30-17/6 Day 40-27/6 Day 50-7/7
Day 60-17/7 Day 70-27/7
Aberystwyth
Durham
Brighton
Newcastle
Grimsby
Chelmsford
Hampton Court