1 The early Olympic Games were celebrated as a religious festival before they were banned for being a pagan festival in 393A.D.

2 Jamaica has won at least one medal in the women’s 200m at every Olympics since 1980. Veronica Campbell-Brown has been the only gold medalist, winning twice, while Merlene Ottey has won three bronze and one silver medal in the event.

3 The United States has more medals at the Summer Games than any other country with more than 2,100.

4 The five Olympic rings represent the five major regions of the world (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania), not the continents as commonly believed (there are seven of those).

5 Up until 1994, the Summer and Winter Games were held every four years but they have alternated every two years since then.

6 Three continents, Africa, South America and Antarctica, have never hosted an Olympics.

7 London has officially hosted the most Games with this summer’s making three. It previously hosted in 1908 and 1948

8  Soviet Union gymnast, Larisa Latynina has the most Olympic medals with 18, including nine gold medals.

9 Olympic gold medals haven’t been gold since 1912. They are silver with gold plating.