Olympic Games - - Organizations - style="border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;" Charter (Olympic Charter)? IOC (International Olympic Committee)? NOC (National Olympic Committee)s? Symbols (Olympic symbols)Sports (Olympic sport)? Competitors (:Category:Olympic competitors)Medal tables (All-time Olympic Games medal table)? Medalists (Lists of Olympic medalists)? ceremonies (Olympic Games ceremony) - Games - Ancient Olympic GamesSummer Olympic GamesWinter Olympic GamesParalympic GamesYouth Olympic Games

The Olympic Games are a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions (multi-sport event). The Games are currently held every two years in even-numbered (Parity (mathematics)) years, with Summer (Summer Olympic Games) and Winter Olympic Games alternating, although they occur every four years within their respective seasonal games. Originally, the ancient Olympic Games were held in Olympia (Olympia, Greece), Greece, from the 8th century BC to the 5th century AD. Baron Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1894. The IOC has since become the governing body of the Olympic Movement, whose structure and actions are defined by the Olympic Charter.

The evolution of the Olympic Movement during the 20th century forced the IOC to adapt the Games to the worlds changing social circumstances. Some of these adjustments included the creation of the Winter Games for ice and snow sports, the Paralympic Games for athletes with physical disabilities, and the Youth Olympic Games for teenage athletes. The IOC also had to accommodate the Games to the varying economical, political, and technological realities of the 20th century. As a result, the Olympics shifted away from pure amateurism, as envisioned by Coubertin, to allow participation of professional athletes. The growing importance of the mass media created the issue of corporate sponsorship and commercialization of the Games.

The Olympic Movement currently comprises international sports federations (List of international sport federations) (IFs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and organizing committees for each specific Olympic Games. As the decision-making body, the IOC is responsible for choosing the host city for each Olympic Games. The host city is responsible for organizing and funding a celebration of the Games consistent with the Olympic Charter. The Olympic program, consisting of the sports (Olympic sports) to be contested at each Olympic Games, is also determined by the IOC. The celebration of the Games encompasses many rituals and symbols, such as the Olympic flag and torch (Olympic torch), as well as the opening and closing ceremonies (Olympic Games ceremony). There are over 13,000 athletes that compete at the Summer and Winter Olympics in 33 different sports and nearly 400 events. The first, second, and third place finishers in each event receive gold, silver or bronze Olympic medals, respectively.

The Games have grown in scale to the point that nearly every nation is represented. Such growth has created numerous challenges, including boycotts (Olympic boycotts), doping (Use of performance enhancing drugs at the Olympic Games), bribery of officials (2002 Winter Olympic bid scandal), and terrorism (Munich massacre). Every two years, the Olympics and its media exposure provide unknown athletes with the chance to attain national, and in particular cases, international fame. The Games also constitute a major opportunity for the host city and country to promote and showcase themselves to the world.