The Olympic Games originated in Olympia, Greece, in the 8th century BC and were held every four years for twelve centuries. Emperor Theodosius I banned the games in the 4th century AD as he banned all pagan festivals. The modern Olympics were revived in 1896 in Athens. In the early games, athletes competed naked, and from 1912 to 1948, artists in fields like painting, sculpture, and music competed for medals.
The Summer and Winter Olympics occurred in the same year from 1924 to 1992; since 1994, they have been held in alternating two-year cycles. The five rings of the Olympic flag represent Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas, linked in friendship, with each national flag containing at least one of the ring colors: blue, black, green, yellow, and red. The United States has hosted the Summer Olympics four times, more than any other nation. The 1960 Rome Olympics were the first to be televised, and the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics introduced the first Olympic Village.
