Special Sub-Topic: Olympics: More Than a Game Click Here To Play: Olympics: More Than a Game

Baron Pierre de Coubertin is credited with being the driving force behind the development of modern Olympic Games. But which person organised an athletics competition in 1850 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire which he called the Olympic Games?

Dr William Brooks. Dr William Brooks was a trained physician who believed that exercise could help prevent illness. Baron de Coubertin attended the Much Wenlock Games. Thomas Arnold was headmaster of Rugby (a school in Engalnd). Baron de Coubertin was impressed with physical education at English schools and had visited Rugby. Prince Albert was the husband of Queen Victoria. Juan Antonio Samaranch is a former president of the International Olympic Committee.

Australia has a proud history of attendance at Olympic Games. The very first competitor was Edwin Flack who just happened to be in London at the time working as an accountant. He won two events at the 1896 Olympics in Athens. What were they?

800 metres and 1500 metres races. All these events were held at the 1896 Olympics but Edwin (Teddy) Flack was a runner. He was apparently popular at the games and earned the nickname of the Lion of Athens.

The Olympics are often full of moments when we hold our breath in awe. Greg Louganis at the 1988 Seoul Olympics made us hold our breath for a different reason. Why?

He hit his head on the diving board. Greg Louganis was a champion American Olympic diver who won gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in springboard and platform. At the Seoul Olympics he hit his head on the springboard during the preliminary rounds and suffered concussion. Despite this setback he went on to win the gold medal.

Many of us became familiar with the efforts of the two Olympians Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams through the movie "Chariots of Fire" (1981). However, at the same Paris Olympics of 1924, Johnny Weissmuller, of "Tarzan fame", also starred. He won three gold medals in swimming and a bronze in another sport. What was the other sport?

Water polo. Johnny Weismuller also won another two gold medals at the 1928 Olympics. He starred in "Tarzan the Ape Man" (1932) and made a total of six Tarzan movies. His lovely co-star in these movies was Maureen O'Sullivan who played Jane.

At the Berlin Olympics of 1936 Jesse Owens is famous for "debunking" Adolf Hitler's theory of Ayran Supremacy. It is alleged that Hitler did not congratulate Owens on his victories. Owens said of this, "Hitler didn't snub me, FDR snubbed me".

True. Apparently Jesse Owens never received a telegram of congratulations from Roosevelt; was never invited to the White House, nor received any other presidential honours.

The Melbourne Olympics of 1956 had a few unique features. Which of these was *not* a unique-first feature of these games.

The first Olympic Games to introduce Olympic mascots.. Strict quarantine laws made it prohibitive to bring horses to Australia so the equestrian events were held in Stockholm. An Australian schoolboy, John Wing, suggested the idea of the athletes mingling together for the closing ceremony. Olympic mascots made their first appearance at the 1972 Olympics in Munich.

The 1972 Munich Olympics will sadly be remembered for one event, the kidnapping and killing of a number of Israeli athletes. How many Israeli athletes lost their lives?

11. The kidnapping and subsequent murder of the Israeli atheletes was carried out by a group known as Black September with ties to Palestine.

An enduring Olympic image is that of Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the black power salute as they claimed their medals for the 200 metres (athletics). At which Olympics did this event occur?

Mexico 1968. Tommie Smith won gold and John Carlos won bronze in the event. Both athletes wore no shoes but black socks to symbolise black poverty. The third athlete on the podium, for the silver medal, was Peter Norman of Australia.

You don't necessarily have to be rich and famous to compete in the Olympics but being of royal blood might help. Which one of these royals has *not* competed in the Olympics?

Prince Willem-Alexander (Netherlands). Princess Anne has represented Great Britain in equestrian events at the Summer Olympics. Prince Frederick has represented Denmark at sailing events at the Summer Olympics. Prince Albert has represented Monaco in bobsled events at the Winter Olympics. Prince Willem-Alexander, is the heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.

As the Olympics come around every four years, athletes may only get one chance in their lifetime to compete in this great event. The decision to boycott the 1980 Moscow Olympics by a number of countries must have been heartbreaking for some athletes. What was the reason for this boycott?

Soviet war in Afghanistan. 64 countries, including the USA and China, boycotted/did not attend the Moscow Olympics.