Olympic Games Firsts Trivia Quiz

Answer: Women were allowed to participate.

Charlotte Cooper of Great Britain became the first female Olympic champion by winning the ladies' tennis singles title, when beating Helene Prevost of France 6-1, 7-5. To add to that she also won the mixed doubles title 6-2, 6-4, partnering Reggie Doherty. Born in 1870, Charlotte also became Wimbledon Ladies Singles champion on five separate occasions, winning her fifth and final title in 1908 at the remarkable age of thirty seven.

In 1961 at the age of ninety, she flew down from her home in Scotland to Wimbledon, to attend a luncheon marking the seventy-fifth year of the championships. Five years later in 1966 she died at the age of ninety-six.

Answer: Gold medals awarded to the winners

At St Louis in 1904 medals were provided for the first three athletes in each event, gold for the winners, silver for second place and bronze for third place. At previous Olympic Games only the winners of each event received medals. However, these were not gold but silver as insufficient funds were available at the time for gold medals to be provided.

Answer: A marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards.

Popular folklore recounts that in BC490 a Greek messenger named Pheidippides ran 24 miles from the Battle of Marathon back to Athens to announce victory over the invading Persian army but then immediately dropped dead!

Prior to the 1908 London Olympics, marathon distances were not standard varying from anything between twenty-four and twenty-six miles. It was intially intended that the 1908 London marathon would be run over a distance of exactly twenty-six miles, starting at Windsor Castle and finishing at the White City Olympic Stadium. However, Queen Alexandra was attending the Games on this occasion, and her royal box was situated on the opposite side of the stadium from the intended finishing line just inside the stadium entrance. It was considered fitting that the runners should finish the race at the royal box, so an extra half-lap of the stadium was added to the race measuring precisely 385 yards. From that day onwards the official distance of the marathon race has been set at precisely twenty-six miles 385 yards.

Answer: White doves released at the opening ceremony

These Olympics fell just two years after the 1914-18 Great War, or World War 1 as it is now known. Thousands of white doves were released at the opening ceremony signifying world peace following this bitter conflict. However, countries defeated in the war were denied entry to these games, viz: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and Turkey.
The Olympic flag was flown at the 1920 Olympics, this also being another 'first'.

Answer: Introduction of the Olympic motto

The Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Swifter, Higher, Stronger), was adopted and first delivered by the Dominican priest Eric Dinon at the opening ceremony of the 1924 Games.

Paris became the first venue to be chosen to host the Games for a second time. Other 'firsts' in 1924 included an Olympic village to house the athletes, and also live radio broadcasts.

Answer: Greece led the parade of nations

The parade of nations was led by Greek athletes in recognition of Greece holding the ancient Olympics; and ended with The Nertherlands the host country on that occasion. This tradition continues to the present day. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, the Greek flag lead the athletes into the stadium, and
the Greek team came in to the stadium last as the host nation.

Several other scenarios were also inaugurated for the first time at the 1928 Games, including the lighting of the Olympic flame and the introduction of track and field events for women.

Answer: Winner's national anthem played

At each medals ceremony, the national anthem of the winning athlete's country was played for the first time at the Los Angeles Games.

Additionally, the national flag of each gold, silver and bronze medallist was raised whilst they stood on a three-level victory stand.

Answer: The Games were televised

The 1936 Games were televised for the first time, with events relayed to the Olympic Village, and also to public arenas and theatres throughout Germany.

These Games had been awarded to Germany in advance of the Nazis assuming power. The next Olympics would not take place until twelve years later in 1948 owing to the outbreak of World War II.

Answer: Held in the Southern Hemisphere

The 1956 Olympic Games were not only the first to be held in the Southern Hemisphere, but also the first not to be staged in either a European or North American country.

Another notable event concerning these Games was the absence of any equestrian events, owing to strict quarantine regulations being in force in Australia. These competitions had already taken place five months earlier in Sweden, in Stockholm.

Answer: The Fosbury flop

The American athlete Dick Fosbury won the high jump gold medal at the Mexico Olympics using a competely new style of jumping he had perfected, now known as the Fosbury flop. On the approach to the take-off point the final few steps were run in a curve, enabling the competitor to turn and leap backwards over the bar.

This technique for the high jump is now used almost without exception by all athletes worldwide.