SportAges 12+15 questions

Olympics Quiz

From the ancient games in Greece to the modern Summer and Winter Olympics, this quiz covers the history, the host cities, the symbols and some of the greatest athletes ever to stand on the podium. The early questions warm you up and the later ones separate the casual viewers from the true sports fans.

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The questions

  1. 1.How many rings are there on the Olympic flag?

    • AFour
    • BSix
    • CFive
    • DSeven
    Show the answer

    Five. The five interlocking rings stand for the union of the five inhabited continents taking part in the Games.

  2. 2.In which country were the ancient Olympic Games held?

    • AGreece
    • BItaly
    • CEgypt
    • DTurkey
    Show the answer

    Greece. The ancient Games were held at Olympia in Greece, traditionally from 776 BC.

  3. 3.How often are the Summer Olympic Games normally held?

    • AEvery two years
    • BEvery three years
    • CEvery five years
    • DEvery four years
    Show the answer

    Every four years. The Summer Games are held every four years, a period known as an Olympiad.

  4. 4.Which city hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics?

    • AParis
    • BLondon
    • CMadrid
    • DBeijing
    Show the answer

    London. London hosted the 2012 Summer Olympics, with the main stadium in Stratford, east London.

  5. 5.Which country did sprinter Usain Bolt represent?

    • AUnited States
    • BTrinidad and Tobago
    • CJamaica
    • DCanada
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    Jamaica. Usain Bolt ran for Jamaica and won the 100 m and 200 m at three Olympic Games in a row: 2008, 2012 and 2016.

  6. 6.London has hosted the Summer Olympics three times.

    True or false?

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    True. London hosted the Summer Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012.

  7. 7.In which sport did Michael Phelps win his Olympic medals?

    • ASwimming
    • BCycling
    • CRowing
    • DAthletics
    Show the answer

    Swimming. Michael Phelps is an American swimmer who won 28 Olympic medals between 2004 and 2016.

  8. 8.In which city were the first modern Olympic Games held in 1896?

    • AParis
    • BLondon
    • CRome
    • DAthens
    Show the answer

    Athens. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896, honouring the Games' Greek origins.

  9. 9.Who is known as the founder of the modern Olympic Games?

    • AAvery Brundage
    • BPierre de Coubertin
    • CJesse Owens
    • DJuan Antonio Samaranch
    Show the answer

    Pierre de Coubertin. French educator Pierre de Coubertin helped found the International Olympic Committee in 1894 and revive the Games.

  10. 10.The Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" means what in English?

    • AFaster, Higher, Stronger
    • BTogether, United, Proud
    • CRun, Jump, Throw
    • DHonour, Glory, Victory
    Show the answer

    Faster, Higher, Stronger. The Latin motto means "Faster, Higher, Stronger". In 2021 the IOC added "Together" (Communiter).

  11. 11.Since 1994, the Summer and Winter Olympics have been held in the same year.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. The two Games shared a year until 1992. From 1994 they alternate, two years apart.

  12. 12.Which city hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics?

    • ATokyo
    • BSeoul
    • CBeijing
    • DSydney
    Show the answer

    Beijing. Beijing hosted the 2008 Summer Games, with the "Bird's Nest" national stadium at its centre.

  13. 13.Which Olympic event combines ten track and field events over two days?

    • AHeptathlon
    • BPentathlon
    • CTriathlon
    • DDecathlon
    Show the answer

    Decathlon. The decathlon has ten events, from the 100 m to the 1500 m. The heptathlon has seven.

  14. 14.How long is the Olympic marathon?

    • A40 km
    • B42.195 km
    • C45 km
    • D38.5 km
    Show the answer

    42.195 km. The marathon is 42.195 km (26.2 miles), the distance set at the 1908 London Games and fixed in 1921.

  15. 15.Where were the first Winter Olympic Games held in 1924?

    • ASt. Moritz, Switzerland
    • BOslo, Norway
    • CLake Placid, United States
    • DChamonix, France
    Show the answer

    Chamonix, France. The first Winter Olympics were held in Chamonix, in the French Alps, in 1924.

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