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The terms Olympics, Olympic Games, and Olympia are often confused. However, the differences are quite simple to explain.
The difference between the Olympics, Olympic Games, and Olympia
The term “Olympics” in particular is often mistakenly equated with the Olympic Games. However, there is a big difference between the two terms.
- Many people use the terms “Olympics” and “Olympic Games” interchangeably when talking about the Olympic Games. This is incorrect, as the words actually describe different time periods.
- TheOlympic Games refer “only” to the period during which the respective Olympic Games are held, in this case both the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics.
- TheOlympic Games, on the other hand, refer to the period between two Olympic Games. The Olympiad always lasts four years. This means that there are always four years between the Summer Olympic Games and four years between the Winter Olympic Games.
- Incidentally, the Winter Olympic Games have only been held as a separate Olympic Games since 1924.
- Olympia is also often mistakenly confused with the Olympic Games, which is okay in everyday life. Everyone knows what is really meant. Even the media often use the terms synonymously. But actually, Olympia is simply the place in Greece where the Olympic Games were first held.
- The origin of this term dates back to ancient Greece: even then, the periods between the games were referred to as “Olympics” in order to date historical events. Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to use this method of counting.
2024 Olympic Games
The 2024 Summer Olympics were held in Paris.
- After 1900 and 1924, this was the third time that the Olympic Games were held in Paris.
- A total of around 1,500 athletes from 206 countries took part.
- A total of 329 competitions were held in a variety of sports, some more unusual than others.
