An Olympiad is a period of how many successive years?

Olympic Games - Ancient History Encyclopedia Olympic Games by Mark Cartwright published on 23 May 2013 The ancient Olympic Games were a sporting event held every four years at the sacred site of Olympia , in the western Peloponnese , in honour of Zeus , the supreme god of Greek religion . Involving participants and spectators from all over Greece and even beyond, the Games were the most important cultural event in ancient Greece and were held from 776 BCE to 393 CE, a run of 293 consecutive Olympiads. Origins of the Games Sporting events were originally associated with funeral rituals, particularly those of heroes and the fallen in battle , for example, the games for Patroklos in Homer ’s Iliad. At Olympia, in particular, some mythological accounts credit Zeus with beginning the Games to celebrate his victory over Kronos whilst other accounts state the hero Pelops began them in honour of Oinomaos. In any case, sport, a healthy body and the competitive spirit were a large part of Greek education and so it is hardly surprising that organised athletic competitions would at some point be created, as they had been in the earlier Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. Remove Ads Advertisement The first Olympics were held from 776 BCE at the first full moon after the summer solstice (around the middle of July) in honour of Zeus. The winner of the first and only event, the stadion foot-race was Koroibos of Elis and from then on every victor was recorded and each Olympiad named after them, thus giving us the first accurate chronology of the ancient Greek world. An Olympiad was not only the name of the event itself but also of the period between games. During a three month pan - Hellenic truce, athletes and as many as 40,000 spectators came from all over Greece to participate in the Games at Olympia. Later, other games would be organised at other sacred sites such as Delphi , Isthmia and Nemea but the Olympian Games would remain the most prestigious. The Games started with a procession which went from the host town of Elis to Olympia, led by the Hellanodikai (judges) and on arrival at Olympia all athletes and officials swore an oath to follow the established rules of the competitions and to compete with honour and respect. The most important religious ceremony of the event was the sacrifice of 100 oxen, known as the hecatomb, at the altar of Zeus, carried out when the sporting events were over. The Spectators Heralds (spondophoroi) were sent from Elis to advertise the coming of the Games across Greece. Spectators came from not only the Greek mainland but also the islands, Ionia and Magna Graecia . To facilitate the movement of spectators and athletes and in respect of the religious importance of the Games a sacred truce (ekecheiria) was called across Greece. Initially, the truce was for one month but in later centuries it was extended to three. No wars were permitted, no arms could be carried in the territory of Elis and no hindrance was to be given to any spectator, athlete or theoriai - (the official missions representing particular cities ) travelling to the games from wherever they came from and whichever territory they had to cross. Remove Ads Advertisement The site of Olympia must have been positively buzzing during a Games with mass crowds of excited spectators staying in make-shift camp sites (only later was accommodation provided for the visitors) and admiring the masses of fine statues and buildings at the site. Food vendors, craftsmen, musicians, poets and philosophers took full advantage of the crowds to publicise their wares or ideas. Just how many spectators attended each Games is unknown but we do know that around 45,000 spectators consisting of men, slaves and foreigners sat and watched from the embankments of the stadium which hosted the main events. Spectators actively participated in the events through their boisterous support of the athletes and after each event they showered flowers and laurel leaves on the victors. Women were not permitted to participate in or watch the events although young girls were allowed i


The decathlon is contested over how many days?

TRAINING FOR THE DECATHLON DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR THE DECATHLON     1. What is the Decathlon (Overview) The decathlon consists of ten track & field events that are contested over a two day period. The competition is  separated into two days of competition. The first day consists of the 100 meters, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400 meters in that order. The second day includes the 110 meter high hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500 meter run. The second day is always the most demanding because it is the most technical day and the athlete is tired  from the first days events. The decathlon does not really start until the second day because any good athlete  can do well on the first day but only a decathlete can do well over two days. The second day separates the  men from the boys. The multi event athlete must possess or attain the following characteristics in order to be successful: 1. MUSCULAR STRENGTH (Power) -Work per unit time (anaerobic strength)      EXAMPLES: Weight training (4x5 reps), Multi throws, Medicine Ball, Multi Jumps (Plyos) 2. MUSCULAR ENDURANCE -The ability to sustain muscular contraction over a period of time (sustained aerobic work)     EXAMPLES: Weight training (3x12 reps), Circuit training, repeat stairs, repeat hills, 10x200m 3. CARDIOVASCULAR ENDURANCE -Efficient utilization of oxygen over a sustained period of time.     EXAMPLES: 3 mile runs, 4x800 meters, 8x400 meters   4. FLEXIBILITY -Enables the body's lever system to apply force over an increased range of motion. Athletic performance will be enhanced, plus the incidence of injury will be reduced.     EXAMPLES: Proprioceptive Neurological Facilitation (PNF), Dynamic stretches, Sprint drills 5. NEUROMUSCULAR (Technique) -The coordination of specific movements into a motor pattern to enhance the body's ability to efficiently apply force. This aspect is the most important to an athlete because without technique there is no performance. This part of the athlete takes the longest to train and should have the first priority of the beginning decathlete. 6. PSYCHOLOGICAL -An on-going positive mental outlook, which includes discipline, determination,  aggressiveness, desire, perseverance, and positive self-image. You can have all of the above listed qualities  (1-5) but if you are not mentally committed you will have a short career. I have come across many better natural athletes than me over the years but I have beaten the majority (99%) of them because they have lacked the desire to be great. 2. How to train the beginning Decathlete As I stated above, technique is the most important thing the young decathlete should concentrate on. It does no good to be strong, fast and have great jumping ability if you do not know how to use it. I would strongly suggest starting to learn the second days techniques on a 2-1 ratio with the first days techniques. The hurdles, discus and pole vault are the three events that have the most effect on the other events as explained below. HURDLES The hurdles directly help the decathlete in the 100 meters by developing a consistent stride pattern between and over each hurdle. The hurdles are essentially ten mini sprints to each hurdle. It also reinforces proper running technique by teaching the athlete to run tall with proper posture. Hurdles and hurdle drills also help develop the hip flexor muscles along with the hamstrings and glutes. These muscles are the most important in sprint development.   The hurdles help the long jump by teaching the athlete how to sprint correctly with a rhythmic stride pattern. It also helps the athlete learn how to set up for a take off with minimal deceleration. By learning how to run through a hurdle you will know how to run off the long jump board. Hurdle endurance runs (4x12 hurdles) will help the 400 meters in the same way by developing speed  endurance. The hurdles help the pole vault in the same exact way that they helped the long jump. The hurdles have an effect on 5 of the 10 decathlon events (l00m, LJ, 400m, 110m HH and PV), so I feel it  would be a wise investment


The Olympic Marathon is held in commemoration of which ancient Greek soldier who ran from Marathon to Athens?

Marathon - Ancient History Encyclopedia Marathon by Mark Cartwright published on 19 May 2013 The Battle on the plain of Marathon in September 490 BCE between Greeks and the invading forces of Persian King Darius was a victory which would go down in folklore as the moment the Greek city -states showed the world their courage and excellence and won their liberty. Although in reality the battle only delayed the Persians in their imperialistic ambitions and greater battles would follow, Marathon was the first time that mighty Persia had been shown beatable and the battle would be represented in Greek art - literature , sculpture, architecture, and pottery - as a crucial and defining moment in the history of Greece .  The Persian Empire Persia, under the rule of Darius (r. 522-486 BCE), was already expanding into mainland Europe and had subjugated Ionia , Thrace, and Macedonia by the beginning of the 5th century BCE. Next in king Darius’ sights were Athens and the rest of Greece. Just why Greece was coveted by Persia is unclear. Wealth and resources seem an unlikely motive; other more plausible suggestions include the need to increase the prestige of the king at home or to quell once and for all a collection of potentially troublesome rebel states on the western border of the empire. The Ionian rebellion, the symbolic offering of earth and water in submission to the Persian satrap in 508 BCE, and the attack by Athens and Eretria on the city of Sardis in 499 BCE had not been forgotten either. Whatever the exact motives, in 491 BCE Darius once again sent envoys to call for the Greeks’ submission to Persian rule. The Greeks sent a no-nonsense reply by executing the envoys, and Athens and Sparta promised to form an alliance for the defence of Greece. Darius’ response to this diplomatic outrage was to launch a naval force of 600 ships and 25,000 men to attack the Cyclades and Euboea, leaving the Persians just one step away from the rest of Greece. However, the invaders would meet their match in 490 BCE when the Greek forces led by Athens gathered at the plain of Marathon to defend their country from foreign subjugation. Advertisement The Persian Army Overall command of the Persian army was in the hands of Datis as Darius did not lead the invasion in person. Second-in-command was Artaphernes, Darius’ nephew, who perhaps led the Persian cavalry. The total strength of the Persian army is unclear, but judging by the number of ships there may have been some 90,000 men. The actual number of fighting men may have been two baivarabam units or 20,000-25,000 men. Most of these were archers with perhaps another 2,000 strong cavalry force. The Persian army actually came from various states across the empire but the Persians and Sakai were acknowledged as the best fighting units.    The Greek Army The Greeks were led by either the Athenian Polemarch Kallimachos (also spelt Callimachus) or Miltiades who had actually fought under Darius in the latter’s campaign in Scythia and so had valuable military intelligence of Persian tactics. The 1,000 Plataeans were commanded by Arimnestos and the Athenians fielded some 9,000 hoplites. The total force is estimated between 10,000 and 20,000 but was probably nearer the lower figure. Hoplites v Archers The Persians could field superior numbers and their reputation was formidable. The two opposing armies were essentially representative of the two approaches to Classical warfare - the Persians favoured long-range assault using archers followed up with a cavalry charge, whilst the Greeks favoured heavily-armoured hoplites, arranged in a densely packed formation called the phalanx, with each man carrying a heavy round bronze shield and fighting at close quarters using spears and swords. The Persian infantry carried a lightweight (often rectangular) wicker shield (spara) and were armed with a long dagger or curved sword (kopis), a short spear, and composite bow. Typically, those with shields (sparabarai) formed a defensive barrier whilst from behind the archers fired their arrows. The Persian forces also include


Which country has won the most medals in total at the Summer Olympic Games?

All-Time Olympic Games Medal Tally Analysis Home > Events > Olympics > Summer > Medal Tally > All-Time All-Time Olympic Games Medal Tally (Summer Olympics) Which country is the most successful at he Olympic Games? Here are the top ranked countries in terms of total medals won when all of the summer Games are considered (including the 2016 Rio Games). There are two tables presented, the first just lists the top countries based on the total medals won, the second table factors in how many Olympic Games the country appeared, averaging the total number of medals per Olympiad. A victory in a team sport is counted as one medal. The USA Has Won the Most Medals The US have clearly won the most gold medals and the most medals overall, more than doubling the next ranked country (these figures include medals won in Rio 2016). Second placed USSR had fewer appearances at the Olympics, and actually won more medals on average (see the 2nd table). The top 10 includes one country no longer in existence (the Soviet Union), so their medal totals will obviously not increase, however China is expected to continue a rapid rise up the ranks. With the addition of the 2016 data, China has moved up from 11th (in 2008) to 9th (2012) to 7th (2016). The country which has attended the most games without a medal is Monaco (20 Olympic Games), the country which has won the most medals without winning a gold medal is Malaysia (0 gold, 7 silver, 4 bronze). rank


Which event is sometimes referred to as the ‘Hop, step and jump’?

Hop, step and jump - definition of Hop, step and jump by The Free Dictionary Hop, step and jump - definition of Hop, step and jump by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Hop%2c+step+and+jump Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Related to Hop, step and jump: triple jump triple jump n. A distance jump in track and field consisting of a hop landing on the take-off foot, a stride landing on the other foot, and a jump landing on both feet. triple jump n (Athletics (Track & Field)) an athletic event in which the competitor has to perform successively a hop, a step, and a jump in continuous movement. Also called: hop, step, and jump tri′ple jump′ n. (in track and field) a jumping event for distance in which a participant leaps on one foot from a takeoff point, lands on the same foot, steps forward on the other foot, leaps, and lands on both feet. Also called hop, step, and jump. [1960–65]


Which US retired speed skater has won five gold medals at the Winter Olympic Games?

10 historic Winter Olympic wonderlands - CNN.com 10 historic Winter Olympic wonderlands By Leslie Gilbert Elman, Special to CNN Updated 3:01 PM ET, Tue February 4, 2014 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: Winter Olympics past Chamonix, France -- 1924 – In the first Winter Olympics, Canadian ice hockey team the Toronto Granites beat the United States 6-1 in the final round to take the gold medal. Hide Caption 1 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Lake Placid, New York -- 1932 – Skaters prepare for the start of the men's 10,000-meter speed skating event in Lake Placid, New York, in 1932. Irving Jaffee of the United States won the gold, with Ivar Ballangrud of Norway and Frank Stack of Canada taking silver and bronze, respectively. Hide Caption 2 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past St. Moritz, Switzerland -- 1948 – Spectators gather to watch the opening ceremony of the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Hide Caption 3 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Oslo, Norway -- 1952 – An Olympic ski jumper takes flight at the Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway, in 1952. Hide Caption 4 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Innsbruck, Austria -- 1964 – Unidentified athletes participate in the luge event at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Hide Caption 5 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Sapporo, Japan -- 1972 – Norwegian Magnar Solberg shoots targets during practice for the biathlon (20-kilometer cross-country ski race and rifle shooting) in Makomanai, near Sapporo, Japan. Solberg won the gold medal in the event four years after becoming an Olympic champion in Grenoble, France. Hide Caption 6 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Innsbruck, Austria -- 1976 – Austrian skier Franz Klammer is all smiles after winning the men's downhill during the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. Hide Caption 7 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Lake Placid, New York -- 1980 – The U.S. hockey team celebrates its 4-3 victory over the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid in a game dubbed "the Miracle on Ice." The United States went on to win the gold medal by defeating Finland 4-2. Hide Caption 8 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Calgary, Alberta -- 1988 – The Soviet Union's Irina Kusakina competes in the women's luge event at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, Alberta. Hide Caption 9 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Albertville, France -- 1992 – Paul Duchesnay and sister Isabelle Duchesnay-Dean of France perform their routine during the compulsory dance section of the ice dancing competition in Albertville in 1992. Hide Caption 10 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Salt Lake City -- 2002 – From left, Italian Fabio Carta, American Apolo Anton Ohno, Australian Mark McNee, Hungarian Kornel Szanto and Britain's Nicky Gooch skate during the men's 1,500-meter short-track heats in Salt Lake City in 2002. Hide Caption 11 of 12 Photos: Winter Olympics past Vancouver, British Columbia -- 2010 – Canadians Sidney Crosby, left, and Scott Niedermayer celebrate as their team wins the gold against the United States in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Hide Caption Winter Olympics venues past offer speed thrills to less competitive visitors The St. Moritz-Celerina bobsleigh run is sometimes open to guest riders Take an evening lantern hike in Innsbruck, Austria, for a more leisurely downhill experience Plenty of people who feel no inclination to schuss or slide or Salchow are faithful fans of the Winter Olympic Games. For them, we present this list of sites and activities at former Winter Olympic venues. You won't need skis or skates -- you don't even have to feel the cold wind against your skin -- to show your appreciation for the athletes or to experience just a bit of what they must have felt when competing at the Winter Olympic Games. Chamonix, France (1924) More than 10,000 paying spectators came to watch 11 women and 247 men compete in ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, bobsleighing, curling, Nordic (cross-country) skiing and ski jumping at


Who was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 seven times in a row, at the 1976 Montreal Games?

Most 10 scores at Olympics: world record set by Nadia Comaneci     July 18, 2008   Most        10 scores at Olympics: world record set by Nadia Comaneci [July        18] MONTREAL, Canada--With a total of seven perfect ten scores at        Montreal 1976 Games, Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci set a world record        for the most 10 scores at a single edition of the Olympic Games.        She captured the hearts of the world and became the first gymnast        in history to know what it's like to be perfect- setting also the world record for the first award of a score of perfect 10 at an Olympics Games gymnastic event.    World Record Academy will send to Nadia a special        Gold-Sealed World Record Certificate and her name will be listed        for ever in all our future Book of World Recordss.    July        18 is also declared by the Records Academy as the World's Records        Day, a day to remember one of the most beautiful evolution in the        history of Olympics.     Before 1976, no male or female had ever received        a perfect score in any Olympic gymnastics event. And then came Nadia        Comaneci, all 4-foot-11, 86 pounds of her.     The 14-year-old Romanian dazzled the judges in        Montreal to the point where they couldn't help but give her a perfect        10.    And they didn't stop there, for not only did Comaneci        receive the first perfect score, she then proceeded to get six more!        ABC Television set her performance to music, using a theme from        a popular American soap opera, and the song was eventually renamed        "Nadia's Theme".    Times magazine posted huge photo of Nadia in front        cover page, "She's Perfect!" with a very small photo of the the        first photo of Mars... 14 years old Nadia Comaneci became the only        person shown in the cover page of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated        magainzes at the same time, not to mentioned millions of press and        magazines covers around the world.    The        record breaking moment came with Comaneci's performance on the uneven        bars. However, the judging equipment was not equipped to display        the four digits of a 10.00 score, so the scoreboard simply showed        1.00.    The crowd soon understood the meaning of the score        when the announcer declared, "Ladies and gentleman, for the first        time in Olympic history, Nadia Comaneci has received the score of        a perfect ten," reported Septima Green in Top 10 Women Gymnasts.The        perfect gymnast bitting the perfect machine!    Nadia        Comaneci earned a total of seven perfect ten scores at those Olympic        Games. She won three gold medals for the all-around competition,        uneven bars, and balance beam. She also won a silver medal for the        team competition and a bronze medal for the floor exercise.     Four of her seven perfect scores, including the        first one, came on the uneven bars, which as you might imagine,        was one of the three events Comaneci struck gold. But it was on        the balance beam that she truly showed off her skill. The beam is        considered one of the most difficult Olympic events, with gymnasts        performing pirouettes and backflips on a beam measuring just four        inches across. All Nadia did was record three more perfect scores        and her second gold medal.     Comaneci became the first Romanian to win the        all-around title and she was also the youngest all-around champion        at 14 years old.    Once        Comaneci broke the barrier, it became easier over the years. Then,        after the 1992 Olympics, those 10s disappeared. Not one has been        scored in maj


The distance of the Olympic marathon is 26 miles and how many yards?

The Marathon’s Accidental Route to 26 Miles 385 Yards - The New York Times The New York Times Sports |The Marathon’s Random Route to Its Length Search The Marathon’s Random Route to Its Length JERÉ LONGMAN Continue reading the main story London At the Summer Olympics, the marathon will be the only foot race measured by the standard system instead of the metric system. And yet the precise distance of 26 miles 385 yards is entirely random, established at the 1908 London Games at least in part as an accommodation to the British royal family, not as an adherence to historical imperative. When the modern Olympics began in Athens in 1896, a race of 40 kilometers, or 24.85 miles, was held to commemorate the legend of Pheidippides . He is the messenger who is said to have run from Marathon to Athens to announce a Greek victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C. And to have promptly died. The 1900 Olympic marathon in Paris covered just over 25 miles, and the 1904 Olympic marathon in St. Louis returned to the distance of 24.85 miles. This was more like cooking than civil engineering. Race directors designed their courses by a sense of feel, not by a fastidious recipe. Continue reading the main story In Paris, according to David Wallechinsky’s “The Complete Book of the Olympics,” the route was so badly marked that some runners veered off course and had to share the road with bicyclists, automobiles, recreational runners and the occasional animal. One of the favorites stopped for a beer early in the race and dropped out. Advertisement Continue reading the main story The 1908 London Games established what is now the customary distance of the marathon. The exact reasons are in dispute, myth intertwining like a vine with fact over the past century. But the result, Wallechinsky said, was a race length that was “completely arbitrary.” The race began on the East Terrace at Windsor Castle. According to some accounts, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, had been influenced by attending the unofficial 1906 Athens Olympics on the 10th anniversary of the modern Games. For the 1908 Olympic marathon , the Princess of Wales watched the start, which began near the window of the royal nursery so that her children could watch, according to David Miller’s history of the Olympics, “Athens to Athens.” Thus, Miller wrote, the marathon distance “was determined in a bizarre manner.” Photo John Hayes of the United States was eventually declared the winner of the marathon at the 1908 Games after a controversial finish. Credit Associated Press But David Davis, author of a forthcoming book about the race, “Showdown at Shepherd’s Bush,” said the isolated starting point most likely had to do with controlling the crowd. “There was no demand by the royal family to start beneath the window,” Davis said. It was about 26 miles from Windsor Castle to the Olympic Stadium in West London at Shepherd’s Bush. The original plan had the runners coming into the stadium at the royal entrance and running about 585 yards, circling the track counterclockwise and finishing in front of the royal box, Davis said. But the royal entrance was deemed unsuitable; instead the runners entered at the opposite end of the stadium and, to enhance the view for the Queen and others, ran clockwise for 385 yards to the royal box. The final yards made for a gripping and contentious result. Entering the stadium first on that hot and humid July day was an Italian pastry chef named Dorando Pietri. But he was exhausted, delirious. He turned the wrong way on the track, reversed course and began stumbling. According to news accounts, Pietri fell five times in that final quarter-mile. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, covered the race for The Daily Mail of London and wrote, “I caught a glimpse of the haggard, yellow face, the glazed, expressionless eyes, the long, black hair streaked across the brow.” By assisting Pietri to his feet, race officials knew they were jeopardizing his gold medal. But as the official Olymp


At the 1896 Athens Summer Olympic Games, the winners were given a silver medal and a branch from which type of tree?

1896 Olympic Medals and Awards - Olympic-Legacy.com E-Mail The 1896 Olympic Medals and Awards In ancient Greece, an Olympic victory had immense impact on the athlete and his home city-state. Spiritual gratification, rather than material gain, motivated participation in the ancient Games. Based on that heritage, the awards of the 1896 Olympic games were simple tokens, yet rich in meaning and symbolism. Above: Marathon race winner, Spiros Louis, with his awards Awards of the First Modern Olympiad At the first modern Olympic games there were no gold medals for the winners, nor were there separate awards ceremonies. (Gold medals were first distributed at the Olympic games of 1904 in Saint Louis.) Instead, all of the prizes were given out by King George at a special ceremony just prior to the closing ceremony on the last day of the Games. All competitors in the Athens 1896 Games received some kind of award. In this way, the revived Games differed sharply from the ancient model, where only first place merited any kind of recognition. The official awards of the 1896 Olympics were a silver medal, crown of olive branches, and certificate for first place; a bronze medal, crown of laurel, and certificate for second place; and a commemorative medal for each athlete who competed. The marathon race, however, was treated differently. Michel Br�al, who was fascinated by the legend of Phidippides , proposed "marathon run" for the first Olympic games. He promised a silver cup to the runner who could duplicate Phidippides' famous exploit (but without dying, of course). Lambros, a wealthy collector of Greek antiquities, offered an antique vase as a prize, to be added to Br�al's cup, for the marathon champion. So much excitement grew up around the introduction of this new kind of race that when Spiros Louis, a Greek national like Phidippides, won the race, the reaction of the spectators was understandable exuberant. 1896 Victor's Medal This medal was designed by Nicolas Gysis of Greece, who was then teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. It was cast in silver for first place and bronze for second place. On the front is a portrait of Zeus with the globe in his right hand, upon which stands the goddess of victory, Nike. She is holding an olive branch in her hands. On the left the script reads in Greek "OLYMPIA."


Which British sportsman was the first 2012 Olympic Torchbearer in the UK?

London 2012 Announces First Torchbearer for Olympic Torch Relay London 2012 Announces First Torchbearer for Olympic Torch Relay Share Article The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) has confirmed that the first Torchbearer for the Olympic Torch Relay - presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung - will be three-times Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie CBE. London 2012 Announces First Torchbearer for Olympic Torch Relay I am extremely honoured to be the first Torchbearer at the start the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay. It will be an amazing experience to be able to carry the Olympic Flame in the area that I grew up in (PRWEB) May 12, 2012 The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games ( LOCOG ) has confirmed that the first Torchbearer for the Olympic Torch Relay - presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung - will be three-times Olympic Gold medallist Ben Ainslie CBE. Ben will start the 70-day Relay at the Land’s End Landmark signpost at 7.08am on 19 May. He grew up in Cornwall and won Gold medals in Sailing at the Beijing, Athens and Sydney Olympic Games. He also won a Silver medal at the 1996 Games in Atlanta. Ben Ainslie said: “I am extremely honoured to be the first Torchbearer at the start the 70-day Olympic Torch Relay. It will be an amazing experience to be able to carry the Olympic Flame in the area that I grew up in. “I also want to congratulate the thousands of other inspirational people who will carry the Torch this summer and bring the excitement of the Games to streets throughout the UK.” Seb Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “Ben is the perfect person to start the Relay in Land’s End as he grew up in the area and is an inspirational sportsman who has worked hard to achieve his goals. “He will kick off what will be an amazing celebration of people and places from all over the UK in the run up to the Olympics Games this Summer.” Ben is one of 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame during the Relay. At Land’s End he will pass the Flame to 18-year-old Anastassia Swallow, a Torchbearer from the Coca-Cola nomination campaign. Anastassia is the youngest Sports Ambassador for Cornwall and has represented Great Britain four times internationally as a member of the Junior British Surf Team. The other Torchbearers at Land’s End will be: Eric Smith, 76, who was nominated through the LOCOG campaign, Victoria Smith, 16, who was nominated through the Lloyds TSB campaign and Stephen Brady, 59, who was nominated through the Samsung campaign. On leaving Land’s End, the Olympic Flame will travel an estimated 8,000 miles around the UK giving thousands of communities and individuals their moment to shine as the Olympic Flame comes to a place near them. Notes to editors For further information please contact the London 2012 Press Office. For more information on the streets through which Torchbearers will carry the London 2012 Olympic Flame, go to http://www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay About the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay Presenting Partners: As the longest standing Presenting Partner of the Olympic Torch Relay, Coca-Cola will be using its heritage and experience to spread excitement across the UK ahead of London 2012. Coca-Cola's national nomination campaign - Future Flames – has focused on finding inspirational young people from across the country to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to carry the Olympic Flame. This summer Coca-Cola will celebrate these Future Flames: young people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment; to spread happiness in their local communities. As the only National Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, Lloyds TSB will be taking the spirit and inspiration of the Olympic Flame right to the heart of communities across the UK. As part of Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland will be the National Presenting Partner in Scotland. Schools can be right at the heart of the celebrations through our Flame Followers programme, giving them a


Who was the only Olympic medallist to have won the Nobel Peace Prize?

Noel-Baker School - School History School History School Status: School is Open School History In September 1960, Noel-Baker opened its doors to staff and pupils for the first time.  Noel-Baker Technical School, as it was then called, welcomed both girls and boys from year one to year three but only boys were allowed in year four. The curriculum was designed to be less academic than the town’s two Grammar Schools, with more emphasis on practical and vocational subjects, including woodwork and metalwork for the boys and needlework and domestic science for the girls.  The School is named after Philip Noel-Baker, Member of Parliament for Derby South.  As an athlete, Philip Noel-Baker was the flag bearer and silver medallist in the 1920 Olympics held in Antwerp Belgium.  He was also a Nobel Peace Prize winner and holds the distinction of being the only person to have won an Olympic medal and also received a Nobel Prize. The first Head Teacher was Albert Buchan, who brought several of his students from Allenton Technical School. Since Mr Buchan, there have been six Head Teachers.   Glyn John oversaw the change from Technical School to comprehensive in the early 1970’s, when Noel-Baker merged with Southgate School. In 1989 the school became a Community College. Current Head Teacher Mal Kerr has brought the school into the 21st century with the planning and building of the Derwent Campus, which provides education for girls and boys of all abilities from year seven to year thirteen in the state-of-the-art award winning buildings and facilities on Bracknell Drive, Alvaston.   One person who has witnessed all the changes is Governor Freda Daniel.  In 1960 Freda was appointed the school’s first needlework teacher.  Her husband Geoff was a geography teacher from 1963 until his death in 1989.  Freda left teaching in 1968 and became a parent governor in 1987 and has served continuously since.  Freda was appointed Chair of Governors in 2003 and in 2013 when Freda Daniel retired from the Chair of Governors role Alan Larkins became chairman. Noel-Baker School © 2014 - Site Created by www.noelbakeritservices.co.uk


The length of the Olympic marathon was extended for which British monarch, so that the competitors finished in front of where the monarch was seated?

Companies past & Present Companies past & Present  This me now & Then   I born in1964 in Derby/Derbyshire, in 1990 when I started to collect yesteryear toy models my first model cost me 69p now I pay from £10 to £30 per model, when I visited some museum I thought about writing a book about companies the company I started with was Kelloggo's & I continued with the rest of the companies.  I have being collecting Yesteryear Toy Models for over twenty years, My first model cost 69p now I pay upto £30 per model. I am writing a book about companies past & Present & the money from My book is going to my six Chosen charities , as well as writing a book I do voluntary work at Barnardo's Babington Lane  Derby,  please donate you unwanted good quality items, we are also be doing a fundraising at St Peters Church in Derby City Centre which have raised £563 & I help run a canteen on a Friday night with the local Boys Brigade which has finished for the winter session back there in September. Here is part of my book I am writing about       The Kellogg’s story starts way Back in Missachies in the 19th century the Kellogg family lived. John Preston Kellogg was a farmer with his wife Anne and their family, they were Avoneon Christians. Their fifth son John Harvey was born on 26 February 1852; he will be come a beacon healthy living but he became ill almost died of acvoice he stayed away from school until he was nine. Soon after the family moved to Battle Creek, his father opened a successful broom factory and put John Harvey to work at the factory when he was eleven but he didn’t want to work at the factory. He decided to become a teacher; his family became part of the seventh day anarchist. In 1864 when he was twelve the white gave him a job printing plantlets, which he enjoyed. In 1866 the seventh Day group opened a converlession home. In 1874 after he obtained a loan from the whites, he enrolled at the Bellmore Medical Hospital. Under two years he was awarded a degree in medicine. In 1877 John Harvey launched the sanatorium Health food Company, he and his brother Wilks Keith spent most days in the kitchen to try out different kinds of healthy foods. He has been married to his wife Helen for over forty years; he and his wife Helen adopted forty orphans.   In 1906 the man who helped organise the very first breakfast cereal turning his whole attendation on to producing this connivance food. One appetising taste led to another. Introducing corn wheat and rice cereals, Kellogg Company grew in both sizes and popularity as the better-to-eat cereal industry, not just in America but also throughout the world. The first supplies of cornflakes and all-brand arrived in Britain from Canada in 1924. In 1928 Rice Krispies was added, and in 1936 work began on building a factory in Trafford Park, Manchester. A Nottinghamshire housewife who invited to every other important company event from that onwards opened this in 1938. A plague at the entrance to the factory commutates this event. With the increasing demand for cereals in 1978. This unit at Wrexham North Wales was designed to set new high standard for food production. Factories all over the world, making a range of cereals. Between 1902 and 1904, forty-two companies were set in Battle Creek area to manufacturer cereal foods and beverages shown is the ultra – comparative Battle Creek food boom cartoon, as carried in a Chicago newspaper. And upto pleasant there is now well over 35 different brands.                                                                       1792    Henry Walton Smith and his wife Anna opened small   newsvendor  in  Little Grosvenor Street,London.Henry Smith died a few months later. Leaving Anna to run the business.                 Anna Smith went into partnership with Zaccheus Coats until his death in 1812. 1816       Anna Smith from HMS Pinafore, trading now as newsagents and stationers, was passed two her two sons, Henry Edward and William Henry Smith. 1828       William Henry Smith was the more capable businessman of the two brothers and the concern became known as W.H


What are the names of the two 2012 London Olympic Games mascots?

Olympic Games Mascots - Olympic News Olympic Games Mascots twitter Share The first Olympic mascot – which was not official – was named “Schuss” and was born at the Grenoble Olympic Games in 1968. A little man on skis, half-way between an object and a person, it was the first in a long line of Olympic mascots. (c) IOC  It was not until the Munich 1972 Olympic Games that the first official Olympic mascot, “Waldi”, the dachshund, was created. Since then, mascots have become the most popular and memorable ambassadors of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. An original image, the mascot has the job of giving concrete form to the Olympic spirit, spreading the values highlighted at each edition of the Games; promoting the history and culture of the host city; and giving the event a festive atmosphere. (c) Photo Olympia Press The Games mascots over the years have all been examples of ingenuity, imagination and artistic creativity. From “Waldi” to “Amik”, the Montreal Games beaver, the first mascots were emblematic animals of the host countries. In 1992, Barcelona surprised everyone with “Cobi”, a strange avant-garde dog created by the great designer, Javier Mariscal. Cobi was followed by a whole variety of mascots based on people, animals or even mythical and imaginary creatures.   From the dog to the snow leopard, via human-like ice cubes, the mascots lend an element of humour and joy to the Olympic experience. They contribute to the efforts made to offer a warm welcome to athletes and visitors from around the world. Sochi 2014 (c) IOC On Saturday 26 February 2011, more than a million Russians participated in a live television broadcast, during which a vote was held to choose the mascots for the Sochi Games. The leopard got the most votes, followed by the polar bear and the hare; and these three animals from the Great North and the mountainous regions of Russia would become the mascots of the XXII Olympic Winter Games.   During the Games, tens of thousands of spectators were able to see the mascots, « Белый мишка » (Bieliy Michka, the polar bear), « Леопард » (Leopard, the leopard) and « Зайка » (Zaïka, the hare), but the most spectacular moment was doubtless when they appeared in giant format in the Fisht Stadium during the Closing Ceremony. They gathered in front of a cauldron where the Olympic flame was burning, and the polar bear proceeded to blow out the flame, while, simultaneously, the flame burning outside the Stadium was extinguished. The polar bear then shed a tear in a nod to the Closing Ceremony of Moscow 1980, where the mascot Michka also cried at the end of those Games. London 2012    The London 2012 mascot, Wenlock, takes his name from the town of Much Wenlock in Shropshire, which still hosts the traditional Much Wenlock Games. These were one of Pierre de Coubertin‟s sources of inspiration for the modern Olympic Games. According to the story by Michael Morpurgo, Wenlock's metallic look is explained by the fact that he was made from one of the last drops of steel used to build the Olympic Stadium in London. The light on his head is based on those found on London‟s famous black cabs. The shape of his forehead is identical to that of the Olympic Stadium roof. His eye is the lens of a camera, filming everything he sees. On his wrists, he wears five bracelets in the colours of the Olympic rings. And the three points on his head represent the three places on the podium for the medal winners. (c) IOC Streets, parks and underground station entrances in London were decorated with 84 sculptures of Wenlock and the Paralympic mascot Mandeville standing 2 metres 30 tall and each weighing a ton, to help guide tourists during the Games. These sculptures were decorated by 22 designers to reflect their surroundings.    The mascots were chosen in a competition launched in 2008. More than 100 designers, artists and agencies submitted proposals. Wenlock and Mandeville were chosen from a series of designs which included a humanised pigeon, an animated teacup and representations of Big Ben featuring arms and legs.  Vancouver 2010   (c) K


Which British female swimmer won a silver medal at the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games for the 400 metre medley?

Sharron Davies (Swimmer) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Sharron Davies Sharron Davies Female Sharron Elizabeth Davies MBE is a retired swimmer from the United Kingdom. She won a silver medal in the 400 metre individual medley at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and two gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton. Since retiring from the sport, she has worked as television presenter and served as a patron of charities for disabled children and fitness.…  Read More related links Sharon Davies: Abigail Fisher And The Hidden Crisis Of Black Male Collegians Huffington Post - Jun 27, 2013 '\n     The Court\'s decision in Fisher v. University of Texas defied the expectations of many commentators and pundits who had broadly predicted in the weeks before the decision that the Court would abandon the standards established in Grutter. It did not. If anything, the Court reinforced that precedent by returning the case brought by Abigail Fisher against UT to the Court of Appeals in Texas to determine if the university can meet the exacting standards of proof established in Grutt... Sharron Davies: I'm Almost 50, But I Still Feel Like A Winner Belfast Telegraph - Jun 12, 2012 ' \nFormer Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies talks to Diana Pilkington about getting older, boob jobs, being a single mum and her excitement as the Games draw closer. \n ' Stadium Celebration Aims To Raise Funds For Young Sport Talent In Milton Keynes Milton Keynes Citizen - Apr 26, 2012 ' A HUGE celebration of sport is being planned in Milton Keynes to coincide with the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the new city. Former Olympic swimming medallist Sharron Davies and hilarious former England hockey international Roger Dakin are the main speakers at the Torchlight Dinner at stadium:mk on Monday, July 9. Organiser Sally Fennemore said: âWe are looking to make this something really special with former Olympians and internationals, young talent, sports demonstrati... Sharron Davies Weeps After Council Approves Care Home At Bottom Of Her Garden Daily Mail (UK) - Jan 05, 2012 ' Ms Davies, 49, pictured, bought the Grade II-listed mansion in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, two months ago - and has vowed to fight \'tooth and nail\' to reverse the planning decision.' Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Sharron Davies. CHILDHOOD 1962 Birth Born on November 1, 1962. TEENAGE 1976 13 Years Old In 1976, still only thirteen, Davies was selected to represent Great Britain at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. … Read More Although her performance was not enough to get her in the medals, it did make her a household name. Read Less 1977 14 Years Old The next year she stepped up a gear to win two bronze medals in the 1977 European Championships. … Read More The following year, still just fifteen, she won gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in the 200 and 400-metre individual medleys. She also picked up a further silver and bronze medal. Read Less 1980 17 Years Old By 1980 Davies was ready for a more serious Olympic challenge. … Read More She took the silver medal in the 400 m individual medley behind East German Petra Schneider, who later admitted that the victory was drug enhanced. Read Less TWENTIES 1987 24 Years Old Davies then married physical training instructor John Crisp in West Sussex in 1987. They were divorced in 1991. In 1992, she met athlete Derek Redmond at the Barcelona Olympics. In 1994 they were married in Northampton, and had two children. They were divorced in 2000. Davies's third marriage was to British Airways pilot Tony Kingston. They were married in 2002 in Gloucestershire. … Read More In autumn 2006, she announced that she was three months pregnant after IVF treatment, having been trying for a baby for four years and suffering two miscarriages. During a Sport Relief event in Devon, she said: "Weâre very optimistic and happy but we're cautious, too, because of what we have been through. Giving birth at 43 doesnât worry me. I'm in better shape than most women 15 years younger. So many women go throug


Which European city hosted the 2004 Summer Olympic Games?

Olympic Games Host Cities, Map of Summer and Winter Olympic Host Cities 2016 Summer Olympics Participating Countries The first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The Olympiad has been held thirty times, though it has been canceled three times over history because of World War I and II. Olympic Games have been hosted the greatest number of times in Europe, followed by North America (especially in the United States of America). Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in South America has been selected to host the 2016 Olympic Games, but South America has not yet hosted the Olympic Games. Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent have also never hosted the Olympics. The World Map of Olympics Hosts Cities shows all cities that have hosted the Summer and Winter Olympic Games and the years in which they were held. The United States of America has hosted four Winter Games and four Summer Games, more than any other country in the world. France has hosted two Summer Olympics and three Winter Olympics, and now the United Kingdom stands third, having hosted its third Olympic Games in 2012. After hosting the 2012 games, London became the fist ever city to have hosted the Olympic Games thrice. Los Angeles, Paris and Athens have each hosted two games each. ACOD~20120813


The men’s football team from which country won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics?

Cycling at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games: Men's Madison | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com Cycling at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games: Men's Madison Date Started: August 19, 2008 Date Finished: August 19, 2008 Format: 240 laps (60 km) with a sprint every 20 laps (5 km). Sprint points awarded - 5-3-2-1 - to the first four finishers. Gold:   Russia Summary The Madison was ridden over 50 km. (200 laps) with 10 sprints held every 20 laps. The heavy favorites were 2008 World Champions, [Mark Cavendish] and [Bradley Wiggins] of Great Britain. Cavendish had won four sprint stages at the 2008 Tour de France, while Wiggins would win gold in both pursuit races in Beijing. The race was a low-scoring affair, with Argentina, Spain, and Russia gaining an early lap on the other 13 teams and contesting the medals, Argentina winning gold with 8 points, to 7 for Spain, and 6 for Russia. Spain was led by [Juan Llaneras], winner of the gold medal in the 2008 points race (and the 2000 points race), while Russia was led by the 2004 points race gold medalist, [Mikhail Ignatyev]. Argentina’s [Juan Esteban Curuchet] was competing in his sixth Olympics, at 43-years-old, but this was his first Olympic medal. He and his partner, [Walter Pérez], had won the World Championship in 2004. Cavendish and Wiggins missed the winning breakaways, and finished only ninth. Llaneras was riding with [Antonio Tauler]. His primary partner in the past few years had been [Isaac Gálvez], with whom he had won the Worlds in 1999 and 2006. In November 2006, he Llaneras and Gálvez entered the Six Days of Ghent but in that race, Gálvez crashed and hit the railing, dying from his injuries. Distraught, Llaneras promptly retired from racing, only to return in mid-2007. View a Phase of this Event • Final Standings Final Standings


What was the name of the horse that Zara Phillips (Tindall) should have ridden at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but had to pull out because of an injury to the horse?

William Fox-Pitt Archives - Equestrian News Equestrian News Nov 012013   Following a successful season now is the time to celebrate the riders and horses that have made it to the top of the British Eventing Points ranking table. The final 2013 rankings have seen a hotly contested battle for the top spots. New Zealander Andrew Nicholson has retained first place in the rankings following another very successful season and also leads the FEI HSBC rankings. Topping the horse rankings is Irish bred Mr Cruise Control, owned jointly by Robin and Nicola Salmon alongside Andrew. Mr Cruise Control has had a prolific season finishing fifth in the 4* at Pau and first in both the CIC3* at Chatsworth in May and Luhmuhlen 4*. His owners will be presented with the Calcutta Light Horse Trophy in recognition of his impressive achievement. Andrew’s Olympic bronze medal winning mount, Deborah Sellar’s Nereo, is runner up with 382 points. Best of the Brits, and winner of the Tony Collins award, is Dorset based William Fox-Pitt who attained a total of 2142 points this season. William’s European bronze medal winning horse Chilli Morning, owned by Christopher and Lisa Stone, reached third place in the BE rankings after winning 378 points. Another of Fox-Pitt’s rides, Catherine Witt’s recent Pau 4* winner Seacookie finished just behind his stable mate in fourth place with 368 points. Fellow Brit Oliver Townend again retains third place in the rankings following another busy season, amassing 1241 points. The top twenty ranked horses and riders are detailed below and the top one hundred can be found here . Jan 242013   HRH the Duchess of Cornwall, Patron of the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), hosted a reception on the evening of Tuesday 22 January 2013 to celebrate the achievements of the British equestrian teams at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The event, held in the majestic formal rooms of Clarence House, London, was a wonderful opportunity for the team to meet the Duchess, an enthusiastic supporter of equestrian sport and to reflect on a successful 2012. Over 80 honoured guests including horse owners, grooms, coaches and team support staff gathered with medallists to enjoy the occasion. Athletes attending included dressage gold medallist Laura Bechtolsheimer MBE; eventing silver medallists Tina Cook, William Fox-Pitt, Mary King MBE, Zara Phillips MBE and Nicola Wilson; showjumping gold medallist Peter Charles MBE; Paralympic multi-medallists Natasha Baker MBE, Sophie Christiansen OBE, Deb Criddle MBE and Sophie Wells MBE who were presented and photographed with Her Royal Highness. Chairman of the British Equestrian Federation, Keith Taylor commented; “Our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, is wonderfully supportive of everything we do. Tonight, HRH played a very personal tribute in hosting and celebrating the successes of our athletes, their owners and the support staff at Clarence House. It was a joyous occasion in celebration of the best ever haul of medals at an Olympic and Paralympic Games.” The success of the equestrian teams during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games saw a record 16 medals won across the four disciplines, from the historic first Olympic medals for dressage, the first showjumping gold medal for sixty years, to the unbeaten British Paralympic team (since para-dressage’s introduction in 1996) exceeding their Beijing medal haul, after securing a total of 11 medals. Jul 032012   Unfortunately DHI Topper W, ridden by Piggy French, has incurred an injury that means he will not be fit to compete at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the equestrian (eventing) competitions. The British Olympic Association (BOA) has confirmed that Nicola Wilson (35) from Northallerton, North Yorkshire, riding Opposition Buzz owned by Miss Rosemary Search has been selected to replace Piggy and DHI Topper W. Commenting on her selection Nicola Wilson said: “It’s horrific and fabulous at the same time; I just don’t know what to say; I’m devastated for Piggy and wouldn’t wish this on anybody, she’s become a very close frien


Which British rower won five gold medals in five consecutive Olympic Games?

Gold medal won by 'Steve Redgrave of 1908 Olympics' set to sell for £7,000 | Daily Mail Online Gold medal won by 'Steve Redgrave of 1908 Olympics' set to sell for £7,000 Legendary GB rower's medal to be auctioned off by family more than 100 years since Games triumph Beautiful medal expected to fetch around £7,000 at Christie's Raymond Etherington-Smith, likened to Sir Steve Redgrave, was a doctor and an Olympian. Died aged 36 after contracting blood poisoning from patient. Meanwhile, British Library set to launch Games memorabilia exhibition including stamps, postcards and letters An Olympic gold medal won more than a century ago by the 'Steve Redgrave of 1908' has been put up for auction. The gold medal, won at the 1908 London Games by British doctor and rower Raymond Etherington-Smith, the captain of the Leander eight, has been put up for sale by the former Olympian's family. The gorgeous 25g, 15 carat gold medal is expected to fetch around £7,000 at auction when it goes under the Hammer at Christie's in London. Fetching: The 25g, 15 carat gold medal is expected to fetch around £7,000 at auction The Redgrave of 1908: Raymond Etherington-Smith won the medal more than 100 years ago, and his family have now put the medal up for auction It was announced just days before the 2012 London Games that the great rower's solid gold medal has been put up for auction - 104 years after he beat his Belgian competitors. Etherington-Smith has been likened to fellow Great British rower, Sir Steve Redgrave, who won gold medals at a remarkable five consecutive Olympic Games between 1984 and 2000. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Captain: Raymond Etherington-Smith, who died in tragic circumstance aged 36, won gold at the 1908 Olympic Games Redgrave, who carried the Olympic torch earlier this month, is only one of four Olympians to have achieved this honour. The 1908 medals look a far cry from those to be handed out at the 2012 Games over the coming weeks. Etherington-Smith's medal measures just 1.5 inches in diameter, was not designed to be worn about the neck and comes with its original presentation box if bought. One side of the medal depicts a soldier figure on horseback towering over a curled up dragon. The rider is greeted by a semi-clad woman. The other shows a nude competitor standing victorious in the centre, flanked by two naked women holding a wreath over his head. The inscriptions 'Olympic Games' and 'London 1908' are scrawled either side of the athlete's feet on podium-like structures. During the race in 1908, Great Britain's Leander eight's main rivals - the Belgium team - sunk and capsized, allowing the hosts a rather routine passage to victory. Tragically, the doctor died just five years later, aged 36,  after contracting peritonitis while carrying out an operation at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. An operating theatre was later named in his memory. The doctor, a Cambridge graduate, was nicknamed 'Ethel' and captained the Leander Club four times - 1903, 1905, 1906 and 1908. Sophie Churche, from Christie's, said: 'The medal is incredibly beautiful and is solid gold. 'There were only two Olypmics where the medals were made from pure gold and this is 25 grams of 15 carat gold. 'On the front it depicts the male athlete being crowned and on the reverse is St George. 'It was not meant to be worn around the neck, there is no loop for a ribbon to go through and this comes in its original box. Back in the boat: Sir Steve Redgrave, who carried the Olympic Flame earlier this month in Henley, has been likened to Etherington-Smith Big difference: The medals to be handed out at the 2012 Games, designed by David Watkins, are a far cry from the one Etherington-Smith won 'London only had a short time to organise the Games because they were due to be held in Italy by Mt Vesuvius erupted so they had to be moved. 'This was won by Raymond Etherington-Smith who was captain of the Leander eight. 'We chose an experienced crew to take on the Belgians who were the main competition. 'In the end the Belgians capsized and the Great Br


In which European city was the first opening ceremony of the Olympic Games held?

The Olympics Opening Ceremony Home > Events > Olympics > Summer > Traditions > Opening Ceremony The Olympic Opening Ceremony The opening ceremony at the Olympic Games has become a major entertainment spectacle, costing many millions of dollars to stage. It has come a long way since the first opening ceremonies held during the 1908 Olympic Games in London, where for the first time, athletes marched into the stadium behind their nations' flags. During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, tradition dictates that the procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team, followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (based on the language of the hosting country), except for the last team which is always the team of the hosting country. The IOC has two official languages English and French. Both languages are used to introduce competitors. At the opening ceremony, the Olympic flag is raised while the Olympic hymn is played. The torch relay arrives and the flame is lit. The Olympic Oath and Creed is also said. Opening Ceremony Trivia The first opening ceremony was  organized by Regent Street Polytechnic. At the first opening ceremony in 1908, the team from Finland refused to carry a flag when they were told that they would have to march under the flag of Russia. At the 1912 Olympic Games opening ceremony, Finland's team paraded under the national insignia flag of a Swedish-speaking female gymnastics club in Helsinki. Finland was part of the Russian Empire at the time, but competed separately. During the opening ceremony of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, athletes from Liechtenstein were shocked to discover that their flag was identical to the flag of Haiti. After the games, a yellow crown was added to the flag of Liechtenstein. Leading up to the Rio Games in 2016, American broadcasters NBC requested that the order of countries in the opening parade of nations be in English language order, so that the American team would march later in the program. It was worried it would lose viewers if they marched in their correct order, which in Portuguese the US will march with the E's (as in - Estados Unidos). Share:


Which country’s team always leads the procession of athletes during the Olympic Opening Ceremony?

Why Greece always leads the parade of athletes at the Olympic opening ceremony and how the rest of the order is determined 19,843.41 -8.83 (-0.04%) Why Greece always leads the parade of athletes at the Olympic opening ceremony and how the rest of the order is determined Cork Gaines More (Greek sailing champion Sofia Bekatorou led the parade of athletes at the Rio Olympics.Getty Images) The 2016 Summer Olympics officially kicked off on Friday night with the opening ceremony in Rio. As has become tradition, the ceremony starts with a celebration of the host country, followed by the parade of athletes. And once again, Greece was the first country introduced due to their historical importance to the games. The order of the parade of nations at every Olympics is as follows. Greece comes in first — this is due to their role in the origin of the Olympics The host nation comes in last — in 2016, this is Brazil, obviously. The rest of the nations are ordered alphabetically by the language of the host nation — As a result of this, Afghanistan was the first nation after Greece, followed by South Africa (África do Sul in Portuguese). Zambia will be the 207th and final nation before the host nation, Brazil.


The heptathlon is made up of how many events?

What are the ten events that make up the decathlon? | Reference.com What are the ten events that make up the decathlon? A: Quick Answer The ten events that make up the decathlon are spread over two days and include the 100-meter sprint, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400-meter run on the first day, followed by the 110-meter hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw and 1500-meter run on the second day. Points are awarded for each event, and the competitor with the highest aggregate score is declared the winner. Full Answer The decathlon made its first Olympic appearance at the 1912 Games in Stockholm. This men's event challenges competitors to perform at their best in a wide range of track-and-field events that test for power, speed, agility and endurance to determine the best all-around athlete. As of 2014, the youngest man to take the Olympic decathlon title is Bob Mathias, an American who was just 17 years old when he won the event in 1948. He competed at the next Olympics in 1952 and became a two-time decathlon champion. Competition for the women's all-around title began with the 1984 Olympics, when the seven-event heptathlon was introduced. This comparable event, which is also staged over two days, consists of the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200-meter run on the first day followed by the long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run on the second day.


In 1924, which country hosted the first Winter Olympic Games?

Chamonix 1924 Winter Olympics - results & video highlights Official Reports arrow The Olympic Winter Games begin In 1921, the International Olympic Committee gave its patronage to a Winter Sports Week to take place in 1924 in Chamonix, France. This event was a great success, attracting 10,004 paying spectators, and was retrospectively named the First Olympic Winter Games. Memorable champions American Charles Jewtraw became the first Winter Games champion by winning the first event, the 500m speed skating. The outstanding individual performer was Finland’s Clas Thunberg, who took five medals, including three golds, in the five speed skating events. Awesome Canadians In ice hockey, the Canadian team managed to score 85 times without conceding a goal in its first three matches. Canada won the tournament by scoring 122 goals, with only three scored against them. Worth the wait American Anders Haugen would have to wait 50 years to receive his bronze ski jumping medal. Deprived of his third place because of a marking error, Haugen eventually won his case and obtained his medal in 1974, aged 83. NOCs: 16 Athletes: 258 (11 women, 247 men) Events: 16 About 5,000 copies were produced. The first Olympic Winter Games were originally known as the "Winter Sports Week." Official recognition In 1926, during the 25th Session of the International Olympic Committee in Lisbon, the Chamonix Games were recognised as the first Olympic Winter Games. Medal presentation The official medal ceremony was not held until 5 February, shortly before the closing speech by Pierre de Coubertin. As some athletes had already gone home, Frantz Reichel presented their medals to other members of their teams. Track at the foot of the glaciers The bobsleigh competition was held on the Pélerins track, named after the glacier which dominates it. The equipment was transported to the top of the track using the old cable car of the Aiguille du Midi. 122 goals scored In ice hockey, over the course of its first three matches in the tournament, the Canadian team managed to score 85 times without conceding any goals. Canada won the tournament by scoring 122 goals, with only three scored against them! Equipment on shoulders For the parade of the delegations during the Opening Ceremony, many athletes marched with their equipment on their shoulder (skis, hockey sticks, etc.). Indeed, according to the rules in place at the time, the athletes had to march in sportswear, and the skis or hockey sticks were part of their equipment. Today, the delegations no longer wear their sportswear, but they try to outdo each other in terms of imagination to appear in all their finery. 10,000 paying spectators There were 10,004 paying spectators recorded for this edition of the Games.   Last, but at least ranked In cross country skiing, in the 50km event, held in a violent and icy cold wind, the last ranked competitor finished 2h30m after Norway’s Thorleif Haug, who won the event in 3h44m. Ceremonies Chamonix 25 January 1924. Delegations in the Olympic Stadium. Official opening of the Games by: Under Secretary for Physical Education, Gaston Vidal Lighting the Olympic Flame by: A symbolic fire at an Olympic Winter Games was first lit in 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Olympic Oath by: Officials' Oath by: The officials' oath at an Olympic Winter Games was first sworn in 1972 at Sapporo. On the obverse, a winter sports athlete, arms open. He is holding in his right hand a pair of skates and in his left a pair of skis. In the background, the Alps with Mont Blanc. On the reverse, a 14-line long inscription. "CHAMONIX MONT-BLANC SPORTS D'HIVER 25 JANVIER - 5 FEVRIER 1924 ORGANISES PAR LE COMITE OLYMPIQUE FRANCAIS SOUS LE HAUT PATRONAGE DU COMITE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIQUE A L'OCCASION DE LA CELEBRATION DE LA VIIIe OLYMPIADE". [Chamonix Mont-Blanc Winter Sports 25 January-5 February 1924, organized by the French Olympic Committee under the high patronage of the International Olympic Committee on the occasion of the celebration of the VIII Olympiad]. As was the case with the medal for the Paris Games, t


How many chances in each round do high-jumpers get to clear the bar?

HIGH JUMP The method of clearing the bar is largely pre-determined by: the angle of take-off the degree of extension in the lead leg the degree of forward inclination of the head, arms and shoulders the extent to which the powerful take-off leg extension is diminished by a  twisting attempt to aid body rotation If the forward momentum of the run has not been fully blocked, so that the jump continues forward toward the crossbar, the style will necessarily be some variation of a dive-straddle. In general, this style of lay-out is associated with a fast run. In contrast, if the lead leg is fully extended and driven well above the bar and if the head and chin are erect so as to rise momentarily above the bar, then dropped quickly down and if the direction of the body's COM is close to the vertical, then the jump can be called an orthodox straddle style. Such a style tends to be associated with a slower run. By long-time practice and power training, the athlete can combine a faster run with a more vertical jump and thus achieve a lay-out style closer to the desired form. This is difficult but it can be done. The greater the extent to which it is done, the higher the bar that can be cleared. Though the path of movement of a jumper's COM is fixed by take-off direction and methods, one can still change the relative positions and movements of his extremities: the head:, arms, and legs. By dropping the head down quickly , the trail leg and hip can be lifted up and over the bar. By dropping the right arm down and twisting the head, the trail leg-hip can be lifted, and the left hand-arm-shoulder can be pulled out of the crotch and away from the bar. Or, by its own direct action, the trail foot can be rotated outward and upward. There is a close action-reaction between the movements of the extremities. For most straddle-style jumpers, the trail foot-leg-hip are the most difficult parts of the body to get over the cross-bar. Each successful jumper seems to have their own unique way of trying to solve the problem. Most effective of all is to acquire the special power and flexibility demanded by this unique action, not duplicated in any other sports event. Assuming power and flexibility are adequate, the jumper should try several methods then select one for special emphasis. Actually these are variations of one method; the body always acts as a unit; each action here will have an equal reaction there. However, try: rolling around the bar without awareness of special action of any one part thrusting the lead arm-shoulder and head down just before the hips reach  their greatest height; a compensating reaction will tend to lift the trail foot-leg rotating the face toward the bar and/or down lifting or everting the left hip along with a drop of the head--the trail  foot-leg will follow throwing the trail foot straight up, with little concern for rotating the  foot concentrating on an outward rotation of the trail foot, with extension of  the leg Great high jumping requires three essentials: 1: Competitive competence: self-confidence, concentration of physical-emotional-mental energy, self-control and reckless abandon 2: Adequate power: Such power in the related muscles makes full use of a maximum approach to each of the many phases of high jumping. 3: Mastery of skill: The many phases of skill in the gather, the takeoff, the upward thrust of the arms and lead leg, and the mechanics of an efficient clearance action must be mastered in part and as a whole. Such mastery leads toward complete automatism, to the point where high jumping becomes an artless art. Conscious intelligent practice of the many parts of action gradually loses all consciousness of those parts. A great champion jumps holistically as a unit the run-gather-take-off-spring-clearance are merely words by which to transmit and comprehend ideas. Only the ideas are partial; only the words have separate entities; the high jumping action from first step to landing is an inseparable whole. NOTE: The above was edited from a technical pap


In ancient Olympic Games, some men wore a ‘kynodesme’ to restrain which part of their body?

Roman gladiator: Is the West strong only because of weaponry? Roman gladiator: Is the West strong only because of weaponry? (too old to reply) You can support Wikipedia by making a tax-deductible donation. Gladiator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For other uses, see Gladiator (disambiguation). The Zliten mosaic from Libya (Leptis Magna) prob. 2nd c. AD: A thraex and murmillo, a hoplomachus and murmillo (who is signaling his defeat to the referee), and a matched pair.Gladiators (Latin: gladiatōrēs, "swordsmen" or "one who uses a sword," from gladius, "sword") were professional fighters in ancient Rome who fought against each other, wild animals, and condemned criminals, sometimes to the death, for the entertainment of spectators. These fights took place in arenas in many cities from the Roman Republic period through the Roman Empire. Contents [hide] 1 History of gladiatorial combats 1.1 Origins 4 Life as a gladiator 4.1 Origins 4.4 Life expectancy of a gladiator 4.5 Slave revolts 9 Gladiators in films and television 10 See also [edit] History of gladiatorial combats [edit] Origins The origin of the gladiatorial games is not known for certain. There are two theories: that the Romans adopted gladiatorial fights from the Etruscans, and that the games came from Campania and Lucania. The evidence for the theory of Etruscan origin is a passage by the Greek writer Nicolaus of Damascus in the second half of the first century BCE describing the origins as Etruscan, an account by Isidore of Seville during the 600s relating the Latin word for gladiator manager, lanista, to the Etruscan word for "executioner", and also likeness of the Roman god of hell, Charon, who accompanied the executed bodies as they exited the arena, to the Etruscan god of death, also named Charon. The theory that the games developed from a Campanian and Lucanian tradition is supported by frescoes dating to the fourth century BCE depicting funeral games in which pair of gladiators fought to the death to commemorate the death of an important individual. However, the Campanians could also have adapted this tradition from the Greeks who could have introduced funeral games with human sacrifices to the area in the eighth century BCE. Regardless of the origin, the Romans adopted the tradition of funeral games to display important people's status and power. The earliest known gladiatorial games were held in 310 BC by the Campanians (Livy 9.40.17). These games re-enacted the Campanians' military success over the Samnites. The first recorded Roman gladiatorial combats took place in Rome in 264 BC, at the start of the First Punic War against Carthage. Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus staged it in honour of his dead father Brutus Pera. It was held between three pairs of slaves chosen from among 22 prisoners of war, and held in the cattle market (Forum Boarium). The ceremony was called a munus or “duty paid to a dead ancestor by his descendants, with the intention of keeping alive his memory” (Baker, Gladiator 10). Roman aristocrats soon took up the practice as an alternative to the earlier custom of sacrificing prisoners on the graves of warriors, with events being held for notable people and repeated every one to five years after the person’s death. These games became popular throughout the Empire and were especially popular in Greece. So popular that there are many records of people in towns where prominent citizens died virtually extorting promises of gladiatorial games from the survivors. The aristocracy also began to compete in having the best games so that whereas the sons of Brutus Pera offered three matches, a century later, Titus Flamininus offered 74 matches lasting three days for his father's funeral and by the passing of yet another century Julius Caesar promised 320 matches for his daughter, Julia. As a result the emperors eventually had to regulate how much could be spent on gladiatorial performances to prevent members of the elite from bankrupting themselves. Gradually, as the connection to funerals faded in the late second ce


In 1960, who became the first Sub-Saharan African to win an Olympic Gold Medal?

History and HeadlinesHistory: September 10, 1960: 1st Sub-Saharan African Wins Olympic Gold Medal - History and Headlines No Comments A Brief History On September 10, 1960, the final event of the Summer Olympics held in Rome, Italy, was the scene of the first Sub-Saharan African (Black) to win an Olympic Gold Medal.  Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia won the prestigious Olympic Marathon race (about 26.2 miles long) and won it in high fashion, that is, barefoot! Digging Deeper Only 126 lbs, this slim 5’11” runner was 28 years old when he ran his historic race, and for good measure he won the Olympic Gold Medal in the Marathon in the 1964 Olympics as well.  The course of events that led to Bikila’s historic performance makes for a good background story.  The only reason he even went to Rome to compete was because another Ethiopian runner had taken ill and Bikila was a last minute substitute.  On top of that, because of the late addition to the team, running shoe company Adidas that sponsored the Olympics did not have shoes for Bikila that fit properly, which is why he ran barefoot.  He won in record time by a 25 second margin. In the 1964 Olympics Bikila competed as the reigning champion and would not surprise anyone this time.  Between his Olympic Gold Medal performances, Bikila won every Marathon he ran except a disappointing 5th place in the 1963 Boston Marathon.  In fact, Boston was the only Marathon Bikila ran (completed) in his career that he did not win. Disaster nearly struck 40 days before the 1964 Tokyo Olympics when Bikila came down with appendicitis and required surgery.  Though he traveled to Tokyo, he was not expected to run.  Bikila did choose to run, and won his second Olympic Gold Medal, once again setting a new record, while becoming the first man to win a second Olympic Marathon.  His emperor, Haile Selassie, presented Bakila with a brand new Volkswagen Beetle.  No kidding. In 1968 disaster did indeed strike, and Bikila had to pull out of the Olympic Marathon due to injury to his knee.  It seems he had earlier broken a bone in his foot as well.  In 1969 an even bigger disaster struck when Bikila swerved his Volkswagen to avoid protesters in the roadway.  He wrecked his car and became a quadriplegic from his injuries.  In 1973 Bikila died at age 41 of a cerebral hemorrhage, leaving a legacy of excellence by Sub-Saharan (Black) African long distance runners to follow. Of course, Black African athletes had won Olympic Gold Medals before Bikila, but not representing an African nation.  African-Americans such as Jesse Owens had won Olympic Gold, but Bikila was the first to bring his medal back to Africa.  Since Bikila’s heroics, Olympic Marathons have been won by athletes from Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, and twice Ethiopian women have won the Olympic Marathon. What other Sub-Saharan African athletes can you think of that have achieved greatness?  Please tell us your favorites. If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by entering your email address at the top right of this page or like us on Facebook . Your readership is much appreciated! Historical Evidence


The ‘J’ approach and the ‘Flared’ approach are associated with which event?

High Jump Technique | High Jump | Athletics | Sports Coaching High Jump High Jump Technique The High Jump comprises of three main elements: the approach; the takeoff and the bar rotation. A good approach to high jump coaching is to look at and work on these three elements individually. Here we explain in more detail the technical aspects of a Fosbury flop high jump technique. High jump technique - The approach: 3 important factors of the approach are acceleration, maximum velocity, and curve running.  There are 3 different approaches that the athletes use today. The J approach, flared approach, and hook approach. All 3 approaches have the same curve into the jump. The only difference between them is the initial starting position. The J approach involves the athlete running in a straight line before curving their run into the jump. An athlete using the flared approach will start from a position wider than that of the J approach, and the opposite occurs with the hook approach. The starting point is inside that of the J approach. Athletes run on a curve to lean away from the bar by creating pressure against the ground. Most athletes use between 6 and 12 steps on the approach , usually an even number so the first step is taken with the non-jumping foot. The radius of the curved run is specific to individual athletes, and this can only be found through trial and error. However the average for women is around 31-32 feet (9.5-10 metres), and for men it is 27-28 feet (8.3-8.6 metres), so these are good starting points for your long jump. The athlete must approach the bar from the correct angle in the last 2 steps. Again this is somewhat athlete specific but 50 degrees for the penultimate step and 40 degrees for the final step are good guidelines. The last 2 steps of the approach are the most important. The penultimate step must land flat, and on the imaginary curve line, with the hips and torso moving over this foot as quickly as possible. The last step should also be flat footed and purposely planted in a dorsiflex position. High jump technique - Takeoff: The aim of high jump coaching here is conversion of vertical velocity must be made from the horizontal velocity of the approach if a long jump is going to be successful. A short takeoff time is also important otherwise the athlete will more than likely land on top of the bar. The takeoff action is also known as a push-through-and-pull action. The push-through is the hip moving over the penultimate foot. The pull is the hip of the free leg coming through because of the active negative motion of the takeoff leg. On takeoff the foot should be pointing roughly towards the far corner of the landing area. All athletes are different when it comes to the position of the takeoff foot, but generally this foot should be planted around 2-3 feet down the bar from the post or standard. Distances in front of the bar also vary greatly from athlete to athlete. However the average for women is around 26 inches or 65cm. For men it is further, around 48 inches or 123cm. Use trial and error to work out the best position. High jump technique - Bar rotation: The Fosbury Flop is the most common way to clear the bar. This ends with the athlete landing on their upper back. To get to this position the athlete must rotate around there vertical axis so their back is facing the bar as they clear it. To clear the bar an athlete will need to arch and then un-arch the body. The arching occurs to lift the hips above the bar, and the un-arching drops the hips, which lifts the legs in a natural reaction. The un-arching should occur as the upper legs go over the bar. More Athletics:


Who won the Eurovison Song Contest for the United Kingdom in 1967?

Eurovision United Kingdom 1967: Sandie Shaw - "Puppet On A String" Sandie Shaw - "Puppet On A String"   I wonder if one day that you'll say that you care If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly be there Like a puppet on a string Love is just like a merry-go-round With all the fun of the fair One day I'm feeling down on the ground Then I'm up in the air Are you leading me on? Tomorrow, will you be gone? I wonder if one day that you'll say that you care If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly be there Like a puppet on a string I may win on the roundabout Then I'll lose on the swings In or out, there is never a doubt Just who's pulling the strings I'm all tied up in you But where's it leading me to? I wonder if one day that you'll say that you care If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly be there Like a puppet on a string I wonder if one day that you'll say that you care If you say you love me madly, I'll gladly be there Like a puppet on a string Like a puppet on a string


Who succeeded Lyndon B Johnson as President of the United States?

Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States (1908 - 1973) - Genealogy Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th President of the United States Also Known As: in Stonewall, TX, United States Cause of death: his third heart attack & he had severe heart disease Place of Burial: United States President, Vice President, United States House of Representative, U S Senator, teacher, 36th President Managed by: sister About Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States The thirty-sixth President of the United States (1963–1969) and thirty-seventh Vice President of the United States (1961–1963).  A Democrat, Johnson succeeded to the presidency following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and after completing Kennedy's term was elected President in his own right in a landslide victory in the 1964 Presidential election. Johnson was a major leader of the Democratic Party and as President was responsible for designing the "Great Society" legislation that included civil rights laws, Medicare (government-funded health care for the elderly), Medicaid (government-funded health care for the poor), aid to education, and the "War on Poverty." Simultaneously, he escalated the American involvement in the Vietnam War from 16,000 American soldiers in 1963 to 550,000 in early 1968. Johnson served as a United States Representative from Texas from 1937–1949 and as United States Senator (as his grandfather[1] foretold when LBJ was just an infant) from 1949–1961, including six years as United States Senate Majority Leader, two as Senate Minority Leader and two as Senate Majority Whip. After campaigning unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in 1960, Johnson was selected by John F. Kennedy to be his running-mate for the 1960 presidential election. Johnson's popularity as President steadily declined after the 1966 Congressional elections, and his reelection bid in the 1968 United States presidential election collapsed as a result of turmoil within the Democratic party related to opposition to the Vietnam War. He withdrew from the race to concentrate on peacemaking. Johnson was renowned for his domineering personality and the "Johnson treatment," his arm-twisting of powerful politicians. Johnson was maternally descended from a pioneer Baptist clergyman, George Washington Baines, who pastored some eight churches in Texas as well as others in Arkansas and Louisiana. Baines was also the president of Baylor University during the American Civil War. George Baines was the grandfather of Johnson's mother, Rebekah Baines Johnson. Johnson's grandfather Samuel Ealy Johnson, Sr. was raised as a Baptist. Subsequently, in his early adulthood, he became a member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In his later years he became a Christadelphian.[2] According to Lady Bird Johnson, Johnson's father also joined the Christadelphian Church toward the end of his life.[3] Later, as a politician LBJ was influenced in his attitude towards the Jews by the religious beliefs that his family, especially his grandfather, had shared with him Johnson briefly taught public speaking and debate in a Houston high school, then entered politics. Johnson's father had served five terms in the Texas legislature and was a close friend to one of Texas's rising political figures, Congressman Sam Rayburn. In 1930, Johnson campaigned for Texas State Senator Welly Hopkins in his run for Congress. Hopkins recommended him to Congressman Richard M. Kleberg, who appointed Johnson as Kleberg's legislative secretary. LBJ was elected speaker of the "Little Congress," a group of Congressional aides, where he cultivated Congressmen, newspapermen and lobbyists. Johnson's friends soon included aides to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as fellow Texans such as Vice President John Nance Garner. He became a surrogate son to Sam Rayburn. Lyndon Baines Johnson is Dorothy Willard's 9th cousin four times removed. Dorothy Willard→Onad Duncan your mother→Edith Davis her mother→Albert Dewitt Worley her father→Alanson Dewitt Worley his father→Judith S Worley his mother→


Which US author committed suicide with a shotgun in 1961?

10 Sad Stories of Writers Who Committed Suicide - Toptenz.net Toptenz.net Posted by Shell Harris on October 14, 2009 in Literature , People | 28,493 Views | 27 Responses From the earliest records of ancient civilizations to the most recent works produced by modernity, the history of literature bears witness to the creative power of the human mind. We have before us a vast library of stories, plays, and poetry to enjoy at our leisure, but in some cases this creativity came with a price – the life of the creator. A significant number of writers have struggled with depression and the seductions of suicide, leading some to believe there is often a close connection between artistic skill and the mood swings of a tortured mind. While not all of the following writer-suicides of modernity occurred because of the writer’s battle with depression, many of them did – and there are many, many more that could be added to this list. 10. Yukio Mishima (1925 – 1970) Yukio Mishima was the pen name for Kimitake Hiraoka, a prolific Japanese author, actor, and playwright. Taken under the wing of his overly protective grandmother until the age of 12, Mishima was not allowed to play with other boys, participate in sports, or even expose himself to sunlight. Mishima’s early fascination with literature and writing led to clashes with his military-minded father, who destroyed any of his son’s manuscripts he found. Still, Mishima enjoyed early success in the academic world, becoming the youngest member of his elite school’s editorial board and subsequently publishing poetry and prose in prestigious magazines. To protect him from the scorn of his classmates, his instructors decided that he should write under a pen name. Mishima graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1947 and continued to publish stories, poems, and plays, while also traveling extensively. Keenly interested in physical fitness and martial arts, he joined the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) and later started his own private force called the Shield Society. In 1970, Mishima and four members of this Shield Society took over the Tokyo JSDF headquarters and tied up the commandant. Mishima gave a speech outlining his demands to restore power to the Japanese emperor, and then ended his life by committing seppuku. He had been carefully planning the suicide for a year. 9. Jerzy Kosinski (1933 -1991) As Jews living in Poland during World War II, the Lewinkopf family had to do everything possible to avoid German capture, so young Jozef Lewinkopf was given the false name Jerzy Kosinski, which he kept as an alias. After the war was over, Kosinski remained in Poland in order to pursue university studies. In 1957, Kosinski emigrated to the United States on a passport obtained by forging papers that “proved” an American foundation was willing to sponsor him. He supported himself by driving a truck until he obtained a grant from the Ford Foundation allowing him to attend Columbia University’s sociology program. In 1965 – the same year he became an American citizen – Kosinski published the novel The Painted Bird, a highly controversial story about a young boy’s experiences in Europe during World War II. Other famous (and also controversial) novels by Kosinski include Steps and Being There. Many people were critical of Kosinski’s writing because of the sexual, violent, and often sadistic topics he chose to portray. He was thought to rely heavily on ghostwriters and freelance editors for the content of his novels, and was even accused of plagiarism, which he vehemently denied. In addition to the mental exhaustion of dealing with these allegations, Kosinski also suffered from serious physical illnesses later in life. On May 3, 1991, his wife found his body in a half-filled bathtub, a suffocating plastic bag wrapped around his head. “I am going to put myself to sleep now for a bit longer than usual,” read Kosinski’s suicide note. “Call it Eternity.” 8. Hunter S. Thompson (1937 – 2005) Perhaps most famous for his 1972 novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Kentucky native Hunter Thompson is remembered


On which Greek island did Jacqueline Kennedy marry shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis in October 1968?

On This Day: Jackie Kennedy marries Aristotle Onassis On This Day: Jackie Kennedy marries Aristotle Onassis Julian Gavaghan Share OCTOBER 20, 1968: Jacqueline Kennedy marries Aristotle Onassis Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy sparked outrage by marrying Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis on this day in 1968 – five years after JFK’s assassination. The 39-year-old widow’s surprise wedding to a man 23 years her senior was viewed by people around the world as an undignified betrayal of President John F Kennedy. It also sparked savage newspaper reaction. One Fleet Street tabloid blasted: “Jackie weds blank cheque.” While another in Rome roared: “JFK dies a second time.” And the Catholic Church attacked the American fashion icon for breaking the Vatican law forbidding marriage to a divorced man. [On This Day: John F Kennedy makes 'Ich bin ein Berliner' speech] Yet millions also sympathised with a woman who had also been hurt by the death of her two-day-old son Patrick in 1963, a miscarriage in 1955, stillbirth of daughter Arabella in 1953 and frequent affairs of her late husband during the ten-year marriage. A British Pathé newsreel filmed the new Mrs Kennedy Onassis emerging with her second husband from a Greek Orthodox Church on his private island of Skorpios. The commentator also pointed out that there had been reports of anger among the powerful Kennedy clan. Yet, it later emerged that the family had largely given her their blessing and Senator Ted Kennedy, JFK’s youngest brother, had helped her secure a prenuptial agreement. It gave her $3million cash before the wedding and also handed $1million each to her two surviving children Caroline and John Jr. She made the decision to marry again after JFK’s other brother Robert Kennedy’s assassination in April 1968 triggered fears that other family members might be killed. “If they are killing Kennedys, my children are the No 1 targets. I want to get out of this country,” she said after what people had already described as the Kennedy Curse. [On This Day: Robert Kennedy dies after being shot on the campaign trail] Onassis, who was one of the wealthiest men in the world, promised her new security – although the marriage meant she lost her right to U.S. Secret Service protection. Mrs Kennedy Onassis also failed to live a more secluded life as the press and paparazzi followed the woman they had nicknamed Jackie O everywhere. The couple spent a lot of time in America, dividing their time between her 15-room Fifth Avenue apartment in New York City and her horse farm in New Jersey. [On This Day: Kennedy and Nixon clash in first ever TV presidential debate] They also lived in his Paris flat, his 325ft yacht The Christina and Skorpios, which he bought for £10,000 in 1962 but was sold by an heir this year for £100million. But Onassis, who was known by Ari, began suffering from increasingly bad health after the death of his son Alexander in a plane crash in 1973. He died from respiratory failure at age 69 in Paris on March 15, 1975, following less than eight years of marriage. Mrs Kennedy Onassis then spent two years fighting to gain a $26million share of his $500million fortune, which she was forbidden to inherit under Greek law. After that she settled permanently in New York and went on to develop an career as a renowned book editor. The three-pack-a-day cigarette smoker died from cancer at age 64 on May 19, 1994 and was buried beside JFK and their son Patrick at Arlington Cemetery, Virginia. Reblog