As the Olympics in Rio has just come to a close we thought we would stop and take a look back at what makes the Olympics so special. We're going to reveal to you some interesting facts that you may not know about the Olympic Games. If you would like to book an event at one of the London Olympic venues please contact: josh@emc3.eu

2. The 2016 Olympic Games are just around the corner, so its time to take a
magical trip down memory lane and remember what makes the Olympics
quite so special. This year athletes from around the globe are heading to
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to compete and we for one couldn’t be more excited!
MOST INSPIRATIONAL
MOMENTS FROM THE OLYMPICS

3. The first Olympic Games actually took place in 776 BC on the ancient plains of Olympia.
The first modern day Olympics took place in its birthplace Athens, Greece in 1896.
The five Olympic rings represent the five major regions of the world – Africa, the
Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceana, and every national flag in the world includes one
of the five colors, which are blue, yellow, black, green, and red.
The Olympic flame is lit at Olympia in Greece every two years (Summer and Winter
Olympics) before it journeys to the next host nation.
A FEW FACTS ABOUT
THE OLYMPICS

4. The 1900 Olympics in Pairs, France was the first ever Olympics that women
were allowed to participate in. Women were only allowed to partake
in five events: tennis, equestrian, sailing, croquet and golf.
Nevertheless it was a leap towards gender equality.
FIRST FEMALE ATHLETES

5. During the 1936 Olympics there were accusations of men disguising
themselves as women. Stella Walsh accused fellow athlete Helen
Stephens of being a man after she beat her in the 100 metre sprint.
GENDER TESTS
AT THE OLYMPICS

6. On the 29th of July 1948, the day of the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, Dr.
Guttmann organised the first competition for wheelchair athletes which he named the
‘Stoke Mandeville Games’. The purpose of the games was to help war veterans
and civilians that had been injured after the Second World War.
During the 1960 games in Rome, Italy the Paralympics became official.
INTRODUCTION OF
THE PARALYMPIC GAMES

7. Two African-American athletes made a silent salute at the 1968, Mexico City
Olympic Games. Gold and bronze medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos
stood with heads bowed and a black gloved-hand raised
as the American national anthem was played.
THE BLACK
POWER SALUTE

8. During the 1972, Munich Olympics 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage,
tortured, and then killed by Palestinian terrorists.
This was a major step back for the Olympics because the event
was supposed to unite countries and bring about peace.
PALESTINIANS KIDNAP
11 ISRAELI ATHLETES

9. While diving at the 1988, Seoul Olympics, Greg Louganis hit his head on the
board while doing a reverse somersault. After getting stitched up the athlete
did the same somersault and went on to win a gold medal cementing his
status as the best male diver in history!
GREG LOUGANIS
HITS HIS HEAD

10. A total of 25 African countries withdrew from the 1976 Olympic games in Montreal. This
was due to the fact the New Zealand rugby team was touring in South Africa at the
time. SA had been banned from the Olympics due to its refusal to ban apartheid. The
African nations thought New Zealand should not be allowed compete for touring in SA.
AFRICAN NATIONS BOYCOTT
THE OLYMPICS

11. While sailing during the 1998, Seoul Olympics, Lawrence Lemieux abandoned the race to
rescue sailors from another race. The sailor was in second place when he saw two sailors
struggling after their boat had capsized. He left his race to help them and still managed
to come 22nd out of 32 in the race, nevertheless he was awarded 2nd place by the IOC!
LAWRENCE LEMIEUXS ABANDONS
RACE TO RESCUE SAILORS

12. During the boxing final it seemed that Roy Jones Jr. had won the match.
However the judges thought otherwise and awarded the gold medal to Park
Si-Hun. It was later found out that the judges had been wined and dined by
South Korean officials and felt pressured to award the medal to Park.
THE JUDGES AT THE 1988
SEOUL OLYMPICS

13. The Jamaican bobsled team competed at the 1988 Calgary winter Olympics.
This was the first time that the country had appeared at the winter Olympics
although the country did not win a medal, they won the hearts of spectators
and the media. The Disney film “Cool Runnings” was loosely based on the story.
JAMAICAN
BOBSLED TEAM

14. At the Olympics in Sydney, Australia, North and South Korea marched under
one flag. Although both countries went on to compete separately, the
opening ceremony signified an openness to negotiations and peace
between the two countries.
NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA
MARCH AS ONE IN 2000

15. A Swedish judge was kicked after he disqualified Angel Matos from
competing in Taekwondo. Matos kicked the judge after he disqualified him
from his bronze medal. The athlete and his coach were given a lifetime
ban from the Olympics.
OFFICIAL ATTACKED AT THE
2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS

16. WHY NOT MAKE YOUR OWN
MAGICAL MEMORIES AT ONE OF
THE LONDON OLYMPIC VENUES?

17. The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is now open to the
public and boasts a range of flexible meeting spaces,
each with their own unique flavour and offering.
At the Park your guests can swim In the wake of medal-
winning champions, explore the famous gardens, and
enjoy fine dining at the top of the UK’s tallest sculpture.

18. THE COPPER BOX ARENA
Create incredible memories at the Copper Box Arena, London’s
most versatile entertainment and events venue. The most flexible
venue in the Park is also the largest. The arena offers a spacious
auditorium, 2 meeting rooms and a studio space.
Auditorium Capacity
Theatre style: 1500 - 2000
Seated dinner: 1200
Reception: 2000 - 2500

19. THE LONDON AQUATICS CENTRE
The London Aquatics Centre offers you the chance to swim in
the wake of champions. With these world class facilities now
available for general use, you too can swim in the pool where
medals were won and records broken. The auditorium and pool
deck can hold up to 1000 people. You can also use the upper
deck and purpose built meeting space for events.
Upper Deck Capacity
Theatre style: 250
Seated dinner: 180
Reception: 250 - 300

20. LEE VALLEY HOCKEY
AND TENNIS CENTRE
The London Aquatics Centre offers you the chance to swim in
the wake of champions. With these world class facilities now
available for general use, you too can swim in the pool where
medals were won and records broken. The auditorium and
pool deck can hold up to 1000 people. You can also use the
upper deck and purpose built meeting space for events.
Upper Deck Capacity
Theatre style: 250
Seated dinner: 180
Reception: 250 - 300

21. ARCELORMITTAL ORBIT
Anish Kapoor and Cecil Balmond’s ArcelorMittal Orbit, the UK’s tallest
sculpture, twists and towers above Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park,
providing stunning and unusual views of the London skyline, and
effortlessly delivering the wow factor for your event.
Upper Deck Capacity
Theatre style: 100
Seated dinner: 112
Reception: 150

22. LEE VALLEY VELOPARK
Lee Valley VeloPark provides a world class cycling experience and is the
only centre in the world to offer four types of cycling - track, road,
mountain biking and BMX - in one place.
With a variety of meeting spaces available - including the infield
(the stunning centre of the velodrome track with a capacity of 750)
Lee Valley VeloPark can accommodate a range of events from exhibitions
and conferences to awards ceremonies and black tie dinners.
Suites 1-5 Capacity
Theatre style: 100
Seated dinner: 150
Reception: 250

23. MAKE YOUR OWN PIECE OF HISTORY
AT ONE OF THESE VENUES TODAY
getinspired@emc3.eu

24. DON'T LET THIS SPECIAL
CHANCE RUN AWAY
FROM YOU
-
BOOK YOUR EVENT AT
ONE OF THE LONDON
OLYMPIC VENUES TODAY
getinspired@emc3.eu