The Summer Olympic Games are athletic competitions that are held every four years during the summer season. According to the Olympic Charter, the games are organized by the International Olympic Committee to foster peace and understanding between the nations of the world through the use of sporting events played fairly.Olympic Charter
Origins
The first Olympic Games were held in Ancient Greece from 776 BC until 393 AD. The modern Olympic games were established in 1896 by the International Olympic Committee and currently include both summer and winter games.Penn Museum: The Real Story of the Ancient Olympic Games
Sports
A total of 42 sports have been included in the Summer Olympics. The current number of sports is 28. After the 2008 Olympics, baseball and softball will be removed, leaving 26 sports for the 2012 Games.BBC Sport: Fewer sports for London Olympics (July 8, 2005) Discontinued Olympic sports include cricket, croquet, rugby, lacrosse and tug of war.Topendsports.com: Discontinued Olympic Sports
Summer Olympic Venues
Tokyo, Japan - reawarded to Helsinki, Finland - 1940 (Cancelled due to WWII)
London, United Kingdon - 1944 (Cancelled due to WWII)
Seoul, South Korea - 1988
Summer Events
- Archery
- Athletics
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Boxing
- Canoeing
- Cycling
- Diving
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Football (soccer)
- Gymnastics
- Handball
- Judo
- Modern Pentathlon
- Rowing
- Sailing
- Shooting
- Softball
- Swimming
- Synchronized Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Takewondo
- Tennis
- Triathlon
- Volleyball
- Water Polo
- Weightlifting
- Wrestling