Sports
which started in 1904.
Competitors are entered by a National Olympic Committee (NOC) to
represent their country of citizenship. National anthems and flags accompany the
medal ceremonies, and tables showing the number of medals won by each country are
widely used. In general only recognised nations are represented, but a few non-
sovereign countries are allowed to take part. The special case of Taiwan was handled
by having it compete as Chinese Taipei, to avoid the issue of Taiwanese
independence.
Though the most diverse sporting event in the world, the Olympics are
perhaps not the most popular. The football World Cup attracts more global interest, as
measured by the larger television audience.
In ancient Olympic Games the Olympic flame was ignited and it burnt until
the end of the games. In modern Olympics the flame appeared in 1928. The flame
represents purity, endeavor of perfection etc. In 1936 Carl Diem suggested what is
now the modern Olympic Torch Relay
annaabi.ee 
