GAMES IN THE PAST

No one is very sure exactly when the early Games began. It's possible that they began as early as 1300 BC, but the first written reports are of the Games held in 776 BC. Some people believe that Mount Olympus, home of the Greek gods, was also the home of the early Games, but this is not true. The Games were held in four different Greek cities -Olympia, Nemea, Delphi and Corinth, each city taking its turn to hold the Games. The Games at Olympia, held once every four years, were the most important, so it was natural that this city should later give its name to the modern Games - the Olympics.
As the years passed, the Games began to change. In the early years of the Greek Games all the competitors were amateurs, who took part just for the pleasure of winning; but soon professional sportsmen began to take part together with the amateurs.* 

If you want to learn more, here you have some webs.
In this link, you can learn more about the greatest Olympians and Medalists by selecting what you decide: continents, countries, sports, medals, gender (men or women).
Besides that, remember the complete listing of all Olympic Game cities from the beginning of the modern Olympics in 1896.
By the way, have you ever thought that when 2012 Summer Olympic Games finish, London will have received the Games in three times?.  Here, you can compare  1948  and 2012 games.


* This information has been selected from these readings:
 The Olympic Games in Ancient Greece (some authors)
  Historical book about the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece. 

 The Olympics. Cassell's Graded Readers.

  This book discusses the history of the Olympics, its goals and its problems.

 The Story of the Olympics by Richard Brassey

  Facts about the Olympic champions down the centuries.