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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 LOUGANISHITS HIS HEAD

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHY NOT MAKE YOUR OWN

MAGICAL MEMORIES AT ONE OF

THE LONDON OLYMPIC VENUES?

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.

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: 1200Reception: 2000 - 2500

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

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: 180Reception: 250 - 300

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: 112Reception: 150

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

MAKE YOUR OWN PIECE OF HISTORY AT ONE OF THESE VENUES TODAY

getinspired@emc3.eu

DON'T LET THIS SPECIAL

CHANCE RUN AWAY

FROM YOU

-

BOOK YOUR EVENT AT

ONE OF THE LONDON

OLYMPIC VENUES TODAY

getinspired@emc3.eu