“An indispensable Olympic resource and a lot of pure fun.”––Jack McCallum, author of the New York Times bestseller Dream Team Faster! Higher! Stronger! Stranger! A glorious tapestry of legendary characters, forgotten records, crazy accomplishments, unbelievable feats, wacky contests, and controversial moments, Total Olympics is pure pleasure for anyone who loves the world’s greatest sporting event. Discover how the modern Games began, in an out-of-the-way Victorian English town named Much Wenlock. Long-discontinued Olympic sports like tug of war, firefighting, live pigeon shooting, and painting. (Picasso for the gold?) And the over-the-top, heroic exploits that make it all so thrilling––like the inspiring story of gymnast Shun Fujimoto who brought his team to victory while fighting through the pain of a broken knee. With hundreds of true stories and stunning photographs, it’s a collection of sports yearns unlike any other.
David Wallechinsky's compendious book has long been the preeminent point of reference for sports enthusiasts and journalists alike Every sports writer assigned to cover the Games ensures they have their early copy of this prodigious work of reference, packed with absorbing anecdotes and essential statistics. A treasure trove of 116 years of Olympic history, it is also an amazingly readable book, for in the course of recording every single Olympic final since 1896, it concentrates on the strange, the memorable, and the unbelievable. Who knew (until reading this book) that croquet was once an Olympic sport, or tug of war, or that a 72-year-old once won a silver medal for target shooting? This new edition also has every finals result, recorded by the top eight competitors in every event at the Beijing Olympics, and full descriptions of rules and scoring for every event included for 2012. It is the one truly essential Olympics book.
"Published in anticipation of the 2014 Sochi Games, The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics has been expanded to include the rules and scoring for all the upcoming events. The book also looks at the history of each Olympic event from inception to the present day, including discontinued events and the four skating events first featured, before the creation of the Winter Olympics, in the 1908 London Summer Olympics. From speed skating to snowboarding, bobsled to ice hockey, the book gives the medals tables, timings, distances, and scores. But much more than a statistical compendium, the book also offers an abundance of Winter Olympic history, anecdotes, and lore, as authors David Wallechinsky and Jaime Loucky bring alive the most dramatic moments from the Games and celebrating the many extraordinary individuals who have competed."--Publisher's description.
“A people’s history of the Olympics.”—New York Times Book Review A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Year The Games is best-selling sportswriter David Goldblatt’s sweeping, definitive history of the modern Olympics. Goldblatt brilliantly traces their history from the reinvention of the Games in Athens in 1896 to Rio in 2016, revealing how the Olympics developed into a global colossus and highlighting how they have been buffeted by (and affected by) domestic and international conflicts. Along the way, Goldblatt reveals the origins of beloved Olympic traditions (winners’ medals, the torch relay, the eternal flame) and popular events (gymnastics, alpine skiing, the marathon). And he delivers memorable portraits of Olympic icons from Jesse Owens to Nadia Comaneci, the Dream Team to Usain Bolt.
Back in 775 BC, athletes from all over Ancient Greece came together to compete in various games. The contests were held every four years and winning athletes brought honor and respect to their homelands. The tradition of the Olympic Games faded over time until 1896, when they were brought back to life. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, with over two hundred athletes from fourteen countries. Today, nearly three thousand years after the first Games, the Summer Olympics attract one hundred thousand top athletes from over two hundred countries. Billions of fans around the world cheer on their national teams to bring back the gold.
"Since shortly after its original release in 2008, Olympic Weightlifting: A Complete Guide for Athletes & Coaches has been the most popular book on the sport of weightlifting in the world and has become the standard text for learning and teaching the snatch and clean & jerk. The book presents a complete progression for athletes and coaches starting with foundational elements such as breath control and trunk stabilisation, squatting, balance and weight distribution, warming-up, and individual variation. It moves on to complete learning and teaching progressions for the snatch, clean and jerk; covering training program design extensively, including assessment for recruiting and new lifters, and 16 sample training programs; technical error correction, supplemental exercises, nutrition, bodyweight manipulation, and mobility. It includes a thorough section on competition to prepare both lifters and coaches."--Provided by publisher.
Discover the rich history, profound impact, and future of the Olympic Games in this detailed and insightful book by Edwin Cano. "The Olympics: A Comprehensive History and Analysis", offers an in-depth exploration of one of the world's most celebrated traditions, providing readers with a thorough understanding of its origins, evolution, and lasting significance. Key Features: Historical Foundations: Dive into the ancient origins of the Olympic Games in Greece and learn about their cultural and religious significance. Follow the journey to the modern era, spearheaded by Pierre de Coubertin and the formation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Modern Olympic Movement: Trace the transformation of the Olympics from the first modern Games in 1896 to the present day. Understand the major milestones, the introduction of new sports, and the impact of global events like the World Wars and the Cold War. Notable Figures and Performances: Get acquainted with iconic Olympic athletes and their groundbreaking achievements. Delve into historic performances and world records that have defined the Games. Economic and Political Dimensions: Analyze the economic aspects of hosting the Olympics, including costs, funding, and the impact on host cities and countries. Examine the political controversies, boycotts, and the influence of politics on the Olympic movement. Media and Cultural Significance: Explore the evolution of media coverage from early reports to modern television and social media. Reflect on the cultural impact of the Olympics and their legacy in host cities and countries. Future of the Olympics: Stay informed about emerging trends, innovations, and future challenges facing the Olympics. Consider potential changes and directions for the Games. In-Depth Case Studies: Gain insights from detailed analyses of key Olympic Games, such as Berlin 1936, Tokyo 1964, and Sydney 2000, highlighting their unique aspects and historical significance. Additional Resources: Appendices with lists of all Olympic Games and host cities, medal tables, and records. A glossary of Olympic terms for quick reference. An extensive bibliography for further reading and research. A detailed index for easy navigation of key terms and topics.
This title explores everything a young reader would want to know about gymnastics, from today's gold-medal heroes to all-time legends. The title also features informative sidebars, a glossary, and further resources. SportsZone is an imprint of Abdo Publishing Company.
When the athletes enter the stadium and the Olympic flame is lit, the whole world watches. Billions will continue to follow the events and to share in the athletes' joys and sorrows for the next sixteen days. Readers of this book, however, will watch forthcoming editions of the Olympic Games in a completely different light. Unlike many historical or official publications and somewhat biased commercial works, it provides -- in a clear, readable form -- informative and fascinating material on many aspects of what Olympism is all about: its history, its organization and its actors. Although public attention is often drawn to various issues surrounding this planetary phenomenon -- whether concerning the International Olympic Committee, the athletes, the host cities or even the scandals that have arisen -- the Olympic System as such is relatively little known. What are its structures, its goals, its resources? How is it governed and regulated? What about doping, gigantism, violence in the stadium? In addition to providing a wealth of information on all these subjects, the authors also show how power, money and image have transformed Olympism over the decades. They round off the work with thought-provoking reflections regarding the future of the Olympic System and the obstacles it must overcome in order to survive.
