olympics
UK: əˈlɪmpɪks | US: əˈlɪmpɪks
n. A major international multi-sport event featuring summer and winter competitions, held every four years.
n. (historical) The ancient Greek athletic festival held in Olympia in honor of Zeus.
The word "Olympics" derives from "Olympia," the sanctuary in ancient Greece where the original athletic games were held from 776 BCE. The suffix "-ics" (from Greek "-ika") generalizes the term to denote the modern international event. The name "Olympia" itself may stem from the mythological Mount Olympus, home of the Greek gods, though the exact link is debated. The modern revival (1896) retained the ancient name to emphasize continuity with the classical tradition.
The Olympics bring together athletes from over 200 countries.
She trained for years to compete in the Winter Olympics.
The ancient Olympics included events like chariot racing and wrestling.
Hosting the Olympics requires significant infrastructure investment.
The spirit of the Olympics promotes global unity through sports.