Olympiakisat

Olympiakisat, the term used in Finnish for the Olympic Games, are the world's largest international multi-sport competition. Organized under the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Games bring together thousands of athletes from around the world to compete in a wide range of sports and disciplines. The Games comprise Summer and Winter editions held in alternating cycles.

Historically, there were ancient Olympic Games in Olympia, Greece, from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century CE. The modern Olympic Movement was revived in the late 19th century, with the first modern Games held in Athens in 1896, after the creation of the IOC in 1894 by Pierre de Coubertin. Since 1994, the Summer and Winter Games take place in separate four-year cycles, two years apart.

National Olympic Committees (NOCs) are responsible for organizing national participation, while host cities submit bids to the IOC for the right to stage the Games. The program features hundreds of events across many sports, with opening and closing ceremonies, the Olympic Flame, and the Olympic Motto and symbols, such as Citius, Altius, Fortius.

The Olympic Games have wide social and economic impacts on host cities, including infrastructure development and tourism, but also criticism for rising costs, debt, and environmental and social disruption. Doping scandals, governance reforms, and debates over broadcasting rights, gender equality, and inclusivity have shaped the modern era of the Games. The Paralympics are organized subsequently for athletes with disabilities.

Today, Olympiakisat continue to function as a platform for international competition, national pride, diplomacy, and cultural exchange, while evolving with changes in sport, technology, and ethics.