Olympics

Archery at the Olympics

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Did you know that archery is the proper name for Katniss Everdeen’s special skill with the bow and arrow in The Hunger Games series? Archery has been a popular competition sport since ancient times. The Chinese, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks and Persians all used a bow and arrow for hunting, warfare and competition. Archery was very popular in medieval England, and archery tournaments were held. Robin Hood, as well as being a famous outlaw, was also known for being an excellent shooter with a bow and arrow.

Archery first became an Olympic sport in 1900, but it stopped being an Olympic sport for 50 years before being reintroduced in 1972. Archers compete on an outdoor range, and have to shoot 72 arrows at targets 70 metres away. Each target is 122 centimetres in diameter, and has 10 rings inside it, each 6.1 centimetres wide. Each ring increases by one point, until you get to the centre, the bull’s eye, which is worth 10 points.

Men and women both compete in archery in individual, and in team tournaments. The female competitors from South Korea are very good; they have won every women’s individual gold medal from 1984 to 2000. The South Korean women’s team have won every team event since 1988 as well.

You can learn about every single Olympic sport in the Macmillan encyclopedia of Olympic sports.

Olympic Traditions – The Torch

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The Olympics start in 4 days!

What a privilage it must be to carry the Olympic Torch.  Besides the many athletes and celebrities who carry the torch many local people and those with a record of community service are selected to carry it.

It all begins at Olympia were the flame is kindled from the sun’s rays. This is then used to light the Olympic Torch. The design of the torch varies for each games but they usually have a metal bowl in which the flame burns, and this is attached to a metal handle that you hold at the other end. The Olympic rings and an olive wreath decorate the torch.

The torch begins it’s journey known as a relay by travelling through Greece and its islands. It will then make its journey to the continent of the host city where it will travel to all corners of the land, visiting cities, towns and areas of special significance.

Runners usually carry the torch for a distance of 1 kilometre and when it reaches the Olympic stadium it is used to light the Olympic cauldron which then burns throughout the games.

Try visiting the Olympic Torch Relay Route to see the where the torch is today.

Olympic Traditions – The Flame

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Have you ever wondered why we have the Olympic Flame – what does it mean and how did it come about?

In Ancient Greece, the sun’s rays were used to create a sacred flame at the temple of the goddess Hera at Olympia. The Greeks believed that this altar in Olympia was the birthplace of fire. The flame symbolised purity and the struggle for perfection and victory and it burned throughout the ancient games.

The flame was re-introduced for the Modern Olympics in 1928 for the Games in Amsterdam and it has continued to be a special part of the ceremony ever since.

Several weeks before the Games begin they hold a special ceremony at Olympia.  Women dressed as priestesses in classical Greek robes,  used a concave, or curved mirror to concentrate the sun’s rays to make fire. When the flame starts the president for the Greek Olympic Committee lights the Olympic torch which then begins a long journey known as a torch relay arriving at its host city in time for the opening ceremony.

Today the flame represents peace and friendship throughout the world and the flame burns brightly above the main stadium throughout the games until it is extinguished at the closing ceremony.

Equestrian at the Olympics

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Do you love horses? I do and I can’t wait to watch the equestrian events at the Olympics. My favourite is the eventing but equestrian also includes individual and team events in jumping, dressage and three day eventing. In all these disciplines both horse and rider have to display skill, speed and smooth movement. It takes many years of practice for horse and rider to become a great team.

Equestrian is one of the few sports where all events are open to both men and women and it is a unique sport at the Olympics because both rider and horse are considered a team, and both are declared medal winners.

New Zealands most successful equestrian is Mark Todd and he will be competing at the Olympics this year. Mark along with his horse Charisma  won back to back Olympic Gold medal in eventing in 1984 and 1988. He was also voted Rider of the Century by the International Equestrain Federation.

If you would like to learn more click on Equestrian events at the Olympics to get up to date details of all the events as well as other great information.

All About London

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London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. London is also the largest city in England. Many people from different cultures live in London, and more than 300 languages are spoken there.

London is a very old city. Nearly 2000 years ago the Roman army invaded Britain. They built a town on the River Thames called Londinium. By the Middle Ages, in the 14th century, London was one of the largest cities in the world! During the 18th century the number of people in London grew to more than 600,000, then in the 19th century London reached 3 million people! Today nearly 8 million people live in London.

 Fun Facts: London is so large it has about 85,000 streets and taxi drivers have to learn 320 different routes to navigate them; 7000 stray dogs live in London; the smallest house in London is only 1.06 metres wide; The British Library in London is the largest public library in the world and has over 150 million items! The first television set was sold in London in 1928. London has 17,000 bus stops for 7000 buses, which drive 700 bus routes; and, almost one quarter of Londoners are children and teenagers.

 London has had an eventful history: From Civil War in 1642, to the Great Plague in 1665, and the Great Fire of London in 1666. London was also home to the Globe Theatre in the sixteenth century, where Shakespeare’s plays were performed. In 1851 London hosted The Great Exhibition, which displayed the art and industry of the world. London also hosts the London Marathon every year, and the first one was held in 1981. Now, in 2012, London is hosting the Olympics Games. This is the third time that the city will have hosted the event! The first two times were 1908, and 1948. London is the only city in the United Kingdom to have hosted the Olympic Games, and the only city in the world to have hosted the Olympic Games 3 times. Did you know that London has had 2 other Olympic firsts? The first Paralympic Games were held in London in 1948, and the 1948 London Olympics were the first to be broadcast on television.

Sailing at the Olympics

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Sailing is something that New Zealand has done well in at previous Olympic Games, and this year 15 athletes will be competing in sailing events for New Zealand at the London 2012 Olympic Games. You can read about them here and more about what will be happening in the sailing events in London here.

Did you know that Barbara Kendall is the only woman in NZ to have competed at 5 Olympic Games? She competed in boardsailing and has won a gold, a silver and a bronze medal. Tom Ashley also won a gold medal in boardsailing at the last Olymics, in Beijing. 

For more facts about the Olympics and some fun games have a look at this site here.

Make sure you come along to the library for our free school holiday activities all about Paralympics and Olympics 2012.  Meet a Paralympian and try out their special sporting equipment!  For more information phone 499 4444 or visit us online.

If you are interested in some books about sailing or New Zealand sailors have a look at the ones below!

Free school holiday activities at your library

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ParalympicsSecond week of the holidays already! Wow- time does go fast when you’re having fun. But don’t worry, the fun hasn’t finished yet. Here’s what’s happening during the second week of the holidays at your local library. 

 

Monday 9th July:

Baby Rock and Rhyme for 0-2 yr olds – Karori Library at 9.45am

Storytimes for 3-5 year olds – Johnsonville, Karori, Tawa, and Kilbirnie Libraries at 10.30am

 

Tuesday 10th July:

Baby Rock and Rhyme for 0-2 yr olds – Miramar Library at 10.15am

Storytimes for 3-5 year olds – Brooklyn, Central, Johnsonville, Khandallah, and Karori Libraries at 10.30am and Miramra Library at 10.15am

BookSeekers for 9-12 year olds – Brooklyn and Karori Libraries at 4pm

Creative Writing Workshop – Karori Library 1pm – 4pm. $30 (goes to the Wellington SPCA). Bookings required.

Paralympics and Olympics Activities for 5-12 year olds – Tawa Library at 11am

 

Wednesday 11th July:

Baby Rock and Rhyme for 0-2 yr olds – Central, Island Bay and Johnsonville Libraries at 9.30am, and Cummings Park Library at 10.15am

Storytimes for 3-5 year olds – Karori, Newtown and Kilbirnie Libraries at 10.30am

BookSeekers for 9-12 year olds – Tawa Library at 4pm

Paralympics and Olympics Activities for 5-12 year olds – Central and Khandallah Libraries at 11am

 

Thursday 12th July:

Baby Rock and Rhyme for 0-2 yr olds – Johnsonville Library at 9.30am

Storytimes for 3-5 year olds – Karori, Island Bay Libraries at 10.30am, and Miramar Library at 10.15am

BookSeekers for 9-12 year olds – Johnsonville and Kilbirnie Libraries at 4pm

Paralympics and Olympics Activities for 5-12 year olds – Kilbirnie  and Wadestown Libraries at 2pm

 

Friday 13th July:

Baby Rock and Rhyme for 0-2 yr olds – Tawa Library at 9.30am, Karori Library at 9.45am, and Kilbirnie Library at 10.15am

Storytimes for 3-5 year olds – Central, Karori and Wadestown Libraries at 10.30am

Paralympics and Olympics Activities for 5-12 year olds – Cummings Park Library (Ngaio) at 11.15am 

 

Saturday 14th July:

Storytimes for 3-5 year olds – Central Library at 11am

Gymnastics at the Olympics

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Gymnastics is always a crowd favourite at the Olympic Games.  Gymnasts require strength, flexibility, balance and precision.  But did you know that there are actually two different types of gymnastics at the Olympic Games?  Artistic and Rhythmic. 

In Artistic Gymnastics athletes perform on special equipment like balance beams, rings, podiums and vaults.  Some of you might have had a go at these yourself at school. 

In Rhythmic Gymnastics competitors perform to music with hoops, ribbons and balls.  Rhythmic Gymnastics is one of the more graceful sports at the Games and also one of only two women-only competions – the other is synchronised swimming (one of my personal faves!) 

Make sure you come along to the library for our free school holiday activities all about Paralympics and Olympics 2012.  Meet a Paralympian and try out their special sporting equipment!  For more information phone 499 4444 or visit us online.

You might also like to take a look at some of the libraries’ books about Gymnastics:

Mountain Biking and BMX at the Olympics

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Mountain Biking and BMX are fast, action-packed sports, with riders racing against each other on dirt tracks and rough terrain!  Both sports are relatively new to the Olympic Games with Mountain Biking making its debut as an Olympic sport in 1996 and BMX as recent as 2008.  Kiwi Olympic hopeful Sarah Walker will be making her second appearance at the Olympic Games representing New Zealand in BMX.  At the 2008 Beijing Olympics she placed an impressive 4th but is going for gold this year.  We wish her and the entire New Zealand team all the best!

Make sure you come along to the library for our free school holiday activities all about Paralympics and Olympics 2012.  Meet a Paralympian and try out their special sporting equipment!  For more information phone 499 4444 or visit us online.

You might also like to take a look at some of the libraries’ BMX and Mountain Biking books:

Olympic Traditions – The Olympic Rings

debbie

Have you ever wondered how we came to have the Olympic Rings and what they represent?

The French baron, Pierre de Coubertin who was the founder of the modern Olympic games came up with the idea after seeing five interlocking rings on an ancient altar at Delphi in Greece. These rings were inscribed with a truce made between armies during the ancient games.

He believed the five rings would symbolise the five continents of the world – Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania and he chose the colours red, green, black, yellow and blue because at least one of these colours can be found in the flag of every nation participating the the Olympic Games.

The Olympic Rings are found on the Olympic flag as well as all the medals presented to the placegetters in each event at the games.

Today everyone recognised the the interlocking rings as the symbol of the Olympic Games.

Make sure you come along to our Olympics Holiday Activites during the the school holidays – its all free, all fun and all on at your local library. Son’t miss out!