Olympics

Equestrian Events at the Olympic Games

debbie

Equestrian is the sport of horse riding. It is one of the few Olympic sports in which men and women can compete against each other and is the only Olympic sport that involves animals.

Olympics EquestrianIt is a unique sport in that both horse and rider are considered to be a team, and both are declared medal winners. This is to recognise that it takes many years of training by horse and rider to develop the special skills required for these events.

Equestrian has three different disciplines. They are jumping, dressage and eventing. For each of the three disciplines, there is an individual and a team event.

Equestrian events date back to the Olympic Games in ancient Greece. The Greeks would train their horses to be useful during times of war. In 680BC, chariot races and horseraces were both contested at the Greek Games.

Jumping was the first equestrian event to be included in the modern Games. It was introduced in 1900. Dressage and eventing were added in 1912.

New Zealand has 8 member in the 2016 Equestrian team. They include riders such as Sir Mark Todd, Jonathan Paget and Jonelle Price. You can find lots of information about each team member here.

You can also find out lots of information relating to equestrian and other sports here at Rio 2016 Olympics.

Go New Zealand!!!!!!

Swimming events at the Olympic Games

admin

The swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are scheduled to take place from 6 to 13 August at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium. The open-water marathon will be held on 15 and 16 August in Fort Copacabana.

Olympic SwimmingA breath-taking sport (literally!), swimming has been in the Olympic Games since Athens 1896. Men and women participate in 16 events, including relays and individual competitions in four strokes – freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke. Swimmers must complete a set distance inside the pool, in some cases using any of the above styles, in the shortest possible time

The swimming pool at the Rio Olympics is divided into eight competition lanes, each 2.5m wide.

Most events start from starting blocks, except for backstroke, where the swimmers start from inside the pool. Swimmers must not dive in before the starting pistol is fired – if this happens, a false start is declared and the swimmer at fault is disqualified.

At the Rio Olympics there are 789 athletes from 173 different countries competing in 32 swimming events. You can find out who’s competing from New Zealand at the NZ Olympics website.

Did you know: The pool at the Rio Olympics actually consists of two pools? One for the competition events, and another for warming up. The whole huge building is temporary – it’s designed to be dismantled after the Olympics Games have finished.

 

School yourself like a fish about swimming! Here’s some awesome books from our library collection:

   

 

 

History of Brazil – the Olympics host nation

admin

The 2016 Olympics are being hosted by a South American country called Brazil. The events will all be happening in and around one of it’s main cities – Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil is just slightly smaller than the United States of America and is the largest country in South America.

The population of Brazil is made up of AmeriIndian indigenous people, and people of Spanish and Portuguese descent.  In the year 1500 the country was colonised by Portugal and with them came the sad tradition of slavery, which impacted the lives of the indigenous population greatly. Then over the following centuries many people came from other countries arrived because they were escaping wars, looking for a warm and beautiful country and seeking adventure.

This diverse mix of different cultures has created lots of different religious, music and culinary culture that is specific to Brazil.

One really good website to find information on Brazil is ManyAnswers.

Some cool Brazil facts: Brazil is the country which has the greatest number of animal species. Two of the major cities in Brazil are Rio de Janeiro and Saō Paulo. To fid out more you can take a look at the many interesting books about Brazil in the library collection.

 

Rio de Janeiro:

Rio de Janeiro (known as ‘Rio’) is a large city in Brazil and is the host city of the 2016 Olympics. It was the first capital city of Brazil. It has a Portuguese name and was founded in 1565, but didn’t become the capital city of Brazil until 1763.

In 1960 another city called Brasilia was founded and became the new Capital City instead of Rio. A famous Brazilian architect named Oscar Niemeyer designed the city of Brasilia. It is a planned city and it is designed to look like an aeroplane when viewed from above.

Rio de Janeiro has a large Roman Catholic population, so one of it’s most famous landmarks is the large statue called Jesus Christ the Redeemer, which is on top of Corcovado Mountain and looks out over the city.

The city is also famous for a Mountain called Sugarloaf Mountain which has a cable car.

A famous dance called The Samba comes from Rio, which is a mixture of African and Brazilian music and dance. Every year before the start of Lent near Easter time there is a Festival with a big parade called a Carnival. Lots of people get dressed up for it with very elaborate costumes and dance along the parade route and go on floats. People come from all over the world to see the Carnival.

Rio is also known for its famous beautiful beaches. The Copacabana, Ipanema, Barra da Tijuca. The Copacabana beach is where some of the big Olympic events are taking place.

Many places around Rio are being use as Olympic venues, and some have had to be specially built for the Olympic sports. It must be very exciting for the people who live in Rio.

7 new back to school children’s non-fiction you must get your hands on!

Katie

The holidays may be over, but have no fear, Wellington City Libraries always has fantastic new books in stock for your viewing and reading pleasure. Come on down to your local library and check out what’s new in our junior non fiction collection, especially some must have new reads about the Olympics, which you should get your hands on before the games officially start:

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Travel the world Atlas.

Take a trip around the world and back again where you can  expand your geographical knowledge and stimulate  curiosity with this delightful map book.  Filled with fascinating, bite-sized facts about the landscape and the culture of each geographical region. Great for children over 6 years old.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsSuperbug.

Grab hold of this book and read all about the biggest, fastest, deadliest creepy crawlies on the planet.

 

 

 

IMAGE COURTESY OF SYNDETICSMy Little Book Tractors.

Packed full of cool photos and fascinating facts about tractors. Perfect for reluctant readers and young children interested in tractors and automobiles

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPokemon visual companion.

Pokemon madness has taken over the library, especially with the release of this fantastic Pokemon guide. Here is your chance to really catch all the Pokémon you can find, as uncover amazing artwork, fascinating facts and comical anecdotes. This is truly a must have reference for every Pokemon fan!

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsOlympic Sport: The Whole Muscle-Flexing Story.

From running a marathon to beating your friends at basketball or being the bendiest gymnast around, find out everything you ever wanted to know about sports and games and what it is that makes athletes the best at what they do. A must have read to have in time for the Olympics.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsOlympic Expert.

Read this book and discover record breaking sprints of 100m legend Usain Bolt, Gymnast Nadia Comenaeci’s perfect ten, Bob Beamon’s amazing long jump and David Weir’w wheelchair racing heroics and much, much more! This book is also crammed full of facts and statistics, quotes, trivia and lots of other essential information for every Olympic fan. Grab it quick before someone else does.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMinecraft : the survivors’ book of secrets.

The latest instalment of Minecraft as arrived in the form of  Minecraft : the survivors’ book of secrets. This Official Minecraft book contains collective knowledge of the Survivors – an underground group of Minecraft experts who’ve been around since the early days of alpha. Out in the field you’ll learn how to stalk your enemies, how to master the art of practical munitions and how to crush any opponent in hand-to-hand combat.

4 new children’s non fiction you must get your hands on before school starts

Katie

Fresh in your local library! These 4 new non-fiction books are perfect for the last few days before term 3. Find a warm quiet corner and curl up with these amazing facts.

image courtesy of syndeticsOlympic Poems.

A brilliant, funny, inspiring collection of every kind of poems about sport and sporting events of every kind from PE lessons to sports day to the final men’s 100m race. Great to have on hand just in time for the Olympics.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Weird and Wonderful worlds of words.

Looking for a crash course of the English language? Then check out this amazing new book on the English language. You discover a world can play tricks on the brain and trip up the tongue, cause magic and mayhem, pleasure and pain, and fun and frustration. But overall you will discover the beauty and wonder of the English language.

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of words.

 

image courtesy of image

Voices from the second world war.

Take a journey into world where RAF pilots, evacuees, resistance fighters, land-girls, US navy, sailors and survivors of the Holocaust and  Hiroshima bombing all tell their stories, passing on the lessons learned to a new generation.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsFrogs Close up.

Take a closer look at these amazing amphibians. Frogs go through an amazing transformation during their life cycle, and are well adapted to living on land and in water.

6 New children’s non-fiction to keep you entertained over the school holidays

Katie

image courtesy of syndeticsOxford Roald Dahl Dictionary.

From aardvark to zozimus, a real Roald Dahl dictionary of everyday and extra-usual words. Yes, believe it or not, there is a Roald Dahl dictionary in existence! This book will inspire you to choose and use each and every word brilliantly in your own writing – whether it’s a real word, a Roald Dahl word or your own made-up one. A must read for anyone who is a Roald Dahl fan or wanting to become a writer.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsGo Photo!

Looking to becoming a nature photographer or do photography based projects over the school holidays? Then check out this amazing book the features 23 hands on and creative photography activities. Accessible, fun and practical, the activities in this book have been brought together to engage kids in the fun and wonder of photography. Great to use for indoor and outdoor activities.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Story of the Olympics.

The Olympics are nearly here, why not get schooled up just in time by reading The Story of the Olympics? Full of wacky facts about the Olympics and Olympic champions down the centuries, this book takes you through the entire story and history of the Olympics, from their beginning in Ancient Greece right up to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics of 2016. Also contains the funny, surprising, heroic exploits of winners and loser around the world.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsDo Animals go to schools?

Do you think animals go to school? Of course not!  Although animals don’t go to school in a special building, they do have to learn important lessons to survive. They must master how to catch and store food, make nests, fight against enemies and find their way around. Sometimes their parents teach them. Sometimes they learn by themselves. Do animals have refrigerators? Do they go to the doctor? Do they dance and sing? These and many more questions are answered in this intriguing natural history book.

 

 

Do Animals need umbrellas?image courtesy of syndetics

This book is the perfect introduction to the amazing diversity of the animal kingdom. Do animals carry umbrellas or wear winter clothes? Of course they don’t! In nature, animals have to survive using only their own bodies. Creatures in cold climates have thick fur, feathers or fat to keep them warm. Those that live in dry places need to drink very little water. Animals in wet places have waterproof fur, feathers, scales or skin to keep them dry. Such adaptations help creatures to survive. Do animals play in the waves? Do they ever get stuck in the mud? These and many more questions about how animals live in different habitats are answered in this entertaining book.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsOutside: A Guide to discovering nature.

This fantastic guide offers a lot of information that allows you to discover nature in one’s own backyard, and includes tips on identifying trees, flowers, mammals, rocks, and insects, and examining the night sky.

 

7 new back to school non fiction

Katie

Term Two has kicked off and we are heading into the coldest months.

But don’t despair! This means that you  have lots of indoor afternoons and evenings to read some amazing books.

Here are some picks from the non-fiction pile:

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMuch Ado About Shakespeare.

Take a peek behind the curtain to discover the boy, the youth, the man behind some of the greatest works of literature. The life and times of William Shakespeare are richly imagined in this unique biography told using quotes from the Bard himself.

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics100 most indestructible Things on the Planet.

This book is full of the roughest and toughest animals, plants and materials you’ll ever come across.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsLet’s Cook Spanish.

Let’s cook Spanish collects 30 of the most classic, traditional Spanish dishes from tapas to apella and optimizes them for your whole family to cook and enjoy together. Each recipe appears in both English and Spanish so you can even pick a few Spanish words  as you are cooking along.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsJungle Animals.

Safari Sam knows loads about all sorts of jungle animals. From orangutans to chameleons and everything in between. Find out about jungle predators, swinging chimpanzees and brightly coloured parrots and frogs through the simple text and other bite-sized facts. Great for primary school aged kids.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPolar Animals.

Safari Sam knows loads about all sorts of polar animals. From polar bears to penguins and everything in between. Find out about polar predators, shaggy muskoxen and huge killer whales through the simple text and other bite-sized facts. Safari Sam’s Wild Animals (and Nora the Naturalist’s Animals) are brilliant introductory books for young readers aged 5+ in the high-interest area of popular animals.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsWeird but true! : gross.

Get ready to be grossed out–in a good way! This latest addition to the crazy popular Weird but True series is slimy and sticky and jam-packed with more icky, zany fun! Step up to the plate and try not to lose your lunch, with 300 all-new, amazing facts plus photos that kids just can’t get enough of.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Olympics: Ancient and Modern.

It’s less than five months before the 2016 Summer Olympics kicks off in Rio. Here is your chance to get hold of this amazing book: The Olympics: Ancient and Modern, and discover the amazing history behind the world’s greatest event. Also read about the origins of the Olympics in Ancient Greece, how it nearly disappeared and uncover the story behind its reinvention more than 100 years ago. One book to have on hand for any Olympics school projects and homework.

 

 

 

Winter Olympics

debbie

Have you been able to watch any of the Winter Olympics yet?

The athletes are so amazing – the figure skaters are so graceful – the ski jumpers can fly sky-high – the bobsleigh goes crazy fast and the ice hockey players crash a lot.

This morning I watched Julia Lipnitskaia a Russian figure skater perform. She is incredible and is only 15 years old.

You might like to check out this website for lots of information about the Winter Olympics or take a look here if you are looking for fun activities with a Winter Olympic theme.

 

Boxing at the Olympics

admin

Did you know that New Zealand’s first gold medal was won by a boxer called Ted Morgan in 1928?

Boxing is one of the oldest sports at the Olympics; it’s been around for around 5,000 years and was practiced in China, Greece and Rome. It was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1902. It’s been in every Olympic Games since then except the 1912 Games, as Sweden, the host country, had a law against boxing.

Boxing was traditionally fought with bare hands until 1867, when the Queensbury rules were introduced. It was these rules that also introduced weight limits to the sport. These rules were extremely influential on boxing, and changed it from bare-knuckle brawls to a real sport.

New Zealand is sending two boxers, Siona Fernandez and Alexis Pritchard to the London; this year is the first time women’s boxing is appearing at the Olympic games.

 

Great New Zealand Olympians of the past

admin

New Zealand didn’t compete as a nation in its own right until 1920; in the previous Olympics we had competed as a conjoint team with Australia. In 1920 New Zealand’s first Olympic team took 9 weeks to get to Antwerp by ship. Every member of that team made it to the finals, and Violet Walrond, our first female Olympian, was with them. She was only 15 at the time, and only 14 when she qualified. Unfortunately, she stopped swimming at 18.

Our first gold medal was in boxing, and was won by Ted Morgan in 1928. Yvette Williams was the first New Zealand woman to win a gold medal in 1952, in long-jump. The next female Olympian to win Gold was Barbara Kendall, in 1992.  Barbara Kendall competed in five Olympic Games…that’s pretty impressive!

Perhaps the most famous historical Olympian is Peter Snell.  He first won gold in the 800m race in 1960, and won two more gold medals in 1964. But he’s not New Zealand’s most ‘successful’ Olympian: that’s Ian Ferguson, a canoeist, who has won 4 gold medals and one bronze across five Olympic games.

 

This is a great book that will tell you about some of out best Olympians.