The history of the modern Olympic games

As the Olympic Games have officially begun, our final story tonight looks back on some of the Modern Olympic Games, and how people managed to get the show on the road despite the setbacks.

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It dates back to 1896, when the first modern International Olympic Games was held in Athens, Greece.

Pierre de Coubertin was the founder of modern Olympic Games. Born into the French aristocracy on January 1, 1863, Coubertin embraced the values of France's Third Republic - liberty, equality and fraternity - as a young adult.

In every Olympic Games, the opening ceremony marks the beginning of an exciting event. The Games provides people from all over the world with opportunities to watch exhilarating sports games, irrespective of their location.

But almost every Olympic Games was held under the shadow of something. Cases in point are the 2002 Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Held just months after the heinous 911 attacks in Manhattan in New York, the 2002 Winter Olympics was held in Salt Lake City in Utah under the shadow of terror attack. Despite facing a bribery scandal and some local opposition, and possible terror attacks, the Salt Lake Games was hailed as one of the most successful Winter Olympic Games in history: Records were set in skiing and skating events, as well as broadcasting and marketing programs. NBC even became the telecast provider hereafter for the Winter Games in the United States.

Equally telling was the 2016's Rio Olympics, which was also faced with a rash of setbacks. In addition to facing the threat of the Zika virus, the Games also met with construction delays in the tennis center, 200 days before the beginning of that year's Olympic Games.

But humans have a certain je ne sais quoi that always makes us stop at nothing to overcome difficulties. As such, when people thought the 2002 Salt Lake Games and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games being held were distant mirages, people in charge of hosting the Games were able to get all problems resolved. Therefore, every Olympic Games was held as scheduled.

2020's Tokyo Olympic Games was postponed to July 2021 because of the deadly and dreadful pandemic. There was word the Olympic Games wouldn't be held successfully as COVID still refuses to take a back seat. Nevertheless, in spite of the postponement, as the International Broadcast Centre and the Main Press Center have entered operational mode and the opening ceremony is underway, the Games will again get underway despite the setbacks.

As such, this year, athletes from everywhere who undoubtedly shine at sports can again grasp every opportunity to set world records.