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Faster, Higher, Stronger

Spanish Translation

By Martha Pickerill

It has traveled nearly 17,000 miles, burning brightly on land and sea, in the air and even underwater. Through 1,000 towns in 100 days, the Olympic flame has been winding its way around the land Down Under. This week it finally arrives at Olympic Stadium in Sydney, Australia. The world will watch as the flame ignites a 26-foot-tall torch, lighting the way for the world’s best athletes at the opening of the 2000 Summer Games.

Everything about this year’s Games is bigger than any other. A total of 10,800 athletes from 199 countries will participate--the most ever. They will compete for gold medals in a record 28 sports. Many of these contests will unfold in a stadium big enough to hold four jumbo jets--yes, that’s the largest in Olympic history. Clearly, Australia is set to celebrate these Games in a big way.

Games of the Gods
Today’s Olympic Games are very different from the first ones, which were held every fourth summer in ancient Greece 2,800 years ago. Women couldn’t play; they weren’t even allowed to watch. Athletes competed without any clothes on!

The early events were footraces. Later, wrestling, javelin, discus, jumping and other events were added. Athletes became stars back then too. There were no TV commercials or cereal boxes, but winners’ images often appeared on coins or as statues after their victories. A Roman Emperor ended the ancient Olympics around the year 400.

The Modern Era
In the late 1800s, a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin began working to bring back the Olympics. He thought the Games could help promote peace among nations. The first modern Olympics were held in 1896 in Greece. Coubertin also dreamed up the Olympic rings symbol, in which the five linked rings represented continents.

The Olympics have changed with the times. The first events for women were held in 1900. The torch relay began in 1936. Many sports have been added.

This year, for the first time, women will compete in the same number of team sports as men. The 4,300 women in this year’s Games make up 38% of all athletes competing--the most ever.

Dreams of Olympic Glory
Every athlete in Sydney has a vision of victory, a golden dream. For U.S. track star Marion Jones, that dream shines with five gold medals. No other woman has won that many in a single Olympics. Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe dreams of his first gold medal--and maybe a chance to meet his dream girl Britney Spears. Cuban heavyweight boxer Félix Savón dreams of another gold to add to his two from previous Olympics. "I will do everything in my power to win that third gold medal," he says.

Which of these athletes will fulfill their dreams and thrill the world with their strength and skill? We’ll know the answer by the time the Olympic flame is snuffed out on October 1. Until then, we can cheer on our favorites and bask in the happy glow from the other side of the world.

Next: 190 World Leaders, All in One Room