Some Like it Hot! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Swimming

The swimming events have changed and evolved from 1896 to the early 21st century. The 1896 agenda contained just a 100, 500, and 800 metre freestyle races (which were contested in the open Mediterranean Sea, and a 100 metre swim for sailors, the latter being only open to members of the Greek Royal Navy.

The 1900, 1904, and 1912 swimming races were also held in open waters ( the 1904 St. Louis Olympics were the only Games to use yards instead of metres). The swimming programmes evolved from open-water to indoors, and from four events to seventeen by Beijing in 2008 and London four years later.

Answer: 100m sprint

The race is the marquee event of the Summer Olympics, even though it lasts for less than 10 seconds. Thomas Burke (USA) won the 100m in Athens in 1896, with a time of 12.0 seconds. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, a time of 12 seconds would have been last place spot in seven of the eight heats. Usain Bolt set a world record at those Olympics with a time of 9.69 seconds.

Answer: Football

The 1900 and 1904 soccer competitions are disputed as actually being international football, as teams were comprised of people from different countries. The FA created a tournament for the 1908 Games in London, and the competition expanded from there. Large stadiums, sometimes hundreds of miles away from the host city, are used for the Olympic tournament, so they can seat 30-40,000 screaming fans.

Answer: Judo

Judo made its debut, fittingly, at the Tokyo Olympics of 1964, but was left off for Mexico City, four years later. It came back in 1972, and has continued in every Olympiad since. Women's judo made its debut in 1988 as a demonstration sport, and medals were first awarded in 1992. Judo is one of a few Olympic medal oddities, as two bronze medals are awarded in every event, based on the tournament structure.

Answer: Rowing

Rowing is one sport that has evolved greatly from the start. Only men were allowed to compete in rowing until Montreal 1976, when women got their turn. Races are staged over a 2000m course, but were staged at different lengths, like 1750m in Paris 1900, up to 3,218m in St. Louis 1904. Women's races started out at 1000m, being upgraded to 2000m in 1988.

The six-lane courses have only been standard since 1956; before that, races were run between as little as two to three boats.

Answer: Tennis

Just like individual tournaments, the court varies from each Olympic sports. Since it was re-introduced in Los Angeles in 1984, it has been played on a clay court (Barcelona), a grass court (Wimbledon, London) and hard courts (the rest). The dispute between the IOC and International Tennis Federation over allowing amateurs to play in the Olympics led to the removal of tennis in 1924.

In a few of the Olympics (1900, 1904, 1908, 1988, and 1992), the semi-final losers each got bronze medals, while they faced off in a Bronze Medal final at the other Games.

Answer: Table Tennis

China's dominance of the table-tennis world caused the International Table Tennis Federation to change the rules before the London 2012 Olympics, allowing only two players from each country, after China swept the Beijing men's and women's podium, and won the men's and women's team event.

It didn't matter though, as Chinese athletes won gold and silver in both gender events, and gold in both team tournaments. It ran China's total to 24/28 gold medals after six Olympics. The South Koreans are next with three golds, and Swedish athlete Jan-Ove Waldner was able to take home a gold medal at Barcelona in 1992, in the men's Olympic tournament.

Answer: Croquet

The croquet tournament had ten participants, seven male and three female. Nine of the 10 athletes were from France, while one was from Belgium. The doubles competition was won by Gaston Aumoitte and Georges Johin, although it is unclear whether they had any competition! France took all seven medals, as this was one of only a few sports in Olympic history, where males and females competed together.

Answer: Lacrosse

The Olympic lacrosse tournament, made its debut in St. Louis in 1904, and was played again four years later in London. Both times Canada won gold, and Great Britain got silver. Why? Because there were only two teams in the competition! The sport was scrapped after London, but has tried coming back, being played as a demonstration sport at the 1928, 1932, and 1948 Olympics.

In 1928 there were three teams as the US had an entry; the other two demonstrations featured only two teams.

Answer: 1908 London

The races were held on an eight-mile circuit, over five laps. Many races featured only two boats, and some were abandoned in the middle of the race due to weather or mechanical issues. There were no silver or bronze medals awarded, as only one racer finished each of the three events. The sport was abolished, as the IOC realized that motorized sports don't have a place in the Olympics.