General Awareness: Olympic Symbols Quiz

1. The Olympic motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius, was taken by Baron de Coubertin from a Latin phrase used by a priest named who?

a) Henry Didon
b) Vincent de Paul
c) Ignatius of Loyola
d) Maximillian Kolbe

The correct answer is a) Henry Didon

2. At the 1908 London Olympics, much of the focus during the marathon event fell on Dorando Pietri, the Italian runner who entered the stadium first. However, he took a wrong turn, collapsed, was helped up by doctors, fell three more times, before being half-carried across the finish line by race officials. However, all this help got him disqualified. He did receive a special silver cup from Queen Alexandra of Denmark. Who was declared the winner after Pietri was disqualified?

a) Spyridon Louis (GRE)
b) William Sherring (USA)
c) Michel Theato (FRA)
d) Johnny Hayes (USA)

The correct answer is d) Johnny Hayes (USA)

3. The Olympic flag consists of five interlocking rings symbolizing the friendship of mankind and the colors (including the white background), representing the colors found on every flag in the world. When was the flag first used?

a) 1924 Paris
b) 1920 Antwerp
c) 1912 Stockholm
d) 1928 Amsterdam

The correct answer is b) 1920 Antwerp

4. Mascots have become an accepted symbol for the Olympic Games, with each host country for both Summer and Winter Games coming up with their own. In what year and Games was the Olympic mascot officially recognized?

a) 1968 Grenoble
b) 1968 Mexico City
c) 1972 Munich
d) 1972 Sapporo

The correct answer is b) 1968 Mexico City

5. The Olympic torch burns all throughout the duration of the Games. Where is the Olympic torch lit?

a) Temple of Zeus
b) Temple of Hera
c) Temple of Diana
d) Temple of Hestia

The correct answer is b) Temple of Hera

6. The Olympic Creed - "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well." This was adopted by Baron de Coubertin after hearing it from a sermon by the Bishop of Philadelphia. In what year was the creed first used?

a) 1908 London
b) 1912 Stockholm
c) 1904 Paris
d) 1900 St. Louis

The correct answer is b) 1912 Stockholm

7. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been in charge of running the Olympic Games through its host member nations. All countries competing in the Games have to be a member of the IOC. Which country was the first to have two IOC presidents elected?

a) Greece
b) France
c) Belgium
d) USA

The correct answer is c) Belgium

8. The oath of sportsmanship is taken by the athletes only during the opening ceremonies of the Games.

a) True
b) False

The correct answer is b) False

9. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, how many official mascots were there?

a) 3
b) 2
c) 1
d) 4

The correct answer is a) 3

10. Which of the following years were both the Summer and Winter Olympics were held in the same country?

a) 1936
b) 1952
c) 1944
d) 1980

The correct answer is a) 1936