The Olympic Games are one of the most burning events, followed by the whole world. But they still keep a lot of secrets. Some of them we will disclose in our selection.
1. Athletes smear hands with white powder - what is it?
This is magnesia. Powder removes all moisture from hands, which can lead to a drop from the projectile, and facilitates glide. Thanks to magnesia gymnasts are easier to keep on uneven bars and shells, which prevents them from falling.
2. The jumper lands with the whole body. How do you measure the athlete's length?
There are no difficulties. The point of touching is the point of contact closest to the jogging bar. That's why athletes so strongly stretch their legs and arms forward so as not to touch the sand with a limb until the final landing, because only the first touch is set off.
3. Synchronicists appear to the music, but do swimmers hear it?
Certainly hear. Especially for this, on the walls of the pool under the water, special dynamics work.
4. And what is the custom of some swimmers - to put on two caps at once?
To keep the glasses for swimming stronger and do not accidentally slip during the competition, their carving is pressed with a second cap.
5. Is it cold in the Olympic pool?
According to the rules of the International Olympic Committee, the temperature of the water in the Olympic basins should be at least 27-28 degrees Celsius.
6. Why is the grass in the hockey Olympic fields blue?
Blue cover for hockey on the grass - artificial. Back in 2008, in Beijing and earlier athletes played on the green field with a white ball. The blue "grass" for this sport was first used at the London Olympics in 2012. The ball for hockey on the grass is yellow, and this color creates a better contrast with blue. So it is better seen.
7. Why are the Olympic rings exactly 5, what do they mean?
Rings are a symbol of the unity of the five continents. But no ring means any particular continent. Blue, red, yellow, green, black - the most common colors on the flags of the world.
8. A bowl with Olympic fire - what is this tradition?
So did the ancient Greeks. Before the Games, the Olympic flame was lit for sacrifice to the gods.
9. What is pentathlon?
In the XIX century, military training was conducted in this way. Similarly, the officer learned to deliver a report to the command, during which he could face various obstacles. Now it's a modern sport. It includes swimming, jumping, fencing, shooting and running.
10. Why are there always four judoists on the podium, among which are two bronze medalists?
All thanks to a special scheme of competitions in judo. Losers who lost in the quarterfinals, meet each other in fights for the flight. The one who wins, becomes a bronze medalist. In the same way competitors compete, who lost in the semifinals. Here comes another bronze medalist. Under the same scheme, the line up is won in the classic wrestling and boxing.
11. Why do swimmers clap their muscles before the competition begins?
Many athletes such weak blows do just for the sake of the ritual, which reduces tension. Thus experts nevertheless assure, that thus circulation of blood increases.
12. During the Olympics many spectators noticed bruises on the body of American swimmer Michael Phelps. But can not the coach beat him?
In fact, everything is not so bad. Traces are prints from medical cans. If earlier in this way fought the common cold, then today this method is used for other properties. Experts believe that banks help to relax muscles and improve blood circulation.
13. Why is there such a weird score in tennis - 15, 30, 40, game?
Initially, the pointing system was tied to the position of the arrows on the mechanical watch. Thus, the account was conducted on quarters - 15, 30, 45, 60. Then in the XIX century in France it was decided to use 40 instead of 45 - presumably, it made it easier to declare the result. Then someone suggested making the account as simple as possible - from one to four. But this did not take root.
14. Why is football not represented at the Olympics?
American football is popular mainly in the US. Therefore, it was decided not to include in the program sports, which is considered interesting only in one country. Perhaps the situation will change in the future.
15. Free-style swimming - what does this mean?
This phrase indicates exactly how it sounds. An athlete can cross the pool the way he likes. Restrictions are set only in the combined swim: you can swim in any way, except for breaststroke and butterfly. Also, you can not move on your back. In general, athletes for freestyle use krol.
16. Why are all the gymnasts small?
There are several explanations at once. It is believed that this is the fault of training. In the human skeleton there are certain "plates of growth". If they are subjected to constant loads, there is depletion, and the bones automatically stop increasing. Gymnastics means accelerated wear of "plates", which almost completely stops growth at a young age.
17. Is it possible to stand up for yourself with the help of judo techniques?
The answer is simple - yes. Judo is a real martial art that appeared in the 16th century in Japan. Then, three centuries later, Jigoro Kano improved it. And it entered the list of Olympic sports only in 1964.
18. What is the weight of the gold medal?
At the last games, held in Rio, the weight of medals was 0.5 kg. They are mainly made of silver - 92.5%. Also among the components you can find copper - 6.16%. And only 1.34% - gold, which is covered with a prize. It turns out that everyone who won the main medal, received only 6.7 grams of gold from 500 alleged.
19. What is the price of the gold medal earned at the Olympics?
The cost of one gold trophy of the Olympic Games is about 575 dollars. This price is considered official. In this case, collectors are willing to pay incredible money for such a prize. So, for example, a medal earned by a black athlete in 1936 on games in Berlin was sold a few years ago for a half million dollars at an auction.
20. Do sportsmen have anything more than medals?
It all depends on the country that the athlete represents. So, for example, Brazilian athletes received for gold, silver and bronze medals for 30, 15 and 10 thousand dollars respectively. In Argentina, the average winning price was 20 thousand, and in Russia - 60. In Italy, athletes can get up to 185 thousand. At the same time in the United States, prizes are awarded only to gold medalists - all are given bonuses in the form of 25 thousand dollars.