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How have the Olympics changed?
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Gymnastics at the 1948 London Games women's 100-meter race: 1928 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics men's 400-meter hurdles: 1948 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics women's gymnastics: 1948 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics men's freestyle swimming: 1932 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics women's high jump: 1932 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics men's track cycling: 1908 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics equestrian eventing: 1936 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics men's rowing: 1920 Olympics vs. 2020 Olympics
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Gymnastics at the 1948 London Games
Gymnastics at the 1948 London Games Cissie Davies of Great Britain performing on the balance beam at the 1948 London Olympics.

How have the Olympics changed?

Written by
Meg Matthias
Meg Matthias is Senior Video Production Manager at EncyclopĂŠdia Britannica.
Meg MatthiasAll
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

While many associate the modern Olympics with tradition, the quadrennial sporting event is continually changing. There’s the size of the Games: at the Athens Olympics in 1896, 241 athletes competed in 43 events, while the 2020 Tokyo Games (delayed until 2021 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic) featured 11,420 competitors and 339 events. And then there’s the pageantry. Notably, the opening ceremony did not debut until 1908, and the Olympic flame was introduced 20 years later. But arguably the biggest change has been the level of competition. Over the years, athletes have become faster and stronger, thanks in part to the International Olympic Committee’s decision to largely abandon its longstanding amateur rule in 1992. In addition, equipment and attire undergo frequent changes to optimize athletic performance. To see how some events have evolved, check out the photo sliders below.

Women’s 100-meter race

Men’s 400-meter hurdles

Women’s gymnastics

Men’s freestyle swimming

Women’s high jump

Men’s track cycling

Equestrian eventing

Men’s rowing

Rick Livingston Meg Matthias Amy Tikkanen