Why is the olympics only held once every four years?
154892
In honour of the tradition of the ancient Olympics being held every four years
1121046
Well, it only happens every four years and when it does come around - The FIFA World Cup holds the entire global public under its spell. An accumulated audience of over 37 billion people watched the France 98 tournament, including approximately 1.3 billion for the final alone, while over 2.7 million people flocked to watch the 64 matches in the French stadia. These numbers top even the Olympics!\n\nI lived in Italy for about 10 years, and when I got married there, my family came over for the wedding.  My brother is a HUGE football fan, and loves many of the teams in Italy.  We got tickets for him and my cousin to see a game in Genova - they were playing a team from Bologna - he was utterly amazed when he got there.  First, the visiting team fans had to be escorted into the stadium from the Carabinieri (the nations police) and then they were in a confined area that was covered in non-breakable glass (and bullet proof!)  It was not until then that my brother really understood the passion that these countries have for their teams - it is like a religion - countries go in mourning if they loose!\n\nSo WHY DO THEY GET SO UPSET?? - every four years, each country picks their top players and pray, chant, scream etc.. for them to win.. and if they do.. it is worth more to the country than any Gold Olympic medal.
139828
Olympics were always happening in a period of 4 years in those 12 centuries when sure the original Greek Olympics were practiced – that is between 776 B C and 394, defended as “Pagan” from emp. Theodosius – one year after finally introducing Christianism as official state religion – with imperial edict about the Universal Faith “de Fide Catholica”. Greek Olympics were like known dedicated to Zeus (greatest from Olympic Gods) and were happening in “Olympic city” of Olympia – great religious center dedicated to Zeus’ cult in Elis, Northwest of Peloponnesus, burned by another “zealous” Christian – that is from order of Byzantine emp. Theodosius II in 426. \nThe meaning of Olympics was not dedicated to the spectacle, like following from a Roman slogan of “bread and circuses” dedicated to Roman plebeians, but to the spiritual, moral and physical perfection and achievement (in Olympics were also participating the poets, philosophers and orators), festivities and contests of the Olympics were the most important social and cultural event for Greek Oikoumene – Greek World (in Roman period participation of Roman citizens was also allowed), declaring “Sacred Peace” in whole Hellas, and the Greek system of chronology was also based on period of Olympics, starting with first Olympics in 776 B C, that is how for example start of Roman chronology starting in 753 (legendary date proposed from a Roman author Varro, based on Antique legends) with foundation of city of Rome (A. U. C. – Ad Urbe Condita) was so defined for Greeks as “third year of the Sixth Olympiad”. Olympiad being the period between two Olympic games and 776 the start of keeping official lists of winners in Games – chronology kept in Greece until 394. \nIn 1896 baron Pierre de Coubertin (born in Paris, 1863) was restoring the ancient Olympic games as World International Sports event. Eminent public activist and figure, pedagogue, historian, literary man, fascinated by great Hellenic culture, he was refusing military career for dedicating himself to reform of national educational system, problems of physical education and development of International Sportive Movement, in 1894 by his initiative is hold in Paris International Sportive Congress taking decision of reviving and restoring the Antique Olympic Games which are held in 1896 in Athens (15 centuries after last Antique games). He is the one elaborating fundamental principles of Olympic Movement and of holding the Olympic Games, writing the text of the oath for the Olympic athletes, and is the one elaborating the emblem and flag of Olympic Movement in 1913 as being already in 1896-25 the second president of International Olympic Committee (after Greek D. Vikelas in 1894-96). By his own wish his heart is buried in 1936 in the ancient Olympia – Homeland of the Olympics. \nThe known now emblem and flag of the Olympic movement were established from the International Olympic Committee at Congress in 1914 by proposal of the founder of Movement and president of Committee baron Pierre de Coubertin designing symbol in 1913. The emblem is having the 5 interlocked rings – 3 on the first and 2 on second line, representing the union and brotherhood of athletes from 5 parts of World and of those 5 parts united from Olympic Movement. The idea of Coubertin was that Sport and Olympic movement should spread the principles of the peace, cooperation and union for World. Indeed on 5th Olympics in Stockholm in 1912 the participants came for first time representing all “five parts” of World. Flag and emblem appeared officially only on the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920 as the games of 1916 were missed because of First World War. The rings are had both as emblem and present on white flag (symbolizing peace and unity) of the Olympic movement. \nThe five rings are confused from some with “five continents”, what is missed there is that idea was not representing the continents but parts of the
156744
The Summer and Winter Olympics were held every four years (in the same year) from 1924 - 1992, but in 1988 it was decided that the Winter Olympics should be held inbetween Summer Olympics, so the next Winter Olympics after Albertville in 1992 was Lillehammer in 1994.
1035132
no they are not ...just like the olympics are not held in the same country everytime . Germany is the Host this time around .Next four years it is south africa.\n_______________________________________\nuruaguay 1930,italy  1934france 1938...\nbrasil 1950,switzerland 1954,sweden  1958,chile  1962,england 1966,mexico 1970,GERMANY PREVIOUSLY IN 1974,argentina 1978,spain  1982mexico 1986. italy 1990 ,usa 1994,france 1998,korea /japan  2002\nhope that helps
1134598
It all depends on the site and how the committee views the possibilities.  I doubt that you should be so lucky as to see two Olympics in any one city around the world in our life time (as you said), but I suppose it is not out of the question if the committee feels it is the best spot for the games.
1183400
Every 4 years.  The next one is in south Africa in 2010.
689804
it is the best time of year because it only happens every four years and go MEXICO
206202
The ancient Olympic Games began in the year 776 BC, when Koroibos, a cook from the nearby city of Elis, won the stadion race, a foot race 600 feet long. The stadion track at Olympia is shown here. According to some literary traditions, this was the only athletic event of the games for the first 13 Olympic festivals or until 724 BC. From 776 BC, the Games were held in Olympia every four years for almost 12 centuries.\n\nContrary evidence, both literary and archaeological, suggests that the games may have existed at Olympia much earlier than this date, perhaps as early as the 10th or 9th century BC. \n\n Although the ancient Games were staged in Olympia, Greece, from 776 BC through 393 AD, it took 1503 years for the Olympics to return. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. The man responsible for its rebirth was a Frenchman named Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who presented the idea in 1894. His original thought was to unveil the modern Games in 1900 in his native Paris, but delegates from 34 countries were so enthralled with the concept that they convinced him to move the Games up to 1896 and have Athens serve as the first host.
831765
Like the previous poster said, it has to do with the Olympics.  The tournament is run by the NHL and not the IIHF, and before NHL players starting competing in the Olympics, the World Cup (formerly known as the Canada Cup) was held every four years.  It was temporarily suspended because of the Olympics, but it was brought back again in 2004 because of the impending lockout.
1141535
Becuase every four years countreis around the world get together and play soccer.  It's bigger than the Olympics.
341075
The world cup happens every four years for various reasons.\n\nThe most important reason is that the cup is played in a different country all the time and the designated country has to prepare it self to accommodate for the influx of tourists and fans. This involves building and improving the infrastructure such as hotels, roads, public toilets, restaurants etc. Basically the country must be prepared to accommodate, feed, provide security and everything else to allow everyone to participate in this world event. Many things have to be anticipated and organised. FIFA, the group responsible for football regulations must approve the overall plan and stipulates whether a country is fit to host the event. The country must then comply to the FIFA pre-requisites. Visit the FIFA website and contact for additional information.
84866
In my opinion the coverage for the olympics this year is a lot better than four years ago.\n\nFour years ago it was 95% figure skating and ice dancing\nFour years ago when they weren't showing figure skating they were showing weepy fluff pieces on the athletes' lives.\nFour years ago you wouldn't see an event unless an American was a medal contender.\n\nThis year they seem to be balancing out the coverage a lot better.  They're showing a wider variety of sports, and hardly any of the fluff pieces.  They're even showing sports where America isn't in contention.\n\nWhy are the ratings down?\n\nProbably because they're showing a wider variety of sports, and hardly any of the fluff pieces, and because they're showing sports where America isn't in contention.
185448
Nobody did. It was not played in the Olympics that year.
22120
From 776 BC, the Games were held in Olympia every four years for almost 12 centuries.\n... The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. ...
454323
Because it allows the athletics from all over the world to compete with each other for the chance to win a medal. It also give the host city to what kind of culture it has to offer to spectators from all over the world.
138435
Every 4 yrs between winter to winter and summer to summer.  Between '92 and '94 the IOC moved the winter Olympics so the Olympics would be 2 yrs apart between the summer and winter games.