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The Olympics Portal

The Olympic Games, or Olympics, are an international multi-sport eventtaking place every four years and comprising summer and winter games. Originally held in ancient Greece, they were revived by a Frenchnobleman, Pierre Frèdy, Baron de Coubertinin the late 19th century. The Summer Olympics(Games of the Olympiad) have been held every fourth year starting in 1896, except in 1916, 1940, and 1944 due to the Firstand Second World Wars. A special edition for winter sports, the Olympic Winter Games, was first held in 1924. The first winter Olympics competitions were originally held as a non-Olympic sports festival, but were declared to be official Games by the International Olympic Committeein 1925. Originally these were held in the same year as the Summer Olympics, but from 1994 on the Winter Games and the Summer Games have been held two years apart. Show new selections edit

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Australiafirst competed in the Winter Olympic Gamesin 1936in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and has participated in every Winter Olympics since, with the exception of the 1948 Gamesin St. Moritz.Australia achieved its first medal, a bronze, in 1994 in the men's 5,000 metres short track relay speed skating event. Zali Steggallgained Australia's first individual medal in 1998 when she won bronze in the slalom event. In 2002, Steven Bradburywon gold in the 1,000 metres short track speed skating and Alisa Camplinwon gold in the aerials event, making Australia the only southern hemispherecountry to have ever accomplished gold at a Winter Olympics.Australia sent 40 competitors to compete in 10 sports at the 2006 Gamesin Turin, a record number of athletes and events for the nation. For the first time, there was a stated aim of winning a medal, and this goal was achieved when Dale Begg-Smithwon the gold medal in men's freestyle skiing. Camplin attained her second medal, a bronze in the aerials event. ...More selections/Nominations

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Credit: Anthony M.

The Closing Ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics took place on February 26, 2006 beginning at 20:00 CET (19:00 UTC) at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin, Italy.

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Ian James Thorpe OAM is a former Australian freestyle swimmer. He has won five Olympic gold medals, the most won by any Australian, and in 2001 he became the first person to win six gold medals in one World Championship. In total, Thorpe has won eleven World Championship golds, the second-highest number of any swimmerThorpe was the first person to have been named World Swimmer of the Year four times by Swimming World Magazine,and was the Australian swimmer of the year from 1999 to 2003. His athletic achievements made him one of Australia's most popular athletes, with his philanthropy and clean image earning him further recognition as the Young Australian of the Year in 2000.At the age of 14, he became the youngest male ever to represent Australia,and his victory in the 400 metre freestyle at the 1998 Perth World Championships made him the youngest ever individual male World Champion.After that victory, Thorpe dominated the 400 m freestyle, winning the event at every Olympic, World, Commonwealth and Pan Pacific Swimming Championships until his break after the 2004 Olympics. ...More selections/Nominations

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For up to date, in depth Olympic coverage, see Wikinews:Portal:Olympics. Wikinews is a sister project of Wikipedia, which deals with journalism of current events. They are both operated by the Wikimedia foundation. edit