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42.195 km
The marathon’s exact distance was standardised in 1921
A marathon is 42.195 kilometres: 26 miles and 385 yards. World Athletics dates the standardisation of that distance to 1921, after its use at the London 1908 Olympics.
The marathon’s exact distance was standardised in 1921
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5 rings
The Olympic rings represent five continents, not five colour-coded continents
The five Olympic rings symbolise the union of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. No individual ring colour officially belongs to a particular continent.
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1896
The first modern Olympics opened in Athens in 1896
Athens hosted the first modern Olympic Games from 6 to 15 April 1896. The IOC records 241 athletes, 14 national teams and 43 events.
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