Image: David Madison/Getty Images
About This Quiz
Sure, the Summer and Winter Olympic Games each happen only every four years. But you can brush up on your Olympic knowledge anytime you like with this Olympics quiz. See if you can go for the gold!
In addition to Seiko, what other watch manufacturer is the only company in the world that meets Olympic timekeeping standards?
Rolex
Bulova
Omega
Only Seiko and Omega create timepieces precise enough to be used in Olympic games.
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Where is the Olympic torch first lit before each Olympiad?
the Temple of Hera
The Olympic torch is lit at the ancient Temple of Hera in Olympia.
Mt. Olympus
the Acropolis
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Which Olympics' opening ceremonies saw a man fly into the central stadium on a jet pack?
Beijing 2008
Montreal 1976
Los Angeles 1984
Bell engineer Bill Suitor wowed the crowds in Los Angeles Memorial Colesium when he ferried in on a jet pack during the 1984 games.
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Which of these did China do in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics?
stole spark plugs from citizens' cars so they couldn't run
constructed a giant vacuum that pumped air pollution from Beijing to Mongolia
shot cannons at clouds to make them rain
China shot cannons packed with silver iodide into the skies to impregnate clouds, causing them to rain. This helped ensure good weather and less air pollution for the 2008 games.
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It was reported that as many as 3,500 children born in China around the 2008 games were named "Olympics" by their parents. For what other Olympic theme were as many as 4,000 Chinese children named?
an Olympic mascot
Up to 4,000 children in China were named for one of the five 2008 Olympic mascots. Creative parents could choose from Bei Bei the fish, Jing Joing the panda, Huan Huan the Olympic Flame, Ying Ying the Tibetan antelope and Ni Ni the swallow.
2008
Zeus
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The pole vaulting event finds its roots in what real-world application?
using poles to cross canals
Pole vaulting originated in 19th-century Europe, where people crossed city canals using long poles.
using poles to leap from tree to tree in search of food
using poles to move from rock to rock to escape giant man-eating worms
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In the Olympic fencing event, the weapon used is called a:
sword
foil
In fencing, the sword used in matches is called a foil. Other types called sabres and epees can also be used.
lance
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Which of these events made its debut at the 1972 Olympics?
white-water canoe racing
White-water canoe racing, also called slalom canoeing, was added as an Olympic event in 1972. Table tennis made its debut in 1988; rhythmic gymnastics debuted in 1984.
rhythmic gymnastics
table tennis
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Which Canadian sprinter was stripped of a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, after testing positive for anabolic steroids?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Ben Johnson
Sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal after a drug test came back positive for anabolic steroid use in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Dwight Gooden
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Which Native American won two gold medals for the United States in the 1912 Olympics before going on to become a football star?
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe won gold in the decathalon and pentahalon events in the 1912 Olympics. King Gustav of Sweden declared to Thorpe: "You, sir, are the greatest athlete in the world." Thorpe replied, "Thanks, King."
Jim Brown
Jim Taylor
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You Got:
/10
David Madison/Getty Images
