Fact of the Day

The first athlete to be disqualified from the Olympics for using a banned substance was Swedish pentathlete Hans-Grunner Liljenwall, who tested positive for excessive alcohol at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.

By Duncan Mackay

The first athlete to be disqualified from the Olympics for using a banned substance was Swedish pentathlete Hans-Grunner Liljenwall, who tested positive for excessive alcohol at the 1968 Games in Mexico City after drinking several beers before the competition.

The first black athlete to compete at the Olympics was Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera

By Duncan Mackay

The first black athlete to compete at the Olympics was Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera, a Haitian-born French rugby union footballer, who was a member of the France squad that won the Olympic title at the first Olympic rugby tournament at Paris in 1900. He also won the silver in the tug of war at the same Games.

The only Olympian ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain, who won the silver in the 1500 metres at Antwerp in 1920

By Duncan Mackay

The only Olympian ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain, who won the silver in the 1500 metres at Antwerp in 1920

In 1960, the Winter Olympic Games, held in Squaw Valley, had Walt Disney as head of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies

By Duncan Mackay

In 1960, the Winter Olympic Games, held in Squaw Valley, had Walt Disney as head of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Among the highlights was a stadium filled with high school choirs and bands, releasing of thousands of balloons, fireworks, ice statues, releasing of 2,000 white doves, and national flags dropped by parachute.

At the 1976 Games in Montreal, Bermuda, with a mere 53,000 inhabitants, became the least populated country to win a medal at the Olympics when boxer Clarence Hill won the bronze medal in the heavyweight devision

By Duncan Mackay

At the 1976 Games in Montreal, Bermuda, with a mere 53,000 inhabitants, became the least populated country to win a medal at the Olympics when boxer Clarence Hill won the bronze medal in the heavyweight division

The organisers of the Opening Ceremony at Beijing 2008 set a minimum height requirement of 1.70 metres (5ft 7in) for all the performers

By Duncan Mackay

The organisers of the Opening Ceremony at Beijing 2008 set a minimum height requirement of 1.70 metres (5ft 7in) for all the performers

The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam witnessed the first appearance of Coca-Cola as a sponsor.

By Duncan Mackay

The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam witnessed the first appearance of Coca-Cola as a sponsor. The giant American soft drinks manufacturer provided the American team with 1,000 crates of Coca-Cola. They have been involved in the Games ever since.

Portugal's Francisco Lazaro collapsed from dehydration during the men's marathon at Stockholm 1912.

By Duncan Mackay

Portugal's Francisco Lazaro collapsed from dehydration during the men's marathon at Stockholm 1912. Tragically, he died the next day at the Serafimer Hospital of heat exhaustion.

The Olympics in London in 1908 prompted the establishment of standard rules, as well as the selection of judges from different countries, instead of only the host nation, to officiate at the Games.

By Duncan Mackay

The Olympics in London in 1908 prompted the establishment of standard rules, as well as the selection of judges from different countries, instead of only the host nation, to officiate at the Games. The controversial men's 400 metres final also resulted in the formation of the International Amateur Athletics Federation, the purpose of which was to set uniform worldwide rules for athletics.

Lee Lai Shan made history at Atlanta 1996 by winning Hong Kong's first-ever gold medal when she won the women's sailboard event.

By Duncan Mackay

Lee Lai Shan made history at Atlanta 1996 by winning Hong Kong's first-ever gold medal when she won the women's sailboard event.

The official theme music of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta was "Summon the Heroes" by John Williams, his third composition at a Games.

By Duncan Mackay

The official theme music of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta was "Summon the Heroes" by John Williams, his third composition at a Games. However, the official song of Atlanta 1996 was "Reach" sung by Gloria Estefan at the Closing Ceremony.

The 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles were the shortest to date, lasting 16 days.

By Duncan Mackay

The 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles were the shortest to date, lasting 16 days. Between Paris 1900 and Amsterdam 1928, no Games lasted less than 79 days. Since 1932, no Games has lasted longer than 18 days. The 1896 Athens Olympics lasted only nine days.

Baseball was voted out of the programme for London 2012 at the IOC Session on July 7, 2005, becoming the first sport to be voted out of the Olympics since polo was withdrawn from Berlin 1936.

By Duncan Mackay

Baseball was voted out of the programme for London 2012 at the IOC Session in Singapore on July 7, 2005, becoming the first sport to be voted out of the Olympics since polo was withdrawn from Berlin 1936.

The tennis tournament at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm started on June 26 and was completed one day before the Opening Ceremony.

By Duncan Mackay

The tennis tournament at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm started on June 26 and was completed one day before the Opening Ceremony.

Total ticket revenues for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin amounted to 7.5 million marks, with a profit in excess of 1 million marks.

By Duncan Mackay

Total ticket revenues for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin amounted to 7.5 million marks, with a profit in excess of 1 million marks.

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Fact of the day

When British skaters Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean won the Olympic gold medal in ice dance at Sarajevo 1984 with 12 perfect 6.0s from every judge, for their interpretation of Maurice Ravel's Boléro, an important member of their team was singer-actor Michael Crawford. Crawford, who had played Frank Spencer in British sitcom Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and the title role in the musical The Phantom of the Opera, had become a mentor to the pair in 1981 and went on to help them create their Olympic routine. Crawford said he “taught them how to act". He was present with their trainer Betty Callaway at the ringside at Sarajevo as they created one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history.

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Fact of the Day

The first athlete to be disqualified from the Olympics for using a banned substance was Swedish pentathlete Hans-Grunner Liljenwall, who tested positive for excessive alcohol at the 1968 Games in Mexico City.

The first black athlete to compete at the Olympics was Constantin Henriquez de Zubiera

The only Olympian ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain, who won the silver in the 1500 metres at Antwerp in 1920

In 1960, the Winter Olympic Games, held in Squaw Valley, had Walt Disney as head of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies

At the 1976 Games in Montreal, Bermuda, with a mere 53,000 inhabitants, became the least populated country to win a medal at the Olympics when boxer Clarence Hill won the bronze medal in the heavyweight devision

The organisers of the Opening Ceremony at Beijing 2008 set a minimum height requirement of 1.70 metres (5ft 7in) for all the performers

The 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam witnessed the first appearance of Coca-Cola as a sponsor.

Portugal's Francisco Lazaro collapsed from dehydration during the men's marathon at Stockholm 1912.

The Olympics in London in 1908 prompted the establishment of standard rules, as well as the selection of judges from different countries, instead of only the host nation, to officiate at the Games.

Lee Lai Shan made history at Atlanta 1996 by winning Hong Kong's first-ever gold medal when she won the women's sailboard event.

The official theme music of the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta was "Summon the Heroes" by John Williams, his third composition at a Games.

The 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles were the shortest to date, lasting 16 days.

Baseball was voted out of the programme for London 2012 at the IOC Session on July 7, 2005, becoming the first sport to be voted out of the Olympics since polo was withdrawn from Berlin 1936.

The tennis tournament at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm started on June 26 and was completed one day before the Opening Ceremony.