Are the Olympics held in a leap year?

Answer 1

The Greeks noticed that eight solar years was close to 99 lunar months. So they started a calendar called the octaeteris, which was eight solar years or 99 lunar months. Later, they measured the octaeteris as two four-year periods, one of 49 months and one of 50 months, and they called these 4-year periods "Olympiads." This 4-year period still survives today. Every four years, we add a leap day in February, and we also hold the Olympics. In America, we even elect a President (a "new king") every four years.

The Olympics originated as a reenactment of an astronomical myth which described a calendar. The story tells of a man named Pelops who wanted to marry Hippodamia, the daughter of King Oenomaus. Oenomaus was willing to offer his daughter's hand to any potential suitor who could compete with him and win in a chariot race. Each contestant would take Hippodamia in his chariot and try to beat her father, but Oenomaus would always win and then kill the losing suitor. Before Pelops came along, Oenomaus had so far killed twelve suitors and hung up their heads for display. Hippodamia loved Pelops, and she secretly fixed her father's chariot so it would fail. In the race, his chariot crashed and Oenomaus died, making him the 13th victim, so Pelops won. Pelops got the girl, became the new king, and according to Pindar (5th c. BC), the Olympics were started to commemorate the chariot race of Pelops.

There is another myth that relates the origin of the Olympic games and involves Herakles, who was recognized as a Sun-god. Many of his Twelve Labors correspond to the 12 signs of the Zodiac, such as the slaying the Nemean lion (Leo), capturing the Cretan bull (Taurus), etc. One of the Twelve Labors imposed on Herakles was to clean the cattle stables of King Augeas of Elis, a city-state located about 30 miles from Olympia. He accomplished his task in one day by diverting the Alpheios River from its course and causing it to flow through the stables. According to this myth, Herakles celebrated his success by founding the Olympian games. Historically speaking, Elis was in actuality the city-state that supervised the Olympic games, and the peak of the Olympic festival occurred when one hundred oxen were sacrificed to Zeus.

Anyway, it's all about mythology... The Greeks noticed that eight solar years was close to 99 lunar months. So they started a calendar called the octaeteris, which was eight solar years or 99 lunar months. Later, they measured the octaeteris as two four-year periods, one of 49 months and one of 50 months, and they called these 4-year periods "Olympiads." This 4-year period still survives today. Every four years, we add a leap day in February, and we also hold the Olympics. In America, we even elect a President (a "new king") every four years.

The Olympics originated as a reenactment of an astronomical myth which described a calendar. The story tells of a man named Pelops who wanted to marry Hippodamia, the daughter of King Oenomaus. Oenomaus was willing to offer his daughter's hand to any potential suitor who could compete with him and win in a chariot race. Each contestant would take Hippodamia in his chariot and try to beat her father, but Oenomaus would always win and then kill the losing suitor. Before Pelops came along, Oenomaus had so far killed twelve suitors and hung up their heads for display. Hippodamia loved Pelops, and she secretly fixed her father's chariot so it would fail. In the race, his chariot crashed and Oenomaus died, making him the 13th victim, so Pelops won. Pelops got the girl, became the new king, and according to Pindar (5th c. BC), the Olympics were started to commemorate the chariot race of Pelops.

There is another myth that relates the origin of the Olympic games and involves Herakles, who was recognized as a Sun-god. Many of his Twelve Labors correspond to the 12 signs of the Zodiac, such as the slaying the Nemean lion (Leo), capturing the Cretan bull (Taurus), etc. One of the Twelve Labors imposed on Herakles was to clean the cattle stables of King Augeas of Elis, a city-state located about 30 miles from Olympia. He accomplished his task in one day by diverting the Alpheios River from its course and causing it to flow through the stables. According to this myth, Herakles celebrated his success by founding the Olympian games. Historically speaking, Elis was in actuality the city-state that supervised the Olympic games, and the peak of the Olympic festival occurred when one hundred oxen were sacrificed to Zeus.

Anyway, it's all about mythology...

Answer 2

Leap year happens every 4 years because a year is really 365.25 days long. After 4 years we have to add an extra day (4 x 0.25 = 1) which is added to February as the 29th. so the days fall on the location in our orbit.

Or you can think about it this way. Let's say it is Feb 28th after 365 days we are short from completing a full orbit by 0.25days. the next year we are 0.5days short, then 0.75 days short, then 1 day short, if we add the extra day 29th then we will be on track again.

Answer 3

In keeping with the tradition of the Ancient Olympics which where held every 4 years starting in 776 B.C. (this is the 1st recorded Olympics they go back to 10th or 9th century B.C.) for almost 12 centuries ending in 393 A.D.

Olympiad is a time period of 4 years. It takes time for the athletes to train and prepare for the games. Also remember Greeks had colonies all along the Mediterranean and Asia Minor other parts of known Greek world participants and spectators needed time to get to Olympia. As it was a religious celebration in Honor of Zeus that the Ancient Olympics where held for.

In modern times it would be too expensive and host cities need time to prepare. Same goes for all the athletes. It would no longer be as important if it was every year like World Gymnastics Champions or Swimming is not as paid attention to as Olympic sporting competitions for these sports.

Interesting side note 1906 Athens Baron de Coubertin was so disappointed with 1900 Paris and 1904 St.Louis that he decided to allow Greece to hold an interim games every 4 years. The Intercalated Games where only held this one time as they where canceled in 1910 due to political unrest.

Answer 4

The Summer Olympic Games are hosted every four years purely by tradition. They do always fall on a leap year by chance, but the fact that it is a leap year does not tie in any known way to the summer olympics being played on those years.

Answer 5

Yes. they are held in a leap year!

Answer 6

Leap year usually occurs every four years.

Answer 7

Just a coincidence.

Answer 8

Yh