"Secrets of the Olympic Ceremonies"                                    by myles a. garcia        

Q:   What classical choral piece is traditionally sung at the Closing ceremony of an Olympic Games?
ANS:  c.  "The 9th Symphony" by Ludwig Beethoven
(Also known as "Ode to Joy.")

_Which Olympic sport exhibits the greatest longevity, i.e., the sport which has the most competitors returning Games after Games over the longest span of time?

ANS:  a.  & b:  Equestrian and Fencing.  There is an almost equal number of equestrians and fencers who keep coming back and compete in as many as 6 or 7 Olympiads. 

The one-time Hollywood movie queen responsible for the entry of Synchronized Swimming into the Olympics was, naturally:  c.  Esther Williams. 

_Both are true. 
1.  There was an Elizabeth Taylor of Canada who won the 80m hurdle bronze at the 1936 Berlin Games.  So not the American movie star of the same name.  
2.  Similarly, there was a (white) Marion Jones who co-won a bronze medal in tennis in Paris 1900.  So, this was a full century before the other more controversial Marion Jones made her own fraudulent run for 4 gold medals in Sydney 2000.  Of course, the 21st century Marion Jones' medals were stripped due to her own admission of the use of banned substances.  

_Olympia, the documentary film about the 1936 Berlin Games was directed by?
E. Leni Reifenstahl

Check out Bobo's new Trivia Question #6. 

_Which of the following is a recognized Gymnastics move?   The answer is:
D.  a Diamidov

But you already knew that.  In the meantime, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays/Hanukah and a Safe, Blessed and Prosperous New Year to everyone!!

_What did the ancient Greeks award their Olympic victors with?
B.  a wreath of wild olive.
It was previously thought to be a wreath of laurel.  But specifically for Olympia, evidence has turned up that the prize given the athletic winners was one of wild olive leaves. 

Answer to Trivia Quiz #2 -  B.  Longer.  Because of the intervening centuries, it is no longer possible to determine the exact route and distance that Pheidippides was supposed to have traveled.  However, that distance was calculated to be approximately 22 miles.  Today's marathon distance is laid out at 26.22 mi (or 26 miles and 385 yards). 

Answer to Trivia Question #1 -  Which horse(s) also won an Olympic medal?  Answer is D. - Touch of Class. 

New sample page is also up!!