2 . An Olympic Village is a place that houses Olympic competitors. It is a place where they prepare for what might be the most important moment in their life. But we want to know more about this mysterious place: What really happens in the village?

We asked swimmer Natalie Coughlin, a three time Olympian and 12 -time medalist. She says, “People think it’s a lot more attractive and interesting than it is. It isn’t. It’s like a huge college campus, including a bank, a salon, a post office, and a huge cafeteria- except that everyone is anxious, getting ready for their biggest event under unbelievably high pressure (压力).”

But some other Olympians look differently at their campus. “It’s like the first day of college,” water polo player Tony Azevedo says. “You’re super excited. Everyone s meeting people and trying to socialize with others,”

Coughlin says the best spot to be in the village is the cafeteria. Not only does it provide a place to talk with the rest of the athletes from your country but it’s a great chance for people watching. One of her favorite games was to tell what sport someone in front of her took based on their body type.

Living in the same village means athletes run into one another all the time. Coughlin shares this story: While in London in 2012, at one point applause (欢呼) broke out at the arrival of someone. Coughlin thought it was one of the British royals (王室成员), but it ended up being Jamaica’s Usain Bolt (the world’s greatest runner alive). Runner Allyson Felix— a winner of six gold Olympic medals— has also had her run-ins. In 2008, she came across the world-famous U. S. men’s basketball team, including Anthony, Bryant, Wade and other top players.

It’s “a pretty wild scene, the biggest melting pot— a place where large numbers of people, ideas, and cultures are mixed together— you’ve been in,” said swimmer Eric Shanteau. Felix agrees, saying, “You get to meet people from other countries that you wouldn’t even come into contact with. To me that’s the coolest thing.

4 . Clothing decorated with lucky animals such as Chinese dragons and phoenixes (凤凰), and designers devoted to making China's Olympians look good, all these reflect that the Chinese Olympic Team is not only focused on winning medals, but also showing the beauty of China to the world.

The first impressive moment for Chinese fashion started from the opening ceremony of the Olympics. The Chinese team's uniforms used red as a main color, which represents wishes for a good start for Team China. The Team's uniforms, combining red with white, were designed by a group of designers from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. The uniforms are decorated with a peony (牡丹), which is China's national flower, and the style of the flower was inspired by an ancient Ming Dynasty bowl at the Palace Museum.

Some Chinese gymnastics' uniforms also use the traditional Chinese symbols such as the Chinese phoenix. China's trampoline (蹦床) gold medalist Zhu Xueying said she was pleased with her uniform that looked like a traditional qipao decorated with a phoenix. The bright red uniforms have traditional elements (元素) on the neckline—a qipao knot (结) and a Chinese phoenix. The pattern on the front of the chest represented the hope that the gymnasts would dance in the sky.

The uniform for Chen Meng, another gold medalist in the women's table tennis event, was designed especially for her. The uniform is pink because that is Chen's favorite color and the designers embroidered (刺绣) a Chinese dragon on her right shoulder to represent the hope that she can take off like a powerful dragon.

“I have been watching the Olympics. The uniforms for the Chinese team have added many fashionable elements,” Zhang Yan, a young Chinese designer told the reporter. The most impressive uniforms for him have been those that the Chinese athletes wore on the podiums (领奖台). The elements formed in the clothing designs, including the curving shapes, the colors and the Chinese standing collar, make them both beautiful and practical. “When the athletes stand on the podium, I think the Chinese design is not only attractive, but also a kind of new fashion. The confidence shown in the clothing is really strong.” Zhang Yan said.

7 . As is known to all. the first modern Olympics were held there in 1896. But the history of the Olympics in Greece dates back to much earlier.

The first ancient Olympics were held in 776 B. C. The games got their name from Olympia, the Greek city where they took place.

Like the Summer Olympics of today, the ancient Olympics were held every four years. One of the main features (特点) of the ancient Olympics was the Olympic truce (休战).The truce meant that all wars were stopped, so that athletes and spectators could compete and travel in peace. Thousands of people from all over the Greek world came to watch.

During the first Olympics, there was only one competition—a 218-yard (200-meter) race. But over time the games grew to include wrestling, chariot racing, boxing and other sports. Women were not allowed to compete, but they had their own separate games.

“The ancient athletes became celebrities (名人)， just like today. They often lived the rest of their lives being treated to free dinners.” Cerrato said “City-states even tried to steal away each other's athletes by offering them various awards.”

Unlike today's Olympics, the ancient Olympics were held to honor Zeus. Greeks thought that Zeus was the leader of the many gods and goddesses they believed in. But what comes as a surprise to many people is the fact that many athletes competed completely naked(裸体的)！

The ancient Olympics existed until 393 A. D. But the modern Olympics are still going strong. “The Olympics” gather athletes from around the world，said Sue Macy, author of a new National Geographic book, Swifter, Higher, Stronger： A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics. “It’s so much bigger today.”

8 . Ellie was a skilled gymnast（体操运动员）. But she liked showing off（炫耀））. At the gymnastics tryout（选拔赛）, she put on a perfect performance. "See who can do that! " she said proudly.

The next Friday, the list was posted announcing who had made the team. Ellie's name wasn't on it. "It's unfair. I'm better than all the other girls! " she said. She went to see the coach.

"You are quite talented, but your attitude is terrible, " the coach said. "Making the gymnastics team isn't just about gymnastics. It's also about being on a team. " That night Ellie complained to her parents. Her mother was angry, but her father said that the coach had a point. They had a big argument. Ellie couldn't sleep. She kept thinking about what the coach had said.

Ellie couldn't stay away from the gym, so she practiced alone. One day, after watching Ann fall off the parallel bars（双杠）again and again, Ellie ran to her and explained to Ann what she was doing wrong. Ann did as Ellie suggested and improved. Ellie didn't notice the coach was looking at her. Over the next few months, Ellie always helped the other girls. They did better and better. "We couldn't have done this without Ellie's help, " the girls said.

The following year, Ellie tried out for the gymnastics team again. This time, she was modest. When the girls praised her, she just smiled and thanked them. When the coach posted the list of who had made the team, her name was on it. Ellie and the other girls were all very happy.