Olympics Then & Now: How Have the Games Changed?

While many associate the modern Olympics with tradition, the quadrennial sporting event is continually changing. There’s the size of the Games: at the Athens Olympics in 1896, 241 athletes competed in 43 events, while the 2020 Tokyo Games (delayed until 2021 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic) featured 11,420 competitors and 339 events. And then there’s the pageantry. Notably, the opening ceremony did not debut until 1908, and the Olympic flame was introduced 20 years later. But arguably the biggest change has been the level of competition. Over the years, athletes have become faster and stronger, thanks in part to the International Olympic Committee’s decision to largely abandon its longstanding amateur rule in 1992. In addition, equipment and attire undergo frequent changes to optimize athletic performance. To see how some events have evolved, check out the photo sliders below.