Every two years, the world unites to watch the best athletes compete. Two weeks filled with trying to catch our favorite athletes and sports. Two weeks filled with American pride. However, there is far more to the Olympics than how many medals Micheal Phelps has. Here are some interesting facts throughout the long and ancient history of the Olympics.

1. Originally, the Olympics were started as a link to the cult of Zeus.

The first Greek myth traced to the Olympics was when Zeus fought and defeated Cronus, in order to win power over the throne. The Olympics were started to honor Zeus and his victory. Although not a main part of religious festivities, the games exemplified physical qualities.

2. They were banned in Greece for 1200 years.

The games were dedicated to the Greek Gods, starting in around 776 BC. In 393 AD, Emperor Theodosius banned all pagan rituals. He deemed the Olympic games to be pagan and therefore were not allowed. This lasted for about 12 centuries.

3. They used to take place in one day.

At the beginning of the games, competition was completed within one day. Starting in 684 BC it was spanned into three days. Years later in 5 BC, competition extended over a five day period.

4. There were originally eight types of events.

Within the first hundred years of the games, there were eight types of competitions.

Pentathlon

Running

Wrestling

Boxing

Pankration: combination of wrestling and boxing. Any maneuver was permissible except biting, gouging eyes, and hitting the genitals.

Equestrian

5. They used corporal punishment if you cheated.

If any man was caught breaking their oath of the Olympics, they were beat with a stick or whip. Punishment often was psychological. The ferocity of punishments is sometimes attributed the religious origin.

6. Married women couldn’t watch the games.

Only men could compete. No women wed or unwed were allowed to participate in the game. However, single women were allowed the luxury of spectating.

7. There were no medals until the Modern Games.

The original award was an olive branch worn on the head. It was only given the first place.

8. The First Modern Games Were Held in 1896.

The first modern Games were held near its birth, in Athens, Greece. It was still only male. It included 13 nations, 280 competitors and 43 events.

9. Silver was first place.

In 1896, silver was awarded to first place, and second received bronze. In 1904, gold medals were given to first, silver to second, and bronze to third.

10. Gold medals used to be pure gold.

From 1904 to 1912, gold medals were solid gold. Today, "gold medals" are actually sterling silver and covered in a thin layer of gold.

11. Women didn’t compete until 1900.

The first females to compete were in 1900, and they only competed in golf, tennis, sailing, croquet, and equestrian. Only 22 women were in the games out of the 997 athletes.

12. The Winter Olympics have been around less than 100 years.

It wasn’t until 1924 that the Winter Olympics were held.

13. Today, more men compete than women.

The ratio of men to women competitors have balanced out greatly. However, men still account for 55% of athletes in the games.

14. Over a billion spectators.

1 billion people watched the opening ceremony to the Beijing Olympics. Some people guess that number has doubled this year.