As everyone knows, the Olympic Games opening ceremonies begin with the joyous parade of athletes marching behind their flag-bearers. We see them again in an emotional reunion at the closing ceremonies. But did you know how it all began, and why all the participants come together as one at the end of the Games? Let’s go back in time 110 years.

Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in overtime against the USA secured victory for Canada in the final of the men’s ice hockey, on the day of the Closing Ceremony at the Vancouver Winter Games. The win on 28 February 2010 sparked scenes of joy in the city and throughout the country.

As a pusher in the four-man bobsleigh team spearheaded by pilot Billy Fiske, Edward Eagan won the gold medal with the USA I team in the final event of the Lake Placid 1932 Winter Games. Twelve years earlier, as a boxer, he had been crowned Olympic champion in the light heavyweight competition at Antwerp 1920. Today marks the anniversary of one man’s extraordinary achievement.

Exactly 40 years ago, from 13 to 24 February 1980, Lake Placid hosted the Olympic Winter Games for the second time. The Olympic legacy can be seen throughout this mountain village, which has become a training hub for American athletes and has played host to numerous international competitions.

On 6 February 1972, Yukio Kasaya became Japan’s first ever champion at the Olympic Winter Games, with a comfortable victory in the normal hill event at the Miyanomori Ski Jump Stadium in Sapporo. For a country which, until that point, could boast only one winter medal, in Alpine skiing, this proved to be a historic day, as Akitsugu Konno and Seiji Aochi joined their compatriot on the podium for a remarkable triple success.

Having grown up in Lake Placid, host city of the 1932 and 1980 Olympic Winter Games, Van Ledger is fully aware of the lasting power of the Games. Now, the 16-year-old biathlete will get to experience that unique spirit first-hand as a member of the USA team for the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Lausanne 2020.

After mass start competitions were trialled at the Youth Olympic Games in Lillehammer 2016 and Innsbruck 2012, this exciting new format will be added to the speed skating programme at PyeongChang 2018.

The podium has become an iconic Olympic image and a core part of every athlete’s vocabulary. However, contrary to common belief, its origins lie not in Ancient Greece, but at the Olympic Winter Games 1932 in Lake Placid…

Like London and Paris before it, Los Angeles will host the Olympic Summer Games for a third time in 2028. To mark that milestone we look back at the two previous editions the Californian metropolis has staged. Despite taking place against the backdrop of the Great Depression, Los Angeles 1932 proved to be a huge success and established a number of benchmarks that helped shape future editions of the Olympic Games.