Going for Gold

by Joe Fullman

Published 22 October 2015
Ready for Rio gives the lowdown on all the key Olympic sports, from rowing and gymnastics to cycling, athletics and swimming. It also looks at the new Olympic sports - rugby sevens, kite surfing and golf, focussing on the format of each sport, how it is scored, and the key rules. The book also gives some background information to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, their history and traditions, and looks ahead to the Games in Rio in 2016. It explores the Olympic village, the venues for the events, and how Brazil is preparing for the arrival of the world's most famous, and best-loved sporting event. Feature boxes on every spread look at highest-achieving Olympians and Paralympians in each sport - their triumphs, the challenges they have overcome, and how they have become such success stories. Fun, fact-filled text and a bright, engaging design make this the perfect Olympic title for children of 9+. If you've enjoyed getting ready for Rio, why not find out all about the history of the Olympics, in The Olympics Ancient and Modern, another title in the series.

The Olympics: Ancient to Modern

by Joe Fullman

Published 22 October 2015

The Olympics Ancient to Modern is a fascinating look at the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, from the first events in Ancient Greece right the way up to London 2012 and Sochi 2014. It focusses on when and where each Games has been held, and some key stats, such as how much it cost, how many athletes competed, and how many spectators came to watch.

The book explains how all the Games - Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics and Paralympics - came into being, and how the Olympic Games were revived in Paris at the end of the 19th century. It compares the ancient and modern Games, looking at the sports and athletes involved then and now, and at how the modern Games are continuosly evolving.

It also looks at key moments in the Games' history, and at some of the tragedies and controversies that have rocked it - from doping scandals, boycotts and cheating to the Berlin Olympics of 1936, and the Munich Massacre.

The book celebrates the achievements of star Olympians, and gives the lowdown on the most popular and exciting Olympic sports, from cycling and rowing to skiing and wheelchair basketball.

Fun, fact-filled text and a bright, engaging design make this the perfect Olympic title for children of 9+.

If you've enjoyed finding out about the history of the Olympics, why not try learning all about key Olympic sports in Going for Gold: A Guide to the Summer Olympics, another title in the series.