The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2012 Edition

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Overview

David Wallechinsky's compendious book has long been the preeminent point of reference for sports enthusiasts and journalists alike

 

Every sports writer assigned to cover the Games ensures they have their early copy of this prodigious work of reference, packed with absorbing anecdotes and essential statistics. A treasure trove of 116 years of Olympic history, it is also an amazingly readable book, for in the course of recording every ...

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More About This Book

Overview

David Wallechinsky's compendious book has long been the preeminent point of reference for sports enthusiasts and journalists alike

 

Every sports writer assigned to cover the Games ensures they have their early copy of this prodigious work of reference, packed with absorbing anecdotes and essential statistics. A treasure trove of 116 years of Olympic history, it is also an amazingly readable book, for in the course of recording every single Olympic final since 1896, it concentrates on the strange, the memorable, and the unbelievable. Who knew (until reading this book) that croquet was once an Olympic sport, or tug of war, or that a 72-year-old once won a silver medal for target shooting? This new edition also has every finals result, recorded by the top eight competitors in every event at the Beijing Olympics, and full descriptions of rules and scoring for every event included for 2012. It is the one truly essential Olympics book.

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher
"The new editions come with event guides so you can stay up to year on the current stars and sports. The book also has a detailed history, random trivia and a lot of focus on the great moments from 2008."  —Yahoo!Sports

"This resource will enhance appreciation of the Olympics for fans and casual viewers alike; it belongs in most libraries."  —Library Journal

"The essential Games guide."  —Ebony

"Marvellous."  —The New Yorker

Library Journal
Wallechinsky has compiled eight previous editions of this work, along with its companion volume, The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics. Each appears just ahead of the upcoming games, and both hard-core and casual fans welcome its appearance. With its mix of sport records, trivia, and colorful anecdotes, the text offers an encyclopedic guide to the event. The bulk of the material is made up of a sport-by-sport statistical recap, listing each event, year held, and location; top-eight finishers and their country of origin; and other facts. Coverage includes discontinued sports such as tug-of-war (held 1900–20) and the 200-meter obstacle swimming race (held only once, in 1900), which forced competitors to scramble over a pole and a row of boats, then swim under a row of boats. For most events, a brief, well-chosen anecdote describes what happened and/or discusses competitors, adding memorable details. Black-and-white photos appear throughout. The 27 modern Olympics have seen their share of political scandals, cheating, drugs, and other issues; an introductory overview provides a balanced discussion of these ups and downs. VERDICT This resource will enhance appreciation of the Olympics for fans and casual viewers alike; it belongs in most libraries.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills P.L., CA
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9781845136956
  • Publisher: Aurum Press, Limited
  • Publication date: 5/1/2012
  • Pages: 1300
  • Sales rank: 242,665
  • Product dimensions: 7.38 (w) x 8.82 (h) x 2.33 (d)

Meet the Author

David Wallechsinky has worked as a commentator for NBC Olympic coverage, his work has appeared in such publications as the New York Times Magazine and Parade, and he has appeared on All Things Considered, Late Night with David Letterman, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and Nightline. He has produced nine editions of this book, some in collaboration with Jaime Loucky. David divides his time between Geneva and California. 

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