Olympics
Why Is the Paris Olympics Running Track Purple?
The track incorporates recycled mussel and clam shells in a bid to help make the Summer Games the most sustainable yet
See 15 Picturesque Views of Paris
France’s charming capital city welcomes the 2024 Summer Olympic Games
Tommie Smith’s Raised Fist at the 1968 Olympics Inspired a Massive Golden Sculpture That Signifies the Art of His Protest
At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, an installation by artist Glenn Kaino made in collaboration with Smith reclaims the Olympian’s iconic gesture
From Sleek Swimsuits to Specialized Running Shoes, These Five Innovations Transformed the Olympics
Technology has advanced sports including fencing and pole vaulting
How to Sweat Like an Olympian
This summer, don’t be embarrassed by those pit stains or your drenched workout clothes. Our expert on the science of sweat says perspiration is what makes humans faster, higher and stronger
2024 Olympics Torch and Torchbearer's Uniform Sell at Auction
The sale's big-ticket item, a torch from the 1960 Winter Games, did not end up selling
From Corsets to Singlets, the Olympics Have Driven the Evolution of Women's Sportswear
The bold choices of female athletes like Serena Williams have pushed brands, including Nike and Speedo, to produce better gear
Ten Surprising Public Figures Who Dreamed of Olympic Gold
The list includes European royals, Darth Vader's stunt double and an American World War II general
Paris Mayor Takes a Dip in the Seine Ahead of the Summer Olympics
The city spent $1.5 billion to improve water quality in the river, where several Olympic events are scheduled to take place
The Boozy History of Baba au Rhum
The French are known for their pastries, but few desserts garner as much attention as this dried-out cake resuscitated with rum
Nine Things You Didn't Know About the Ancient Olympic Games
With an intensive athletes’ boot camp and the threat of execution for unwelcome spectators, the Greek sporting event was a serious affair
The Paris Summer Olympics: Smithsonian's Guide to the Games
Prepare yourself for the Paris Olympics with this comprehensive guide to the history, science, arts and thrills of the worldwide celebration
The First Tango in Paris Made a Stir Worth Remembering
As breaking makes its debut at this summer’s Olympics, take a look back more than a century when another dance rocked the City of Lights
How the 1904 Marathon Became One of the Weirdest Olympic Events of All Time
Athletes drank poison, dodged traffic, stole peaches and even hitchhiked during the 24.85-mile race in St. Louis
Will the Bistro Save France's Rural Villages?
Because these social hubs are the glue holding communities together, a growing movement seeks to protect them on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list
The Paris Games' Mascot, the Olympic Phryge, Boasts a Little-Known Revolutionary Past
The Phrygian cap, also known as the liberty cap, emerged as a potent symbol in 18th-century America and France
Builders Haven't Finished Reconstructing Notre-Dame Cathedral—But Lego Fans Can
Lego is selling a 4,383-piece model of the historic structure ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics
Tennis Icon Venus Williams Scores Her Own Barbie Doll
The plastic (and fantastic) version of Williams is one of nine new Mattel dolls celebrating female athletes
Spend the Night in the Musée d'Orsay's Clock Room on the Evening of the Olympics Opening Ceremony
Airbnb will allow two travelers to book a one-night stay in the storied Paris museum, where they will watch the ceremony from a balcony overlooking the Seine
'Liberty Leading the People' Returns to the Louvre After a Breathtaking Restoration
Eugène Delacroix's 1830 oil painting had been covered in grime and discolored by eight layers of varnish
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