The Olympics, explained simply — who plays, who wins, how you get there
Education Margdarshan's plain guide to the Summer Olympic Games: how many countries and players take part, how many win and how many go home with nothing, every sport at Los Angeles 2028, how a player is picked, what education you need, and how India has done.
What the Olympic Games are
- The Olympics are the world's biggest sports event. The Summer Games happen once every four years, each time in a different city.
- The next Summer Games are in Los Angeles, USA, from 14 July 2028 — called LA28. It is the third time Los Angeles hosts, after 1932 and 1984. [3]
How many play — and how many go home with a medal
Paris 2024 — the real numbers [1]
| What | Number |
|---|---|
| Teams (countries) that took part | 206 + the Refugee Olympic Team |
| Medal events (one gold each) | 329 (152 women's, 157 men's, 20 mixed) |
| Teams that won at least one medal | 91 + the Refugee Olympic Team |
| Teams that won no medal at all | 115 of the 206 |
| Countries that won their first-ever gold | 4 |
| Olympic records broken | 125 (and 32 world records) |
- The Summer Games have a fixed limit of about 10,500 athletes. LA28 keeps that limit and adds 698 places for its five new sports.
- So roughly 10,500 players fight for 329 golds at Paris. Most Olympians — even very good ones — go home without a medal. Just being selected is already a huge achievement. [2][1]
A medal is decided in each event: gold for first, silver for second, bronze for third. [1]
36 sports — and where to read about each
LA28 has 31 sports chosen by the IOC plus 5 sports added by Los Angeles: baseball/softball, cricket (T20), flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash. In all there are 351 medal events — 161 for women, 165 for men and 25 mixed. [2][4]
LA28 Olympic sports (Margdarshan guide linked where we have one) [3]
| Group | Sports |
|---|---|
| Team games | Football · Hockey · Basketball & 3x3 · Volleyball & beach volleyball · Handball · Rugby sevens · Water polo |
| New for LA28 | Cricket (T20) · Baseball & softball · Flag football · Lacrosse · Squash |
| Combat | Boxing · Wrestling · Judo · Taekwondo · Fencing · Weightlifting |
| Track, gym & aim | Athletics · Gymnastics (artistic, rhythmic, trampoline) · Archery · Shooting · Modern pentathlon · Triathlon |
| Racket sports | Badminton · Tennis · Table tennis |
| Water | Swimming & open water · Diving · Artistic swimming · Rowing · Canoe (slalom & sprint) · Sailing · Surfing |
| Wheels, horses & more | Cycling (road, track, BMX, mountain bike) · Equestrian · Golf · Climbing · Skateboarding |
How a player reaches the Olympics
The usual steps [5][2]
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Play for your state | Win or place at district, state and national championships of your sport |
| 2. Make the national team | Your national federation picks players through trials and results |
| 3. Earn an Olympic place | Each world federation sets the route: world ranking, a qualifying standard (a time, distance or score) or a qualifying tournament |
| 4. Get entered | The country's Olympic committee (IOA) enters the qualified players |
Example — athletics in India: for the 2026 Asian Games, the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships were the only selection trial. Normally one athlete per event who meets the qualifying standard is picked; a second one is added only if the selection committee decides so, and its decision is final. [5]
Meeting a qualifying mark does not guarantee a ticket. Athletes must also keep their whereabouts updated with the federation, and hiding an injury after selection can get you removed from the team. [5]
Is there an age limit? Do you need a degree?
- There is no single Olympic age limit. Each sport sets its own. For example, an LA28 judo player must be born on or before 31 December 2013.
- Teenagers aged up to 17 have their own event: the Youth Olympic Games. The 2026 edition is in Dakar, Senegal, for two weeks from 31 October 2026 — the first Olympic event in Africa. [6][7]
How India has done — and what is next
India's Olympic medals [10][9]
| Games | Medals |
|---|---|
| Rio 2016 | 2 |
| Tokyo 2020 | 7 (Neeraj Chopra won India's first athletics gold) |
| Paris 2024 | 6 — 1 silver, 5 bronze |
At Paris 2024, shooting gave three bronzes (Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, Swapnil Kusale); Neeraj Chopra won silver in javelin, Aman Sehrawat bronze in wrestling, and the men's hockey team bronze again. [9]
India wants to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Amdavad (Ahmedabad). On 7 October 2026 the IOA welcomed the IOC's list of countries in the 2036 host process and said India will present its plan to the IOC's Future Host Commission at the end of November 2026. [11]
Straight answers
Is cricket really in the Olympics now?
Yes. Cricket (T20) is one of the five sports added for LA28, together with baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse and squash. [4]
How many people win a gold medal?
One gold per event. Paris 2024 had 329 events for about 10,500 athletes, and 115 of the 206 teams won no medal at all. [1][2]
Where these facts come from
Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from an official body's own file or a Government of India document below, read on 18 October 2026. Numbers, dates and rules change — open the current file before you act on it.
- IOC — Paris 2024: Record-Breaking Olympic Games on and off the Field (IOC press release) (opens in a new tab) 206 NOCs + Refugee Olympic Team, 329 medal events (152/157/20), 91 NOCs won medals, records, full gender parity · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- IOC — LA28 Event Programme Marks Strong Commitment Towards Innovation and Gender Equality (IOC press release) (opens in a new tab) 351 medal events, core quota 10,500 athletes + 698 for the five added sports, 31 + 5 sports · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- LA28 — 2028 Olympic Games Plan (opens in a new tab) Every LA28 Olympic sport and discipline; Games start 14 July 2028; LA hosted 1932 and 1984 · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- LA28 — Addition of baseball/softball, cricket, flag football, lacrosse and squash confirmed at the 141st IOC Session (16 Oct 2023) (opens in a new tab) The five sports added for LA28 · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- Athletics Federation of India — Qualification guidelines for selection of the Indian team for Asian Games 2026 (8 May 2026) (opens in a new tab) Inter-State Seniors as the only trial, exemptions, one athlete per event, whereabouts, injury disclosure · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- International Judo Federation — LA28 Qualification System (opens in a new tab) Judo age rule for LA28 (born on or before 31 Dec 2013) · Last checked 17 Oct 2026
- IOC — Dakar 2026 advances venue and legacy plans as Youth Olympic Games preparations intensify (IOC press release) (opens in a new tab) YOG Dakar 2026: two weeks from 31 October, athletes aged up to 17, first Olympic event in Africa · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Cabinet approves National Sports Policy 2025 (1 Jul 2025) (opens in a new tab) Dual-career pathways, sport integrated with education, 2036 Olympic goal · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — Year End Review 2024: Department of Sports (20 Dec 2024) (opens in a new tab) India's 6 medals at Paris 2024 and who won them · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- PIB — The Making of a Sporting Nation (27 Jul 2026) (opens in a new tab) India's Olympic medals: Rio 2016 (2), Tokyo 2020 (7), Paris 2024 (6) · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
- Indian Olympic Association — India sets out vision for its 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games ambition (7 Oct 2026) (opens in a new tab) IOA as India's Olympic committee; 2036 bid centred on Amdavad; Future Host Commission presentation · Last checked 18 Oct 2026
Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and Education Margdarshan will update it.