The Start of the Winter Olympics The Winter Olympics is pivotal in the world of winter sports. It’s where the best of the best from around the world go to compete in their chosen sport and see who will come out on top while millions of people watch them. How, though, did the Winter Olympics get its start? The Winter Olympics started five years after the first modern Olympics was held, with the competition taking place eight different times between 1901 and 1926. For all but one of these times, the games (known then as the Nordic Games, as the competitors were predominantly from Nordic countries) were hosted in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1911, a member of the International Olympic Committee suggested either the inclusion of winter sports in the 1912 Olympics, as they were held in Stockholm that year, or an entirely new Winter Olympics held later in the year. Fearing for the Nordic Games, Sweden refused, but in 1920 Nordic protests were ignored in favor of adding winter sports to the competition. It took two years to reach an agreement between the International Olympic Committee and the Nordic countries, and the Games in 1924 proved successful as the Nordic countries ended with 30 of the 49 medals awarded that year. Norway, in particular, topped the medals table with 17 total. This would be what’s truly the first Winter Olympics, though, at the time, it was referred to as International Sports Week and not an officially-sanctioned event. About 250 athletes competed in these Games from 16 different countries with 16 different events. The Winter Olympics as we know it came about the following year since the International Olympic Committee modified its charter to create an entirely new competition dedicated to winter sports. The 1928 Games, held that year in St. Moritz, Switzerland, were officially declared to be the second Winter Olympics. These Games had drawn in 214 additional competitors compared to the first Games, with 464 athletes competing for the gold. Since then, the Winter Olympic Games have been held every four years. Originally, they were hosted in the same calendar year as the Summer Olympics, but due to cost and logistics, the schedule was changed, so there was a two-year off-set between the events. Since the change for the 1992 Winter Games and 1994 Summer Games, the competitions have altered in even-numbered years.
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Simple Summer Outfits for Men First impressions are everything, and the weather being hot doesn’t mean you should slack on looking nice. Now, unless you’re going to an event that requires it, no one is expecting you to wear a suit and tie, but it’s still easy to look stylish no matter how busy you are. Whether you’re heading out to the bar or getting ready for date night, these summer outfit ideas are simple and sure to make your first impression a good one. ●
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Unbuttoned Button-Up: A button-up can take almost any outfit and make it look fashionable, no matter whether or not you actually button the shirt. If you’re going out with some friends, throw a button-up on over a T-shirt and pair it with chinos and loafers. This will give you a nice, casual look. Keep the shades of your outfit in mind as well. Elevated Jeans and T-Shirt: This is perfect for running errands or going for a quick walk. While falling into the thought process of your appearance not mattering while running errands is a slippery slope to fall down, keep in mind that you never know who you’ll run into out on the street. Elevated jeans, a T-shirt, and a nice jacket will make you look casual, yet trendy. Madras Short Sleeve: Summer gets hot, and sometimes anything with sleeves is just too much. Luckily, your options aren’t limited due to a lack of sleeves. Take out a short-sleeve madras shirt, pair it with dark shorts and white sneakers, and you’ll be set. Low Contrast Casual: Sometimes, you don’t have to put much work into your outfit at all to be stylish. A casual look of a T-shirt, shorts, and white sneakers is perfect for hot summer days, whether you’re going out for the night or walking along the boardwalk on the beach. Low contrast hues, such as with a yellow shirt and khaki shorts, make this look work beautifully. Modern Classic: If you’re going out on a breezy summer night, grab a tan jacket, yellow T-shirt, light wash jeans, and white sneakers. The look is a classic and, like with the above, the low contrast between the tan, blue, and yellow work to make you stand out (and give you visual height).
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Traveling During COVID-19: What You Need to Know As places slowly begin to open back up, taking a summer vacation with your family looks more and more like a possibility. Despite this, federal guidelines state that travel still isn’t recommended, though, with relaxed restrictions, it’s your choice as to whether or not you’d like to venture out somewhere new. Outdoor attractions are going to be the most popular destinations this summer for sure, but you’ll want to avoid large crowds, which means finding somewhere that everyone else isn’t going to. Here’s what you need to know about taking a summer vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where to Go Currently, beaches in Los Angeles, Maryland, Florida, and more along the East Coast have opened back up to the public, though many have restrictions in place to keep within the federal guidelines (a prime example being social distancing). Hotels, in turn, have slowly begun to pick up in occupancy after a tremendous drop the past few months, and many people have started to fly nationally again. Transit services have opened themselves to tourists again, and restaurants and bars have made themselves tourist-friendly destinations as well (albeit with restrictions as well, such as having outdoor seating only, requiring reservations, limiting how long a party can stay at their table, and requiring masks be worn whenever anyone goes indoors). Landmarks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park have reopened to the public, while others such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame only have plans to reopen thus far. Other big-time attractions, including the Empire State Building and the Walt Disney Company theme parks, face more uncertainty, even as they do plan on reopening as well. Luckily, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released guidelines to help along with the reopening of businesses while protecting against the spread of COVID-19.
How to Prepare for Travel The CDC recommends staying home as much as possible, especially if you’re immunocompromised and more susceptible to falling ill with the virus, but there are still things you can do to offset catching the virus if you choose to travel anyway. Wash your hands thoroughly and practice social distancing at least 6 feet away from others. Wear a face mask while in public, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and when ordering food, use a drive-thru or curbside pickup.
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If you’re planning a road trip, take nonperishable food and water with you just in case you can’t find any open restaurants or stores on your route to your destination. Rest stops may be closed, so be prepared for that, and plan any lodging you may need well in advance. Make sure to disinfect any surfaces that may be touched a lot, and keep as clean as possible to lower the risk of exposure.
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