The Olympiad in ancient Greece was a period of four years between Olympic Games, used in dating events. The first Olympiad was held in Greece in 776 BC. However, the first Olympic Games held under the flag of the International Olympic Committee were held in Athens in 1896 in which 13 countries participated with 295 players.

The Olympic Games have since then been held every four years, each time in a different country. These have been held in Paris, Saint Louis, London, Stockholm, Antwerp, Paris, Amsterdam, Los Angeles,

Berlin, London, Helsinki, Melbourne, , Rome, Tokyo, Mexico, Munich, Montreal, Moscow, Los Angeles, Seoul, Barcelona and now in Atlanta, U.S.A. The Olympic movement in the United Arab Emirates was initiated by the setting up of the National Olympic Committee on 19 December, 1979 , and was accepted as a member of the International Olympic' Committee on 11 June, 1980.

The United Arab Emirates has participated in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984 for the fIrst time, then in Seoul in 1988, and in Barcelona in 1992. It will also take part in the Games due to be held in Atlanta in 1996 .It will compete in four games: shooting, cycling, athletic and swimming.