The Olympic Games is the world's biggest sporting extravaganza with athletes from more than 200 countries either attempting to qualify or actually competing in more than two dozen sports over three weeks. There are hundreds of stories from the Games, stretching back to the end of the 19th century, tales of bravery, misery, joy and despair, together with thought-provoking lists and records. ''The Olympic Games Miscellany'' isn't a history book, a biography, an encyclopedia or a records book, but it is a little bit of all of them. All true sports fans will enjoy dipping into these pages and learning about some of the greatest athletes ever to have taken the Olympic Oath.