text: The show was created for the EBU by Guy Lux and Claude Savarit from the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF) as an international version of their own show Intervilles, which was first broadcast in 1962 in France. In non-French-speaking countries, Jeux sans frontières has alternative titles in the corresponding local languages. It is also widely known in English as It's a Knockout, the title of the BBC's domestic version that was its national selection for the international competition. The show spawned a winter version held in ski resorts, and single-episode Christmas specials.
  History
  The idea of the show came from French President Charles de Gaulle, whose wish was that French and German youth would meet in a series of games to reinforce the friendship between the two countries. In 1965, Guy Lux and Claude Savarit from the Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF), and creators of Intervilles, spread this idea to other broadcasters within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Teams representing France, West Germany, Belgium, and Italy took part in the first edition of the show held that same year with the title Inter Nations Games.
  At the height of its popularity, Jeux sans frontières was watched by 110 million viewers across Europe. The original series ended in 1982. It was revived in 1988, with a different mix of countries. In its later editions, it was hosted by smaller broadcasters, with the notable exception of Italy's RAI, which hosted three editions with a fixed location in 1996, 1998, and 1999.