Today is the 120th anniversary of the first modern Olympic games, which started in Athens, Greece in 1896. The Games were first held in Ancient Greece and were revived by baron Pierre de Coubertin.
The International Olympic Committee was founded in 1894 with the aim of organizing the games. Macedonian Dimitrios Vikellas was the president. Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the general secretary of the Committee and renowned personalities from various countries were members.
The first modern Olympic Games were very successful. Although the athletes who took part were no more than 250, it was the biggest sport event ever to be made, according to Wikipedia. Greek officials and spectators were excited and asked to monopolize the games.
National benefactor
Track-and-field events, gymnastics, weightlifting, fencing, the opening and closing ceremony, as well as the end of marathon training were held at the Panathenaic Stadium, which was restored, thanks to the national benefactor, Georgios Averof.
The games lasted ten days. They started on March 25, so that the day the Greek revolution of 1821 would be celebrated, too. The date, according to the modern calendar, is April 6, established as Olympic Day.
During the following years, Olympic Games were overshadowed by world fairs and lacked popular support. However, the 1906 Intercalated Games attracted a considerable number of international participation and large publicity, inaugurating a new era in the history of the Games.
Source:greekreporter.com
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