History of the Modern Games
When were the first modern Olympic Games held?
The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to 15, 1896. They were the fruit of the efforts of French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who wanted to revive the ancient Olympic tradition and promote the idea of peace and international cooperation through sport. They were modeled on the first documented games held in Greece in 776 BC. For 1,000 years, the most important sports games were held at Olympia in honor of Zeus, the most important god in Greek mythology.
On Easter Monday, April 6, 1896, at the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, the Greek King George I, accompanied by an orchestra and choir, opened the Games of the 1st Olympiad. The first in modern history. The stadium could accommodate 80,000 fans, but the competitions were watched from the surrounding hills by many more people – almost 100,000 on the first day.
The first modern games were attended by 295 athletes from 14 countries. 43 events were held in nine disciplines.
The first modern Olympic Games were a success and paved the way for the regular organization of subsequent editions of the games. Although the scale of the event was modest compared to modern games, they were of great historical significance. They initiated the international Olympic movement, which to this day promotes the ideals of peace, friendship and fair play through sport.
The modern Olympic Games have become one of the most important sporting events in the world, bringing together athletes from different countries and cultures, competing in a spirit of mutual respect and sportsmanship.
Let's start from the beginning...
The modern Olympic Games are an extension of the tradition of the ancient games, which were held from the 8th century BCE to the 6th century CE in Olympia, Greece. The initiative to revive the event came from Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937), a French educator, historian, and athlete. He came from an aristocratic and well-off family that placed great importance on education, but from his youth he was interested in physical education and the value of sport as an educational tool. Coubertin was convinced that sport could contribute to the physical, moral, and intellectual development of young people and promote international understanding and peace.
When he was eleven, his parents – Charles and Marie Marcelle – sent him to study at the College of St. Ignatius, a school run by the Jesuits. It was the classes taught by the monks that were one of the foundations of Pierre’s later Olympic fascination. The college was famous for its high level of teaching classical languages – Latin and Greek. Thanks to his knowledge of the latter, the teenage de Coubertin could immerse himself in the works of ancient writers. He was particularly fond of themes related to Olympia. The Jesuits left another mark on the young man; Pierre’s school cultivated rivalry between students. Young people fought for better grades in gymnastics, the opportunity to serve at mass, and even a good place in the canteen. This form of education shaped characters. The French visionary very quickly noticed that sports could also be used to educate. During one of his trips to England, he met William Penny Brookes. Both gentlemen were united by their interest in the Olympic Games. In 1894, he convened an International Congress at the Sorbonne in Paris, where he presented his plan in detail. The participants were impressed and, together with the initiator, decided that the event would be organized every four years, each time by a different city. Only amateur men could take part in the sports competition (until 1928, women were consistently refused entry). In Paris, Pierre de Coubertin was also convinced to entrust the premiere edition, planned for 1900, to Athens. It was to be a tribute to the ancient Greeks. On April 6, 1896, King George uttered the famous words “I declare the first international Olympic Games in Athens open. Long live the participating nations! Long live the Greek people!” Athletes competed in gymnastics, cycling, athletics, swimming, weightlifting, shooting, fencing, tennis and wrestling. Only men could participate in the competitions.
First disciplines
At the first Games in 1896, athletes competed in traditional disciplines that had their roots in the ancient Games. The first modern Olympic Games featured 43 events in 9 disciplines, including:
Athletics: Remains the central discipline of the Games, with a variety of running, throwing, and jumping events.
Gymnastics: Evolved to include different types, such as artistic and artistic gymnastics.
Swimming: Developed, adding new styles and distances.
Cycling: Expanded to include track cycling, road cycling, and BMX.
Soccer: Became a major team sport, introduced in 1900.
Basketball and volleyball: Added in 1936 and 1964, respectively, they became very popular. Winter sports: The introduction of the Winter Games in 1924 introduced sports such as skiing, skating and ice hockey.
Evolution of sports disciplines
Over the years, new sports have been added to the Olympic program and others have been removed. As the popularity of the games and sports has grown, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has made changes to reflect changing interests and trends in sports.
)