First Modern Olympic Games
The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, reviving the ancient Greek tradition and establishing the world's greatest sporting event.
On April 6, 1896, King George I of Greece opened the first modern Olympic Games in Athens before 60,000 spectators at the newly restored Panathenaic Stadium. The brainchild of French educator Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the Games featured 241 athletes from 14 nations competing in 43 events across 9 sports. There were no gold medals (winners received silver and an olive branch), no women competitors, and no team sports. Greek water carrier Spyridon Louis won the marathon, becoming a national hero. Despite modest scale, the Athens Games established the Olympic Movement and its ideals: international competition, amateur sportsmanship, and the belief that sport could promote peace and understanding among nations.
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