The Olympic Games
The Olympic Games, originally created to honor Zeus, was the most important national festival of the ancient Greeks. However, all competitions involved individual competitors instead of teams. Winning an Olympic contest was regarded more highly than winning a battle and was proof of personal excellence. The winners were presented with garlands, crowned with olive wreaths, and viewed as national heroes. The original Olympic Games are generally agreed upon to have been first recorded in 776 BC in Olympia Greece, celebrated until AD 393.
Pierre de Fredy, the Baron de Coubertin, was the founder of the modern Olympic Movement. He was born in 1863 to a French aristocrat family. He was an avid sportsman as a young man with rowing being one of his favorites. Influenced by the events of the late 19th century and his education, Coubertin developed a passionate belief that sport possessed the power to benefit mankind and encourage peace among the nations of the world.
Coubertin drew his inspiration from the ancient Olympic Games. After visits to England and the United States, Coubertin formulated a plan to revive the Games. His vision was realized, in June 1894, when delegates meeting in Paris voted to hold modern Olympic Games at Athens in 1896.
Coubertin was the driving force behind the modern Olympic Movement. He became president of the International Olympic Committee in 1896 and held that post for 29 years. Over that time, Coubertin committed his life and his fortune to the establishment and growth of the modern Olympic Games. He died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1937.
An Olympiad is a period of four years, the beginning of which is marked by the celebration of the Olympic Games. The first modern Olympiad was celebrated by the 1896 Athens Games. Each Olympiad is designated by Roman numerals. The 1996 Atlanta Games, for example, were the Games of the XXVI Olympiad. The 2000 Sydney Games were the Games of the XXVII Olympiad.
The year in which the Olympic Games are to be held cannot be changed. If the Games are canceled for any reason, the number of the Olympiad remains. Although World War I caused the 1916 Games to be canceled, the period from 1912 to 1916 remains the VI Olympiad of the modern era.
Pierre de Fredy, the Baron de Coubertin, was the founder of the modern Olympic Movement. He was born in 1863 to a French aristocrat family. He was an avid sportsman as a young man with rowing being one of his favorites. Influenced by the events of the late 19th century and his education, Coubertin developed a passionate belief that sport possessed the power to benefit mankind and encourage peace among the nations of the world.
Coubertin drew his inspiration from the ancient Olympic Games. After visits to England and the United States, Coubertin formulated a plan to revive the Games. His vision was realized, in June 1894, when delegates meeting in Paris voted to hold modern Olympic Games at Athens in 1896.
Coubertin was the driving force behind the modern Olympic Movement. He became president of the International Olympic Committee in 1896 and held that post for 29 years. Over that time, Coubertin committed his life and his fortune to the establishment and growth of the modern Olympic Games. He died in Geneva, Switzerland in 1937.
An Olympiad is a period of four years, the beginning of which is marked by the celebration of the Olympic Games. The first modern Olympiad was celebrated by the 1896 Athens Games. Each Olympiad is designated by Roman numerals. The 1996 Atlanta Games, for example, were the Games of the XXVI Olympiad. The 2000 Sydney Games were the Games of the XXVII Olympiad.
The year in which the Olympic Games are to be held cannot be changed. If the Games are canceled for any reason, the number of the Olympiad remains. Although World War I caused the 1916 Games to be canceled, the period from 1912 to 1916 remains the VI Olympiad of the modern era.