Olympus Awakens: Athens Revives Ancient Games
Evangelos Zappas organized the first modern Olympic Games in Athens on November 15, 1859, decades before Pierre de Coubertin's more famous 1896 revival. Zappas, a wealthy Greek businessman, financed the restoration of the ancient Panathenaic Stadium and invited athletes from across Greece and the Ottoman Empire to compete. The games included running, throwing, jumping, and climbing events. They were not well organized: spectators invaded the field, judges were accused of bias, and several events descended into chaos. Subsequent Zappian Olympics were held in 1870 and 1875. Coubertin studied these efforts and incorporated their lessons into the 1896 International Olympic Games, which welcomed athletes from 14 nations. Zappas's role as the true pioneer of the modern Olympics was largely forgotten until Greek historians revived his legacy.
November 15, 1859
167 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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