Modern day Olympics
As a Classics enthusiast and athlete, I am drawn to the Ancient Olympics for its commitment to overall human excellence.
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Equally interesting is how the values embodied over 3,000 years ago still endure today. Our modern-day olympics are a celebration of human achievement, resilience, and diversity.
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How the modern-day Olympics came to be
A brief history
Revival of the Olympics games
The ancient Greek games ended in 393 AD when the Roman Emperor Theodosius I, in an effort to grow the Christian faith, put an end to the games because of their pagan roots. Interest in the games never completely died and in 1894 a French baron named Pierre de Coubertin formed the first International Olympic Committee which soon after launched the first Olympic games of modern times in 1896 hosted by Athens, Greece.
Revival to Global Phenomenon
Of course, since 1896, the Olympic Games have grown in scope and prestige. What began as a modest revival has transformed into a global event, bringing together athletes from nearly every nation to compete on the world stage. The Games have evolved to include a wide variety of sports and now showcase both summer and winter competitions, This year’s summer Olympics will host 10,500 athletes representing 206 countries and competing in 32 sports and over 300 events.
First modern-day Olympics: humble beginnings
In the 1896 Athens games, 280 male athletes from 13 nations competed in 43 events, covering track-and-field, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, wrestling, weightlifting, fencing, shooting, tennis - and the first ever marathon. Though not as popular, de Coubertin persevered and became the IOC President in 1896 and never giving up on his vision for a truly international competition. In 1924, the first truly successful Olympic Games were held in Paris, involving more than 3,000 athletes, including more than 100 women, from 44 nations. The first Winter Olympic Games were also held that year.
An Athletics Juggernaut
Of course, since 1896 and 1924, the Olympic games have grown in scope and prestige. In the 2024 summer Olympics hosted 10,500 athletes representing 206 countries and competing in 32 sports and over 300 events.