The very first Olympic Games were held back in 776 BC. in Olympia. According to legend, the athletes performed in front of Zeus himself. Competitions lasted until 394 BC, until they were banned by Emperor Theodosius I. The new Olympic movement - the one that everyone knows today - began in 1896 in Athens.
In the 18th century, during archaeological excavations at Olympia, scientists discovered ancient sports facilities. But archaeologists soon ceased to study them. And only 100 years later, the Germans joined the study of the discovered objects. At the same time, for the first time, they started talking about the possibility of reviving the Olympic movement.
The main inspirer of the revival of the Olympic movement was the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who helped German researchers to study the discovered monuments. He also had his own interest in the development of this project, since he believed that it was the weak physical training of the French soldiers that caused their defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. In addition, the baron wanted to create a movement that would unite young people and help establish friendly relations between different countries. In 1894, he voiced his proposals at the international congress, where it was decided to hold the first Olympic Games in their homeland, Athens.
The first Games became a real discovery for the whole world and were held with great success. A total of 241 athletes from 14 countries took part in them. The success of this event inspired the Greeks so much that they suggested that Athens be the venue for the Olympics on a permanent basis. However, the first International Olympic Committee, which was founded two years before the start of the first Games, rejected this idea and decided that it was necessary to establish rotation between states for the right to host the Olympics every four years.
The I International Olympic Games were held from 6 to 15 April 1896. Only men took part in the competition. 10 sports were taken as a basis. These are classic wrestling, cycling, gymnastics, athletics, swimming, shooting, tennis, weightlifting, fencing. In all these disciplines, 43 sets of medals were played. The Greek Olympians became the leaders, the Americans were in second place, the Germans received the bronze.
The organizers of the first Games wanted to make them an amateur competition, in which professionals could not take part. Indeed, according to the members of the IOC committee, those athletes who have a material interest initially have an advantage over amateurs. And this is not fair.
