The Olympic Games, held in Athens in 1896, were the first games related to the modern Olympic movement. In many ways, they differed from those sports competitions that are organized in our time, since at that time the main traditions of the Olympics had not yet been formed.
The issue of reviving the Olympic Games was repeatedly discussed in different countries, but this idea was realized only thanks to the efforts of the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin, who created the IOC in 1984. Initially, it was planned to hold the event in 1900, but the organizers feared that after six years of waiting, interest in the games would disappear, and their holding would be meaningless. When choosing a venue for the Olympics, several cities were considered, but in the end they chose Athens to emphasize the connection between the modern movement and the ancient.
The opening ceremony took place on April 6. It, as in our time, included a short speech by the head of state, where the games were held, as well as the performance of the Olympic anthem. But there are also differences: in particular, in 1896 there was not yet an oath of athletes. 241 people were allowed to participate in the Olympics, moreover, there were no athletes among them. Competitions were held in 9 sports: athletics, shooting, artistic gymnastics, Greco-Roman wrestling, swimming, cycling, weightlifting, tennis and fencing.
At the Olympic Games in Athens, it was not yet customary to divide athletes according to their nationality, so the IOC members had to find out which of the fourteen participating countries won medals in a particular sport many years later. The problem was also that mixed teams participated in the tennis competition. In addition, some athletes had citizenship of one country, but actually lived in another. Nevertheless, partly it was possible to come to an agreement and distribute medals, although there are still controversial points.
Much to the chagrin of the Greeks, at the 1896 Olympics, the first places were mostly occupied by foreigners. The Americans won gold in triple jumping and discus throwing competitions, as well as in the 100 and 400 m sprint. Paul Masson of France won the sprint race and the 2000 and 10000 m cycling races. Among the weightlifters, the best were Englishman Launceston Elliot and the Dane Viggo Jensen. The Germans distinguished themselves in the wrestling and gymnastics competitions, and the Hungarian Alfred Hayos won the swimming competition. The Greeks won medals for victory in running, revolver and army rifle shooting and foil fencing. The mixed Anglo-German team won the tennis competition.
