On April 6, 1896, Athens, Greece, made history by hosting the first modern Olympic Games, reviving the tradition after more than 1,500 years of inactivity. To promote national unity and peaceful coexistence among nations, the visionary Pierre de Coubertin revived the Olympic Games, drawing inspiration from ancient Greece.

Athletes from ancient Greece first participated in the Olympic Games at Olympia in 776 BCE, and religious and cultural practices played a significant role. However, the games ceased when the Roman Empire took control, and in 393 CE, Emperor Theodosius I officially banned them. Through his vision, De Coubertin started a new tradition in which Athens served perfectly as the beginning point because it represented the cradle of ancient Games.

The event established the foundational principles of the worldwide Olympic system, which proceeded through periods of two global wars. The 1896 Games hosted 280 male competitors from 13 nations at nine sports venues, including gymnastics and track and field. The Panathenaic Stadium, which had been restored using brilliant white marble, served as the main venue. Equipped with 80,000 passionate spectators, they filled the stands to support Greece as its people took the spotlight in this newly emerging worldwide movement.

The marathon event was the most unforgettable contest since it stemmed from Pheidippides’ legendary tale. Greek runner Spyridon Louis emerged victorious during the race to win national and international acclaim while representing two symbolic qualities of heroism and endurance.

Legacy

With its global reach, the modern Olympic Movement started its evolution through this ritual. It preserved a standard four-year event structure that survived two world wars. The early Games featured only male athletes, but the Olympics eventually introduced women (1900), the torch relay (1936), and gender equality measures, shaping it into today’s global sporting event.