1896Primary sourceWell documented
The Revival of the Olympics
On the timeline · around 1896 · Revival & the Early Modern Games
What happened
Inspired by the ancient Greeks and by the excavation of Olympia, reformers revived the Olympic Games in 1896, holding the first modern Olympics in Athens. It brought together amateur athletes from around the world in a new international sporting competition, staged in a marble stadium before enthusiastic crowds.
Why it matters
The 1896 revival created the modern Olympic movement, reborn after some 1,500 years. From a modest gathering it would grow into the largest and most-watched sporting event on earth.
Sources
- Library of Congress. Olympics: Topics in Chronicling America · Primary source
Related timelines
- Ancient Greece → — The modern games revived an ancient Greek tradition