1896-1976:80th anniversaryof the first Olympic Gamesby Otto Szymiczek,Dean of the International Olympic Academy

To commemorate this anniversary weare printing “Athens 1896”, the firstpart of the lecture given by Mr. OttoSzymiczek to the 15th Session of theInternational Olympic Academy atOlympia. We would sincerely like tothank the author, who is Dean of theIOA, Technical Adviser of the HellenicOlympic Committee, and President ofthe International Athletic Coaches Fe-deration.

The ancient Olympic Games were recordedhistorically for the first time in the year 776BC when the Elian Koroebos won the firstOlympiad. These Games were held in Olym-pia, as testified by ancient writers who alsomention the truce agreement which wassigned in 884 BC between the Elians, thePisans and the Spartans. After a glorioushistory which lasted for 1169 years theancient Olympic Games were then abolishedby a decree of Theodosius the Great.The idea of reviving the ancient OlympicGames on a world-wide scale was not onlydue to a few cultivated admirers of theGreek past, but the result of the wholepedagogic ideology bequeathed to Europeby the classicism of the 17th century andthe humanism of the 18th century throughthe dissemination and cultivation of theclassic Hellenic education. When peaceprevailed again in Europe after the Napo-leonic wars, physical exercise began toplay a major role in European customs, andgymnastic and athletic festivals began to beheld in France, England, Germany, Switzer-land, the United States, etc. The movementcontinually growing up around sport led tothe idea that the beneficial effect of exer-cise could be used for the overall educationof youth.

The French historian and pedagogue, Pierrede Coubertin, understood the value of the

ORIGIN

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educational elements which are containedin the Olympic idea. He conceived the ideaof reviving the Olympic Games and devotedhis whole life to the development ofOlympism. He presented his ideas for thefirst time in November 1892 with a concreteproposal for the revival of the OlympicGames.

This year, 80 years have elapsed since thetime Coubertin, on 23rd June 1894, at thefirst International Congress of the Represen-tatives of Sports Associations in the amphi-theatre of the Sorbonne, succeeded inobtaining a unanimous decision on therevival of the historic institution of the Olym-pic Games. At the proposal of the Greekrepresentative, the scholar Dimitrios Vikelas,it was decided that the first Games would beheld in Athens in 1896. At this same meetingthe first International Olympic Committeewas set up with Dimitrios Vikelas asPresident, Pierre de Coubertin as SecretaryGeneral, and the following members: ErnestCallot (France), General de Boutowski(Russia), Colonel Victor Balck (Sweden),Prof. William M. Sloane (United States), JiriGuth-Jarkovsky (Bohemia), Fr. Franz Keme-ny (Hungary), Lord Ampthill (Great Britain),C. Herbert (Great Britain), Prof. J. B. Zubiaur(Argentine), Leonard A. Cuff (New Zealand),Count Lucchesi Palli (Italy) and CountMaxime de Bousies (Belgium).

Coubertin initially wanted the first OlympicGames to be held in Paris in 1900, becausehe wished to combine the celebration of theGames with the world exhibition. scheduledfor that year in order to give world-widepromotion to the Olympic idea. However, theproposal of the Greek Vikelas was acceptedby the representatives at the Congressbecause it was thought that the revivedGames should begin their new coursethrough history in the country in which theywere born, and Athens would constitute astrong link between the historic past and thenew era.

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PREPARATIONThe idea of the revival of the Games wasaccepted by the Greek people with great en-thusiasm. The Greek press praised the Con-gress of Paris for its decision. However theGovernment, headed by Prime Minister Hari-laos Tricoupis, faced with the responsibilityof organising this major international eventat a time when it was plagued with conside-rable financial difficulties and on the brinkof bankruptcy, refused any commitment andrejected the proposal. There followed asocial and political uproar and the wholeidea was in jeopardy. Coubertin arrived inAthens in November 1894; he convened ameeting of sports officials and set up an Or-ganising Committee to which he entrustedthe task of preparing and holding the Ga-mes. But the Organising Committee, influen-ced by the opposition and the fears of theGovernment, remained inactive and many ofits members resigned. Crown Prince Cons-tantine (1868-1923), grandfather of thesailing gold medallist at the Rome OlympicGames in 1960, decided to take matters inhand. He set up a new 12-member Commit-tee under his chairmanship, and it held itsfirst meeting on 13th January 1895.In order to find the necessary funds for theorganisation and the construction of sportsfacilities, the Committee organised col-lections inside the country and among theGreeks living abroad. For the reconstructionof the ancient Panathenean Stadium in mar-ble the Greek Georgios Averof (1818-1899)donated 920,000 drs and the architectAnastasios Metaxas designed the plans.The sale of the first Olympic stamps in theworld brought in a sum of 400,000drs. Thesestamps are of great value today to collectorsand a unique collection can be found in theInternational Olympic Academy’s Museum ofthe Modern Olympic Games in the village ofOlympia. Vast sums were also collected fromthe sale of artistic commemorative medalsand from gate-receipts.From the very beginning the Hellenic Olym-pic Committee met all organisation problemswith decisiveness and promptitude due to itsexperience in staging regional Olympic,Pan-Hellenic and other games in previousyears. In record time, only 14 months, all thecommittees managed to fulfil their allottedtasks by intensive work and real dedication.The programme of the Games was prepared,and the rules for the various events and cir-culars were issued in three languages, En-glish, French and Greek.

A velodrome was built at Neon Phaleron anda shooting range in Kallithea, together withseveral other facilities for the organisation ofthe 43 events of the nine sports on the pro-gramme. Track and field events, gymnastics,wrestling and weightlifting were to be heldat the Panathenean Stadium, shooting at thenew Kallithea shooting range, fencing in theZappeion exhibition building, swimming inthe bay of Zea at Piraeus, cycling events inthe new Neon Phaleron velodrome andtennis at the Athens tennis club, near thetemple of Olympian Zeus. The restoration ofthe ancient Panathenean Stadium withmarble from Mount Penteli near Athens wasa real technical feat. The lower tier wascompleted within 14 months. The upper tierwas perfunctorily arranged with woodenseats and the marble reconstruction wascompleted after the Games. The ancientPanathenean Stadium was first built in 329BC. Heracleitus, son of Athmoneus, repairedit in 250 BC. During the 2nd century AD theStadium was renovated and richly decoratedby the Athenian sophist, Herod, son ofAtticus. He also built the “Theatre of HerodAtticus” at the foot of the Acropolis, and hedecorated the stadium of Delphi; his wife,Regilla, built the aquaduct by the Altis ofOlympia.

311 athletes from the following 13 countriesparticipated in the first Olympiad of Athens:Australia (1), Austria (4), Bulgaria (1), Chile(1), Denmark (4), Germany (19), France (19),Greece (230), Great Britain (8), Sweden (1),Switzerland (1), Hungary (8), USA (14). Thelarge majority of foreign athletes came tothe Games on their own initiative and attheir own expense since very few countrieshad organised National Olympic Commit-tees.

The first Olympic Games of the modern erabegan in Athens on 24th March 1896—5thApril by the new calendar—Easter Sunday,with the unveiling of the marble statueof the benefactor Georgios Averof, erec-ted in the square in front of the Panathe-nean Stadium, the’ work of the talentedGreek sculptor Georgios Vroutos. On thefollowing day, 25th March 1896—the day ofthe Greek national holiday—80,000 peoplegathered in the stadium, on the tiers and inthe passages, and thronged the hillssurrounding the stadium, the square in frontof it and the adjacent streets.

After the arrival of the royal family, theChairman of the Organising Committee,

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1896 - The Olympic Stadium

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Crown Prince Constantine, delivered aninspired speech. The grandiose openingceremony of the Games of the first Olympiaddeeply moved the crowds inside and outsidethe stadium. King George I declared theGames open and then the Olympic Hymnwas played, a composition by the musicianSpyros Samaras on a poem by the Greeknational poet, Costis Palamas. The largechoir and the bands of the army, navy, muni-cipality of Athens and the provinces wereconducted by the composer himself. Theeffect was so impressive that the crowddemanded an encore.

THE COMPETITIONS

At the end of the Hymn, the trumpeterssounded the arrival of the contestants andthe beginning of the Games. The first eventwas the 100 metres in three heats. Thencame the triple jump, won by the AmericanJames Connolly with 13.71 m., who was thusthe first Olympic victor of the modernGames. His performance was written on aspecial board while the American flag washoisted on a high pole at the entrance of thestadium.

During the first Olympic Games, only thenames of the first and second winners weregiven. The first received a diploma, a silvermedal and an olive wreath, the second adiploma, a bronze medal and a laurelwreath. All participating athletes received acommemorative medal. The winners’ medalwas designed by the French sculptor JulesChaplain, the commemorative medal by theGreek sculptor and engraver, NikiphorosLytras and the diploma by the famous Greekpainter, Nicolaos Gyzis. All the prizes werepresented by King George I on the last dayof the Games (the tenth day), 3rd April.

Among the sports events on the programme,Greek discus throwing and the marathonrace were held for the first time. The rulesfor Greek discus throwing were drawn up onthe basis of a description by Philostratos inhis work “Eikones” in the 2nd century AD.The marathon race was introduced on theproposal of Michel Bréal who also offered aspecial prize for the winner. Such an eventwas not included in the programme of theancient Games. The longest distance thatwas run in Olympia was the 24 stadia (about4,500 m.) of the dolichos race. The Frenchwriter and philhellene, Michel Bréal, wasinspired by the historic event of the

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Athenian soldier who arrived panting in theagora of Athens after the great victory of theAthenians against the Persians at Marathon(490 BC) and after shouting the words“Rejoice, we have won”, died, and Bréalproposed that a long-distance race be heldfrom Marathon to Athens. Coubertin accept-ed the proposal and the event caused greatenthusiasm among the crowds of the firstOlympiad. Today, the marathon race isconsidered the most important event of theOlympic Games.

The superiority of the American athletes inthe track and field events was evidentthroughout the competitions. The most im-portant American athletes were Burke (100m. in 12 seconds and 400 m. in 54.2 se-conds), Curtis (110 m. hurdles in 17.6seconds), Clark (high jump with 1.81 m. andlong jump with 6.35 m.), Hoyt (pole vault),Connolly (triple jump with 13.71 m.) andGarrett (discus with 29.15 m. and shot putwith 11.22 m.). The Australian Flack won the800 m. and 1500 m. races and the GreekSpiridon Louys the marathon race.

It is true that the performances achievedduring the Games were not in any wayspectacular; world records at that time wereat much higher levels. Of course no compa-rison can be made with present recordsbecause of the great progress achieved inthe field of training and preparation and theimprovement in technical facilities, tracks,etc.

As regards performances during the AthensGames it should be stressed in particularthat the shape of the track of the ancientstadium could hardly contribute to goodresults, especially during the races, becauseof the sharp turns and the difference of 1.90m. in level existing between the entranceand the opposite end of the stadium. Inaddition the track had just been completedand could not provide sufficient resistanceto the runners. There was a reason why theancient stadium was built with these sharpturns; the ancient Greeks were notinterested in records and performances butin the Games and the competition, and theywanted to allow the crowds of spectators tobe close to the athletes, to feel and sharetheir effort.

Weightlifting included two events: liftingwith one hand and lifting with two hands.The events were won by the EnglishmanElliott and the Dane Jensen. Wrestling was

held for only one class, which was won bythe German Schumann. The Frenchmen andGreeks distinguished themselves in fencingand cycling, while the shooting events werewon by the Greeks and the American Painebrothers. A marathon cycle race was alsoheld, over a distance of 87 km, won by theGreek Constantinidis, as well as a 12-hourcycle race won by the Austrian Schmall. TheGerman athletes won most of the gymnasticevents, but the Swiss Zutter won the rings.The Hungarian Hajos won the swimmingevent and the Englishman Boland was thewinner in lawn tennis. The rowing andsailing events were cancelled due to incle-ment weather, as were the cricket and waterpolo events for lack of participation.

During the 1896 Olympics many athletesentered for several events, often unrelated toone another. At that time athletes did notspecialise in one event as they do today andsome peculiar facts could thus be observed.It is said that the American athlete Garrett,the winner of the discus event, only learnedto throw the discus a few days before thebeginning of the Games. He succeeded inbeating his Greek teachers by a few centi-metres, thanks to an excellent throw, to thedismay of the Greek throwers Paraskevopou-los and Versis, who however impressed thecrowd with their plastic and rhythmic move-ments.

The Dane Vigo Jensen won the weightliftingwith one hand and obtained the secondplace in weightlifting with two hands andpistol shooting at 30 m., the third place inshooting with military rifles at 300 m., andthe fourth place in rope climbing. TheDane Holger Nielsen for his part won thethird place in both pistol shooting andfencing with sabres. The German Carl Schu-mann, in spite of his small build, obtainedfour first places: three in gymnastics andone in wrestling.

The athletes entered for the various eventsrather perfunctorily, on the spot, without anyof the strict formalities which are requiredtoday. This explains how the EnglishmanJohn Boland won the lawn tennis singleswhile being in Athens as a tourist. Onhearing that the Games were to be held hedecided to take part. He also won the dou-bles with the German Friedrich Thraun.

The American Thomas Curtis, winner of the110 m. hurdles, recounted that he had seena French athlete who arrived at the starting

line wearing white gloves. When he askedhim why he wore gloves, the Frenchmananswered: “Of course I wear gloves, since Ishall be running in front of the King.” Curtisthen asked him in what event he would becompeting and the answer was “in the 100m. and the marathon race.”

“And how do you train for such differentevents?” The Frenchman answered: “Oneday I run a short distance at a very highspeed and the next day a long distance veryslowly.”

CONCLUSION

All the events were held with exemplaryorder under the continuous applause of thespectators. The marble tiers of the Panathe-nean Stadium were completely full for thewhole length of the Games.

During the ten-day celebrations several artis-tic events were also held, performances ofancient drama (“Medea”, “Antigone”), atorch procession, receptions, concerts, andthe whole city of Athens was lavishly illumi-nated at night.

The first Olympic Games of the modern erawere so successful that the fact that theywere almost cancelled during the prepara-tory stage was soon forgotten. Pierre deCoubertin saw that his expectations werefulfilled and with renewed courage started toplan the future of the Games.

If one were to compare the performances oftoday’s athletes with those of Athens, onewould immediately observe the primitivenature of the first Olympic Games. It ishowever improbable that the world will everagain witness such unbridled enthusiasm,the frenzy of the Greek crowds which relivedin the days of March-April 1896 their historicpast, 2,500 years old.

In 1896 Athens marked the gloriousbeginning of the history of the modernOlympic Games.

O. S.

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