Guernsey Press

On This Day: The birth of the modern Olympic Games in 1896

Nine sports were contested in Athens and all of them remain on the Games programme.

Published

On the face of it, the programme for the first modern Olympic Games, which were declared open on this day in 1896, had a remarkably modern feel about it.

All nine of the sports contested at the Games – a sailing and rowing competition was abandoned due to lack of interest – remain on the Olympics programme to this day.

Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at the first example of the modern Games which would grow into the global phenomenon it is today.

SUPER SPYROS

Eliud Kipchoge
Spyros Louis would not have given Eliud Kipchoge a run for his money (Martin Rickett/PA Archive)

IN THE NAVY

Adam Peaty
Adam Peaty would have been barred from part of the 1896 programme (Owen Humphreys/PA)

RECEPTION

Greece
There were calls to make Athens the Olympics’ permanent home (Anthony Devlin/PA)

LEGACY

Rio Olympic Games 2016 – Opening Ceremony
The modern Games owe a debt of gratitude to Athens 1896 (Mike Egerton/PA)
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