for the founders of the Modern Olympic Games
April 26, 2004
Founder of the Olympic Movement
Why is it that Baron Pierre de Coubertin's name is the only name mentioned when mentioning the revival of the Olympic Games?
It is true that Coubertin was a contributor of the revival but he was neither the only contributor or the first. In fact there were two people who had revived the Olympic Games in modern times before Baron Pierre de Coubertin was born.
Dr William Penny Brookes of Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England began an Olympian Games in 1850 that became 'Olympic-like' in the early 1860s. Evangelis Zappas, a Greek billionaire philanthropist sponsored Olympic Games that took place in 1859, 1870 and 1875. Zappas paid for the refurbishment of the Panathenian stadium in Athens that was used for the Olympics of 1870, 1875, 1896 and 1906. Zappas also paid for the building of the first indoor Olympic Arena which was used for the fencing events in 1896.
But Baron Pierre de Coubertin failed to mention them when he selfishly promoted himself as the sole founder of the Modern Olympic Games.
Recommended reading by Zappas.org: