The ancient Olympic Games were a major spectacle, with athletes competing in various events, including the pentathlon, which consisted of running, javelin throwing, wrestling, disk throwing, and chariot racing. The games were held every four years for over 1,000 years, until they were banned by the Roman Emperor Theodosius in 393 AD. But, the legacy of the Olympics lived on, and in 1896, the modern Olympic Games were revived by Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator and historian.
Pierre de Coubertin is often referred to as the father of the modern Olympics, and for good reason! He was instrumental in reviving the games, and his vision was to create a global event that would promote international unity and athletic competition. The first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece in 1896, and they were a huge success, with 14 countries and 241 athletes participating.
The French Historian Who Invented the Olympics - JSTOR Daily
