Post by NJTank on Apr 6, 2016 0:39:30 GMT -5
www.sportsecyclopedia.com
1896: With 241 athletes from 14 nations, the first modern Olympics begin at Panathinaikos Stadium in Athens. Over the next nine days 43 events are held in nine different sports. The games are the brainchild of French Historian Pierre de Coubertin who wanted to revive the ancient Greek tradition of multisport competition. The first gold medal is won by American James Connolly a native of Boston who left Harvard to participate in the Triple Jump event.