The Birth of the Modern Olympics

The modern Olympic Games began in 1894 and were held in Athens in Greece.  The games attracted just 245 competitors, of whom more than 200 were Greek, and only 14 countries were represented. Nevertheless, no international events of this magnitude had been organized before. Female athletes were not allowed to compete.

Ancient Greece was the birthplace of the Olympic Games, so Athens was perceived to be an appropriate choice to stage the first modern Games. 

The most successful competitor was German wrestler and gymnast Carl Schuhmann, who won four gold medals.

Four years later the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris attracted more than four times as many athletes, including 11 women, who were allowed to compete for the first time, in croquet, golf, sailing, and tennis. 

1896	Athens, Greece
1900	Paris, France
1904	St. Louis, United States
1908	London, Great Britain
1912	Stockholm, Sweden

The Olympics planned for 1916 were cancelled because of the First World War.  The first Olympic Games held in Great Britain were in London in 1908.