fbpx

23.06.

1894: International Olympic Committee was established

1894: International Olympic Committee was established
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons/The headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland

Story Highlights

  • Historical event
  • 23 June 1894
  • The man who stood behind this entire project was the famous Pierre de Coubertin, a French nobleman with the title of baron, who came from prominent Catholic royalist family. At the first Olympic Games in 1896, 14 nations participated competing in only 9 sports. To this day, the number of nations reached 204, and the number of sports 26.

On this day the tradition of the Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece was restored. Namely, on that day in 1894 in the Swiss city of Lausanne, International Olympic Committee was established as the institution that will organize all future Olympic Games. 



The man who stood behind this entire project was the famous Pierre de Coubertin, French nobleman with the title of baron, who came from prominent Catholic royalist family.

 Baron Coubertin got a solid education in history and was particularly attracted to ancient Greece. He admired the Greek ideal of merging intellectual activity with physical exercise, which was present in the ancient gymnasiums.

He decided to revive the tradition of the Olympic Games as the event that would unite the world and spread the idea of ​​peace among nations. 

The International Olympic Committee originally had 11 member states. Demetrios Vikelas was elected for president, because he was the representative of Greece, the place of origin of the ancient games. 




The Committee managed to prepare the first Olympic Games in less than two years after it was founded. Already on that day’s inaugural meeting, it was agreed that they will be held in Athens, as Coubertin wished. 

At the first Olympic Games in 1896, 14 nations participated competing in only 9 sports. To this day, the number of nations reached 204, and the number of sports 26.

Facebook Comments Box






Related posts