Creating the modern Olympic Games

According to a legend, the ancient Olympic Games were founded by Heracles (the Roman

Hercules), a son of Zeus. Yet the first Olympic Games for which we still have written records were

held in 776 BCE (though it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years

already). At this Olympic Games, a naked runner, Coroebus (a cook from Elis), won the sole event at

the Olympics, the stade — a run of approximately 192 metres (210 yards). This made Coroebus the

first Olympic champion in history.

The ancient Olympic Games grew and continued to be played every four years for nearly

1200 years. In 393 CE, the Roman emperor Theodosius I, a Christian, abolished the Games because

of their pagan influences.

Approximately 1500 years later, a young Frenchmen named Pierre de Coubertin began their revival.

Coubertin was a French aristocrat born on January 1, 1863. He was only seven years old when France

was overrun by the Germans during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Some believe that Coubertin

attributed the defeat of France not to its military skills but rather to the French soldiers’ lack of

vigour. After examining the education of the German, British, and American children, Coubertin

decided that it was exercise, more specifically sports, that made a well-rounded and vigorous person.

Coubertin’s attempt to get France interested in sports was not met with enthusiasm. Still,

Coubertin persisted. In 1890, he organized and founded a sports organization. Two years later,

Coubertin first pitched his idea to revive the Olympic Games. At a meeting of the Union in Paris on

November 25, 1892, Coubertin stated, «Let us export our oarsmen, our runners, our fencers into

other lands. That is the true Free Trade of the future; and the day it is introduced into Europe the

cause of Peace will have received a new and strong ally». His speech did not inspire action.

Though Coubertin was not the first to propose the revival of the Olympic Games, he was certainly

the most well-connected and persistent of those to do so. Two years later, Coubertin organized

a meeting with 79 delegates who represented nine countries. At this meeting, Coubertin eloquently

spoke of the revival of the Olympic Games. This time, Coubertin aroused interest.

The delegates at the conference voted unanimously for the Olympic Games. The delegates

also decided to have Coubertin construct an international committee to organize the Games. This

committee became the International Olympic Committee and Demetrious Vikelas from Greece was selected to be its first president. Athens was chosen as the location for the revival of the Olympic

Games and the planning was begun.

6 The very first champion of the Olympic Games was

A a Roman emperor.

B a Greek God.

C a son of God.

D an ordinary man.

7 The ancient Olympic Games were banned because of

A the religious influences.

B the wars.

C the political changes.

D the cultural influences.

8 Pierre de Coubertin believed that French soldiers lacked

A stamina.

B freedom.

C it desire.

D practice.

9 When Pierre de Coubertin first presented his idea of the revival of the Olympic Games

A it was accepted with interest.

B it became popular.

C it didn’t arouse interest.

D it inspired action.

10 The Olympic Games were revived because of

A people needing more exercise.

B the persistence and efforts of one man.

C the government’s proposal.

D people voting.