When was the first Olympic Games held?

The Olympic Games were first held at Olympia in ancient Greece as long ago as 776 B. C. They were held once four years. The custom lasted for more than 1,000 years, but died out under the ruler of Rome and ceased with the decline of ancient Greek civilization.  Then in 1896 the Games were revived. In that year, a French man, Baron de Coubertin, decided to try to start the Game again. He wished to renew those ideals of excellence of body, mind, and spirit shown in the classic Greek Olympics. He succeeded, and the modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece, in 1896. Since then the Olympics have grown steadily with more and more nations and athletes taking part. Because of the world wars, they were not held in 1916, nor in 1940 and 1944. They have been regularly held ever since then. Held every four years, the Olympics present the world’s most important athletic contests. Athletes from all over the world take part in the modem Olympic Games. Any nation may enter a team in the games if it agrees to follow the rules of the International Olympic Committee. Athletes of many nations compete in a variety of sports divided into Winter Games and Summer Games. The Olympic Games are held each time in a different city of the world. The 1980 Winter Olympic Games were held in Lake Placid, the United States: