The Forgotten Forerunners of the Olympics

Modern Olympics were not the first attempt to revive the ancient games. Decades before the international stage, a Greek businessman funded independent athletic competitions in Athens that paved the way for today's global event.

Long before the 1896 international revival, Evangelis Zappas held his own series of athletic games in Greece. His 1859, 1870, and 1875 events served as a vital bridge between the ancient traditions and our current sporting era. These local games inspired organizers in England and beyond to standardize and globalize the competition. Without this early vision, the modern Olympic movement might have looked very different.