Welcome to Olympic-Legacy.com

Our scope is the legacy of the ancient Olympic games and the factors contributing to their revival in modern times. Although we offer information on modern Olympic protocol, our research effectively ends with the first Olympiad of modern times, hosted in Athens, Greece in 1896.

Above: Artist's rendition of the finalists of the 100- meter dash at the Olympic games of Athens in 1896

The topic of Olympic legacies is especially timely as we anticipate the return of the Games to their land of birth when Athens hosts the 2004 Olympics. The ancient Olympics were born in Greece, they were revived in Athens in 1896, and now, after a period of 108 years, they once again return to their homeland. It is a fitting time to reflect on the history of this amazing phenomenon.

Although we are all familiar with the Olympic games, few understand the history of the Games and the ideals they embody. In this website, we examine the [athletic ideal] that fueled the ancient Olympics and how this same ideal inspired their revival in modern times. A brief introduction appears below for each of the sections of this website (sections are organized under the menus above).

Ancient Games
The legacy of the ancient Olympic games affects our daily lives, and not just in the form of the modern Olympics. It is amazing that the ancient Greeks, who shared a common ancestry, language, and religion, were never unified as one nation. And yet the Hellenic culture produced Plato, Socrates, democracy, and so much more. The impact of the ancient Greek culture on the art, philosophy, architecture, politics, etc. of nations all over the world is incalculable.

What allowed these independent, warring city-states to create a common culture and achieve so much? There are many factors, of course, but the role of the ancient Olympics is pivotal and indisputable. The ancient Games (and the accompanying truce) were a powerful force for unification, peace, and the free exchange of ideas and knowledge. If classical Greece was the "cradle of civilization," then the ancient Olympics were, in many ways, the incubator.

Athens 1896
Decades prior to the first Olympiad of modern times in 1896, there were numerous athletic events in Greece bearing the Olympic name. The most noteworthy effort was sponsored by a wealthy businessman, Evangelos Zappas. The 1859, 1870, 1875, and 1889 "Zappian Olympic Games" were limited in scope and conducted under less-than-favorable conditions.

The Olympic movement, as we know it today, owes its existence to the efforts of Baron Coubertin. His vision of international participation widened the scope of the Games considerably. His commitment and hard work saw the revival of the Olympic games become a reality. His ideals and charisma energized his peers and initiated an institution whose legacy is one of the finest in our modern times.

One year after his death, Coubertin's wife donated his heart to Greece. This symbolic gesture was well received by the Greeks, for every four years we all feel the pulse of his heart beating again.

Olympic Trivia
There are many ways that the modern Games celebrate and remember the legacy of the Olympic games. These may be embodied in a song, a symbol, or a ceremony. The symbols that identify the Olympic games both celebrate and commemorate the history of the Games and create new legacies and memories for future generations. In this section, we explore the history of some of these Olympic traditions.

Links & Contact
We hope that this website does justice to ancient Greeks and those who worked tirelessly to revive the Olympic games and energize the Olympic movement. Although our work is by no means complete, we offer links to other websites that are subject-specific and carry the Olympic legacy into the 21st century.

We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please let us know if you would like to be informed of future updates to this site.

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