Baron Pierre de Coubertin

Baron Pierre de Coubertin was French.  He spent his life and fortune reviving the Olympic Games.  He was inspired by the Greek idea of harmony between body and mind.  He believed that a new Olympic movement would allow people from all over the world compete in a spirit of friendship and this would not only improve the human race but peace and understanding in the world.  

He called and International Sports Congress in 1894 and this formed the International Olympic Committee to organise the Olympic Games.  

They decided to hold the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

What is an Olympiad

by Laura and Lisa

An Olympiad is the four years between each Olympic Games.  Olympic Games have been held every four years since 1896 except 1916, 1940 and 1944.  The Sydney Games in 2000 are the 24th summer Olympics to be held since 1896 but their official title is the games of the XXVII Olympiad ( the games of the 27th Olympiad).  The reason for the different numbers is that the games didn't take place in 1916, 1940 or 1944 because of the world wars but the Olympiad numbers didn't stop.

CITIUS       ALTIUS      FORTIUS

1896