Les Jeux Olympiques

The Olympic Games

Les Jeux Olympiques :

Pierre de Coubertin is considered the father of the Modern Olympics.  However, a century before this Frenchman commenced his endeavours, another Frenchman, Gilbert Romme instigated the re-launching of an Olympics as a celebration of the French Revolution.

They were national games rather than international – neighbouring countries still had kings – but time keeping and the recently adopted metric system were used for the first time.

The Games were held in 1796, 1797 and 1798 and drew 150 000 spectators – huge numbers for the time. So successful were they that the idea of a Pan-European Games was mooted.  However, political problems and wars meant the era was not ideal for international festivities.