The day of the first modern Olympics – level 3

06-04-1896

The first modern Olympics started in Athens, Greece on April 6, 1896, almost 1,500 years after the ancient Olympics were last held in 393 AD.

The Olympics featured 14 countries and 241 athletes, who competed in nine sports. The sports included athletics, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling.

The first modern Olympics didn’t include any team sports, but they featured some unusual events, such as the 100-meter freestyle for sailors, the 12-hour bicycle race, and the one-handed weightlifting contest. It was won by an athlete from Denmark who lifted a weight of 111.5 kilograms with one hand.

The first modern Olympics were a major success, attracting a crowd of 80,000 people.

Difficult words: fencing (a sport in which people fight with swords), freestyle (a swimming race in which you can use any technique), contest (a competition).

What other unusual events were featured at the first modern Olympics?

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