INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

situation, which dragged Greece into a war that she was not ready to
deal with. It is revealing and remarkable the fact that the “National
League” 45 , which was the main pivot of pressure for the involvement
of Greece in this war, did not only comprise in its circles Dimitrios
Vikelas but also the in its published apology after the defeat of Greece
she would refer in the Greeks’ renewed confidence from the Olympic
Games, one of the reasons that pushed them to go to war.
Even before the end of the Olympic Games the evident success of
the Games instilled into all Greeks’ souls the innermost wish to
celebrate the Olympic Games permanently in Greece. Indeed, the
Americans and the Hungarians who have already participated in the
Games have signed a sort of petition – wish 46 . This proposal was
supported by king George expressing in this way the public feeling in
Greece in the hope that «those who honoured Greece wish to name
our country as the peaceful meeting place of nations, as the eternal
location of the Olympic Games» 47 .
King’s George proposal displeased Baron Pierre de Coubertin; on
the other hand, the press comments were laudatory in Greece. Taking
account of the publications and the intentions of Greek people in the
2 nd Session of the International Committee, 2- 14 April, its seven
members who were in Athens, discussed the matter of the celebration
of the Olympic Games taking always place in Greece 48 . According to
the later Coubertin’s official minutes, it has been decided unanimously
not to organize the Games only in a country 49 . In order to anticipate
developments, Vikelas maintained that the International Committee’s
decisions could not change unless a new Olympic Conference was
convoked. He also suggested organizing International Games every
four years in Athens, in-between time of the International Olympic
Games 50 . Vikelas’ interview and his proposal have aroused a storm of
reactions in the Greek press against him and the International
Committee as well 51 .
Although the majority of Greeks shared the same opinion as the
press, the Greek M. Kepetzis, Professor of International Law in
Switzerland and Vikelas’ friend, held the view that it was in the best
interest of Greece not to be exposed to a new attempt so soon since an
eventual success was uncertain 52 . Furthermore, he noted that the
international activities that are organized over and over again at the
same city cannot have the same prestige 53 .
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