INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

exceptionally enthusiastic crowd of spectators. After 1503 years, on
this day, the Greeks celebrated with great national satisfaction the
revival of the most important pan Hellenic institution. More than
70.000 spectators graced with their presence the first international
celebration of sports whereas 167 athletes from different countries of
the world with 83 Greek fellow- athletes set the foundation stone and
gave the signal for the international sports and cultural co-operation.
King George the 1 st of Greece during the dinner he gave on
Sunday night 31 st March, recognizing the decisive part that Dimitrios
Vikelas played in realizing the dream of the revival of the Olympic
Games and their complete success, expressed his gratitude in public
by mentioning the following: “Thank you, Vikelas, for the initiative
you had. At first, I was intimidated by your idea, but the successful
results of the Games prove that you were absolutely right and for this
reason I drink to toast your health” 38 . The Greek state, too, honored
Vikelas “for his successful efforts in support of the Olympic Games”
and awarded him the cross of commanders of the second Order of
Sotiras (Saviour) 39 .
Shortly after the close of the first modern Olympic Games,
Dimitrios Vikelas handed over the presidency of the International
Olympic Committee (I.O.C) to Pierre de Coubertin and devoted
himself to other issues, in particular to national, social, charitable and
educational issues. However, he continued to show intense interest in
the future of the Olympic Games. In particular, with a letter he sent on
19 th May 1896 40 to the new President of I.O.C. he asked him to
support the Greeks’ request, that the Olympic Games should be held
in Athens in the mid- intervals of the International Olympic Games 41 .
In the present year, 2004, the year of the Olympic Games, Greece
enjoys again the privilege to organize the Olympic Games, enjoys the
privilege to be the centre of the world interest, to be a unique
attraction for all the citizens of the world, who- united and irrespective
of political, ideological, class or religious differences- will participate
either as athletes or spectators and viewers of this unprecedented,
athletic and cultural event. We owe, however, even for a little to turn
our thoughts respectfully to two people - Phil Hellene Pierre de
Coubertin and Dimitrios Vikelas. The first one was the man who
inspired the revival of the Olympic Games and organized the first
International Sports Congress in the Sorbonne, where it was decided
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