First modern Olympic Games open in Athens 120 years ago today (Apr 6 1896)


Video: 'Olympic Games, Athens, 1896'

(Easter Monday, April 6, 1896) — The opening ceremonies of the 1896 Summer Olympics, the first modern Olympic Games, were held today in Athens as King George I of Greece and a crowd of 80,000 spectators welcomed 241 athletes from 14 nations to the international competition (which continued through Apr. 15, 1896).