Britannica Sources used in this answer

When and where were the first modern Olympic Games held?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

A woman in a white pleated dress lights the Olympic torch from a large flame in a gold cauldron, with a crowd seated in the background at Panathenaic Stadium in Athens. — Olympic Games An actress playing the role of an Athenian high priestess lights the Olympic flame in Athens, October 31, 2017. The torch was later carried to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece, from April 6 to April 15, 1896.1

While there were earlier attempts to revive the tradition—including local Greek Olympiads and British events—the 1896 Games marked the inaugural occurrence of the international modern Olympic movement. Spearheaded by Pierre de Coubertin, the event brought together approximately 280 male athletes from 12 countries to compete in 43 events. The athletics competitions were hosted at the historic Panathenaic Stadium, which had been restored specifically for the occasion.2341