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The milestone of 1896
The decision of the International Sports Congress to award the organization of the first modern Olympic Games to Athens did not correspond with the plans of Pierre de Coubertin, the man who had taken the initiative to convene the Congress. What is more, this decision did not correspond with the development of the Greek sports institutions and mechanisms, and hence with the ability of Greece to organize the first international sports contest in the history of modern sport. At that time Greece did not have the stadiums, the gymnasiums and the other sports infrastructures that were required for the organization of the Games. The sports associations were few, as were the sports that they advanced. Competitive activity was just as limited. Lastly, there was no Union or Federation to coordinate the activities of the sports associations. In short, in the early 1890s Greek sport made its first hesitant steps.
The acceptance of Vikelas' proposal, namely the entrustment of the organization of the Games to Greece and the undertaking of this commitment by the Greek authorities, despite the initial hesitancy of the government, marked the beginning of a new phase of development for Greek sport, different in quality and quantity. In other words, from 1894 onwards, the Games of 1896 being the milestone, the processes that gave shape to Greek sport were intensified and accelerated at all levels: sports associations multiplied, national competitive action increased, sports infrastructures were created, sports networks were formed (COG, SEAGS) and the first systematic legislative interventions in the field of sport were brought about. In addition, the social basis of Greek sport expanded, that is to say that there was a considerable increase in the number of spectators, athletes, gymnasts and sports officials.
As far as the foundation of new sports associations is concerned, it is characteristic that between 1894 and 1896 sixty associations were founded, half of which were created in the year of the Olympic Games. At the same time the first games among associations were held in 1895, the Tinia, as well as the "test events" for the Olympic Games of 1896, which aimed at the formation of the Greek Olympic team. The multiplication of the associations and the intensification of competitive action revealed the need for coordination of their operation, and as early as in 1895 the first steps were taken towards the creation of the Association, which was finally created in 1897. These developments resulted in law Â×ÊÁ' which regulated, among other things, the operation of the SEAGS and of the COG.
Besides, the Games of 1896 influenced significantly the modernization of Greek sport, namely its harmonization with the developments in the international sports environment. New contests were adopted, especially in the track and field events, the rules were codified, and the performances of the athletes started to be timed and recorded. Furthermore, new training systems were introduced, which aimed, through the specialization of the athletes in specific contests, at improving their performances and, hence, their competitive ability and their ability to contend for victory.
Lastly, the influence of the Games of 1896 was remarkable in the formation of a new heroic model for the Greek society, that of the Olympic winner. Naturally, the Olympic Games are the field of expression of "pacific" rivalry among nations, and the victory of every athlete reflects on the national prestige of each country. Generally speaking, this would prevail internationally after 1908, year of the fourth Olympic Games held in London. In the case of Greece, however, the model of the hero-Olympic winner would appear from the first organization and would be incarnated in the face of Spyridon Louis. His victory in the marathon event, the honours and admiration paid to him, combined with his "humble" social status, constituted a motive for young people coming from all social classes to take up sport. Therefore, although after 1896 the members of the sports associations were still part of the middle or upper social classes, the social profile of the athletes started to change. To this development, namely the adoption of sport by all social strata, contributed the final introduction of gymnastics as a compulsory discipline in all levels of public education, by virtue of law Â×ÊÁ'/1899.
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