With attention focused on the London Olympics, and controversy over how they're being covered erupting across Twitter and in the press, it's a good time to take a look at coverage of the first modern Olympic games held in Athens, Greece, in April 1896.
The revival of the ancient games had been the brainchild of a French aristocrat, Pierre de Coubertin. American athletes had sailed to Greece to compete, and dispatches sent via telegraph cables appeared in American newspapers.
- St. Paul Daily Globe, April 5, 1896: An article about the American team featured illustrations of athletes.
- Los Angeles Herald, April 6, 1896: A front-page article describes the events about to begin in Athens.
- New York Tribune, April 7, 1896: Headline "Americans Win At Athens" appeared on the front page of the New York Tribune. It's interesting to see that the games are described as "the 776th Greek Olympiad."
- New York Sun, April 8, 1896: The New York Sun went with a triumphant headline: "More Honor For America."
- New York Tribune, April 13, 1896: As the games concluded, the King of Greece hosted a reception for the athletes.
Note: After accessing the links above, click on the "persistent link" at the Chronicling America site of the Library of Congress to view the entire page of the newspaper.
Photograph: Baron de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics/Library of Congress
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