4 A grand plan

Chapter 4 A grand plan In 1875, a German archaeologist named Ernst Curtius uncovered temples, sculptures and pots among the ruins of Olympia. This sparked a wave of interest in the ancient Games.

A French nobleman, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, was fascinated by the Olympics and read everything he could about them. An enthusiastic boxer, fencer, rower and horse rider, de Coubertin believed that sports could help everyone become stronger and more successful.

He studied how sports were played in different countries. In England, he admired the fiercely competitive sports at schools such as Rugby, where rugby was invented. He also visited a small town called Much Wenlock in England, that held a sports festival known as the Wenlock Olympian Games.

This sparked an idea in his mind. In 1892, at a gathering of sports officials, de Coubertin announced his plan to start an international Olympic Games. No one listened.

De Coubertin didn't give up. He spent two more years tirelessly writing letters and talking to world leaders. Finally, he arranged another meeting of sports officials. This time, his plan was accepted. De Coubertin was thrilled. His next job was to form a group to organize the new Olympics. This became known as the International Olympic Committee, or IOC.