|
Marathon is highlight of Games 1896
Updated: 2006-03-22 15:21
The marathon is the hightlight of track and field, or probabley all
of the events, at the first Olympic Games in Athens 1896.
Ath the 1894 Olympic congress, where the delegates enthusiastically voted to
reestablish the Olympic Games, Professor Michel Breal, a distinguished French
calssical scholar and friend of Coubertin, suggested that there be a symbolic
race in the first Olympics and offered a trophy to be the winner.
It was agreed to commemorate the battle of Marathon, 490 B.C., when the
Athenian messenger, Phiedippides, ran from Marathon to Athens, announced,
"Rejoice, we have won," and promptly fell dead.
The distance from Marahon to Athens has been variously estimated from 22 to
nearly 26 miles.
|
| |
|
| |