Though the Greeks wanted to host every Olympics after 1896 and fought hard to claim that right, Baron Pierre de Coubertin disagreed. In his ambition to make the Games truly universal. He wanted every nation to get a chance to host the grand event. Thus, Paris was chosen as the venue for the second edition of the Modern Olympics.

At this time Paris was hosting the Great International Exhibition, for which the Eiffel Tower was built. On the assumption that the Olympics would draw crowds that were in France to attend the Exhibition, the IOC decided to extend the dates of the meet, making it six months long. This, plus the fact that it was the turn of the century meant that all the ingredients that would make the Games in Paris a success as well as immortalize Baron de Coubertin were there.

Unfortunately, things didn't quite go according to the script. His own country failed to recognize the Baron's efforts and none of the newspapers mentioned his role in reviving the Olympic Games. Furthermore, the decision to extend the dates turned out to be a poor one. So little publicity did the Games get that although over 1200 athletes took part from over 22 countries, several of them weren't even aware that they were at the Olympics. The Games were also poorly attended with only about 3000 people attending the Games from the Exhibition.

The events that were held away from the Exhibition did attract more and better crowds. This time, the Greeks even failed to win the marathon, which went to a Frenchman. However, the Americans continued to be dominant, winning 17 of the 22 titles in the track and field events.

The Paris Olympics also saw the introduction of two games that still attract passionate crowds all over the world. Though soccer continued to be staged at the Games after 1900, cricket was discontinued. Britain won both titles in Paris.

As far as individual performances go, perhaps the most fantastic came from an American called Raymond Ewry. Born in Louisiana, many say that Ewry epitomized the spirit of the Olympics. He excelled in the standing jumps and won ten Olympic gold medals in all. This was possible due to his unusual strength in his legs. However, his story of courage and perseverance in the face of adversity is worth telling.

Raymond Ewry was afflicted with polio when very young. Paralyzed from the waist down, he was confined to a wheelchair for the first part of his life. The doctors gave him little chance of ever walking. He began to develop his legs by lifting wooden blocks and eventually gained powerful muscles on his way to becoming an extraordinary athlete. All his efforts culminated on July 16th, 1900 when he won gold medals in all the standing jump events - long jump, triple jump and high jump - on a single day. Indeed the stuff of heroes.

The 1896 Games