Abstract

The Greek Prime Minister Trikoupis declined to financially support the first Olympic Games 1896 in Athens because of the difficult economic situation of the Greek state at that time. Later, he adopted a neutral position and allowed the Organising Committee of the Games to use the building called Zappeion. Besides Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Bikelas, the Greek Royal family and Theodoros Deligiannis, who succeeded Trikoupis as Prime Minister, played an important role in preparing and securing the Olympic Games. The great success of the Games led to enthusiasm among the Greeks which was then used to encourage national interests and patriotic feelings. However, political mistakes led the Greeks into a new war against Turkey in 1897, which found its place in Greek history as the "unsuccessful war". Verf. Referat