The capital city that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 was Athens.
Athens was chosen because Greece was the birthplace of the ancient Olympic tradition. The inaugural modern Games were organized by the newly created International Olympic Committee and took place from April 6 to 15, 1896, in Athens. The principal venue was the Panathenaic Stadium, rebuilt in white marble for the event.
The competition was much smaller than today’s Olympics. About 241 athletes from 14 nations took part, and all competitors were men. Events included athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, wrestling, fencing, shooting, tennis, and weightlifting. American James Connolly became the first modern Olympic champion by winning the triple jump.
Athens is sometimes confused with Paris, London, or Rome because each later hosted Olympic Games. Paris hosted the 1900 Games, while London and Rome hosted later editions. The 1896 event was not simply a continuation of the ancient Games at Olympia; it was a modern international sporting festival inspired by antiquity and organized under new Olympic institutions.