In 1890 Baron Pierre de Coubertin, a French aristocrat and intellectual, attended the “Olympian Games” held by England’s Wenlock Society. The Wenlock games featured a mix of traditional English country sports and ancient Greek and Roman events. The Baron returned to France profoundly influenced by what he perceived as the character-reforming influence of sport.

      During the winter of 1894 de Coubertin put pen to paper and documented what he envisioned as a modern revival of the original Grecian Olympic Games, an event that would promote peace between nations through amateur athletic competition. This monumental handwritten document, dated January 30, 1894, became the blueprint for our modern Olympic Games. In his outline, the Baron proposed the games to begin in 1900 as a part of the Grand Exhibition, a world’s fair to be held in Paris. For the setting, de Coubertin specified “a separate enclosure reproducing exactly the Altis of Olympia”. Although this duplication of the original venue was not to be, it did foresee the unique architectural structures that are built every four years to house the Games. This brief, but far-thinking document covers the different events, from traditional Greek sports like wrestling and includes modern, cutting edge sports such as cycling. This document even discusses a specially produced book covering the history of athletics as a promotional tie-in to the event that would excite the general public.

      A remarkable draft, this document pre-dates the formation and first meeting of the International Olympic Committee by six months. Though the Baron envisioned the first games to be held in Paris in 1900, the idea caught the imagination of public and the modern Olympics were launched four years earlier than planned in Athens in 1896. Measuring approximately 8” x 10”, this folded double-sided document was handwritten and signed by Baron Pierre de Coubertin and dated 30 January 1894. A grey embossed “Comite International Olympique 1894” stamp has been affixed to the lower portion of the last page. The document has a horizontal and vertical fold through its surface. There is edge toning from age and several scattered areas of toning throughout, none of which affects the readability, attractiveness or historical qualities of the piece. A truly remarkable document that set in motion what has become the greatest sporting event in the history of the world. This item comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA.

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