When did the Olympics start?

The Ancient Olympic Games began in Greece in 776 BCE, but the Roman Emperor Theodosius I put a stop to them in 393 CE. The modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece, in 1896.

The original Olympic Games were a religious and athletic festival that took place every four years at the shrine to Zeus in Olympia, Greece. After Theodosius I put a stop to the "pagan" Olympics, the competitions lay dormant for many years, though educated people still knew of them. The Renaissance brought an upsurge of interest in the activities of the ancient Greeks. This interest culminated in Pierre de Coubertin's successful efforts to restart a consistent Olympic Games in the late 19th century.