The First Modern Olympics – in Real Time
The dramas, setbacks, rows, and personalities involved in the first modern Olympic Games are being brought to daily life as part of the build-up to London 2012. To mark the publication of ‘1896: The First Modern Olympics’ by David Randall, Black Toad Books has begun daily Tweets telling the story of the re-birth of the Games.
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October 12, 2011 (FPRC) -- Every day – right up until the opening ceremony for London 2012 – there will be ‘real-time’ bulletins from the 1890s. The first ten days’ Tweets are given below, and, over the next eight months at twitter.com/Olympics1896 and www.facebook.com/1896.Olympics, followers will get daily updates on:
· Pierre de Coubertin’s battle to revive the ancient Games
· The hostility he faced from national sports bodies
· How the Greeks – then bankrupt – took on the Games
· The day when the dream was nearly killed by politicians
· The extraordinary collection of amateur athletes who were the first Olympians
Then, on 27 July 2012, when the Games of the XXXth Olympiad open, Black Toad will begin Tweeting all the action, dramas, and performances from the 1896 Games.
David Randall’s books are now in 19 languages. His latest - ‘1896: The First Modern Olympics’ – is published as an e-book by Black Toad Books and is released in the UK on 17/10/2011 and soon after in other countries. Full details are at:
http://www.1896olympics.com/
Digital copies of the book can be sent on request, and David Randall is available for interview, on or off-line. For either or both, contact Simon at Black Toad Books at simon@blacktoadpromotes.com, or 07525344007.
The 1896 Olympic Tweets – the first ten days
Day 1 24 November, 1892 – Sports delegates from Europe gathering in Paris for 5th anniversary celebrations of France’s Union des Sports Athlétiques
Day 2 25 November 1892 – Pierre de Coubertin, sports campaigner, says he will propose ‘Great Idea’ for international event in speech today
Day 3 Coubertin tells audience sport can be a power for peace. 'Let us export rowers, runners and fencers; there is the free trade of the future!'
Day 4 Coubertin calls for: 'the restoration of the Olympic Games!' Gets polite but not enthusiastic reception
Day 5 Coubertin says delegates did not understand him, assumed he was calling for sort of pageant - re-staging of ancient Greek games in costume.
Later that day…He insists what he wants is worldwide festival of modern mainstream sports. Admits no international championships exists, but says they ought to
Day 6 Coubertin says he won’t give up. Is writing letters and lobbying sports bodies to push his Olympic idea.
Day 7 Rivalry between sports, and even within sports is big problem, says Coubertin. Says he finds 'discord and civil war' everywhere
Day 8 Coubertin now in US visiting New York, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Texas, Louisiana, Washington, and Princeton to drum up support
Day 9 Professor William Milligan Sloane of Princeton agrees to represent America on three-man body to pursue Olympic idea.
Day 10 Coubertin plans meeting in Paris in June 1894, and invites all sports societies in world to send delegates
Send an email to Simon Randall of Blacktoad Publishing and Promotions
07525344007
Keywords:
Olympics, ebook, Sports History
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