A sheet of Greek stamps showing Baron Pierre de Coubertin and his memorial in Olympia are seen in the Philatelic and Postal Museum , Ministry of Digital Governance in Athens, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. The Greek stamps showing the French Baron were issued in 1971, for the 75th anniversary of the first modern Olympic games in Athens in 1896.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) — Just outside the site of the ancient Olympic Games, hooting owls break the nighttime silence at a white marble monument containing what’s left of a singular Frenchman’s heart.
Baron Pierre de Coubertin was the driving force behind the modern Olympics, and as head of the International Olympic Committee oversaw the last Games to be held in Paris, exactly 100 years ago.
On Tuesday, the flame that will burn at this summer’s Olympics — the French capital’s third — is to be lit among the ruined temples and sports venues of Olympia in southern Greece.
And its first stop on the relay that culminates in the July 26 opening ceremony will be at this cypress-ringed memorial to Coubertin, where the torchbearer will light an altar in his honor.
That happens at every lighting ceremony, but this year it will have a special resonance, according to Spyros Capralos, head of the Greek national Olympic committee.
“We pay respect to the (monument) of Coubertin every time ... the flame goes first there,” Capralos told The Associated Press. “And now, 2,800 years after the first Olympic Games, we are happy that the (Games) are returning to Paris, birthplace of Pierre de Coubertin.”
The French aristocrat’s efforts, inspired by the ancient games and his wish to invigorate a contemporary sports culture, led to the inaugural modern Games being staged in Athens in 1896.
The seat Coubertin used at the renovated ancient marble stadium in the Greek capital is still preserved, with his name carved on it.
Before he died in 1937 and was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland, Coubertin left special directions for his heart: It was to be removed and placed inside the monument erected in his honor ten years earlier just outside the ruins of ancient Olympia.
The future King Paul of Greece performed the ceremony in March 1938, following a blessing by black-robed Greek Orthodox priests. The grove is now part of the International Olympic Academy, an institute established to promote education on the history and principles of the modern Games.
Born in 1863, Coubertin was the second president of the IOC — after Greece’s Demetrios Vikelas — serving from 1896-1925. His tenure included the games held in Paris in 1900 and 1924.
On a personal level, his life was marred by family tragedy that might explain his single-minded dedication to the Olympics. His son suffered severe brain damage at a young age, and his daughter struggled with mental health issues throughout her life. Coubertin had no other children, and two close nephews were killed in World War I.
The 5th century B.C. temple of Zeus in ancient Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, is seen under the stars, early Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in a night-time image made following special permission by the Culture Ministry. The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The Olympic rings are seen behind the double face marble statue known as Hermes in the marble Panathinean Stadium, venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896, in Athens, early Friday, April 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A marble altar with the Olympic rings stands under the night sky at the monument where is placed the heart of French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, in ancient Olympia, on Monday April 8, 2024. Born in 1863, Coubertin was the second president of the IOC — after Greece's Demetrios Vikelas — serving from 1896-1927. His tenure included the games held in Paris in 1900 and 1924. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The bronze bust of the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin stands at the entrance of the Hellenic Olympic Committee building in Athens, onTuesday, April 2, 2024. On a personal level, his life was marred by family tragedy that might explain his single-minded dedication to the Olympics. His son suffered severe brain damage at a young age, and his daughter struggled with mental health issues throughout her life. Coubertin had no other children, and two close nephews were killed in World War I. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A seat with the name of Pierre de Coubertin is seen in the marble Panathinean Stadium, venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896, in Athens, early Friday, April 5, 2024. The seat Coubertin used at the renovated ancient marble stadium in the Greek capital is still preserved, with his name carved on it.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 3rd century B.C. Palaestra, a place that wrestlers and athletes were training, is seen under the stars at the birthplace of the Olympic Games early Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in a night-time image made following special permission by the Culture Ministry. The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC. Baron Pierre de Coubertin inspired by the ancient games and his wish to invigorate a contemporary sports culture, led to the inaugural modern Games being staged in Athens in 1896.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The photo of first President of the International Olympic Committee Demetrios Vikelas, left, and the second president of the IOC Baron Pierre de Coubertin are displayed among others on a wall inside the Olympic Museum in Athens, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Born in 1863, Coubertin was the second president of the IOC — after Greece's Demetrios Vikelas — serving from 1896-1927. His tenure included the games held in Paris in 1900 and 1924.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The monument where the heart of French Baron Pierre de Coubertin is placed, is seen under the night sky in ancient Olympia, on Monday, April 8, 2024. Before he died in 1937 and was buried in Lausanne, Switzerland, Coubertin left special directions for his heart: It was to be removed and placed inside the monument erected in his honour ten years earlier just outside the ruins of ancient Olympia.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The 3rd century B.C. stone arch leading into the ancient stadium of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic Games, is seen under the stars, early Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in a night-time image made following special permission by the Culture Ministry. The ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC. Only the athletes and the officials were allowed to use this entrance. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
The monument where is placed the heart of French Baron Pierre de Coubertin is seen under the night sky in ancient Olympia, early Wednesday, April 10, 2024. Just outside the site of the ancient Olympic Games, hooting owls break the night-time silence at a white marble monument containing what's left of a singular Frenchman's heart. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
A marble sign which reads in Greek that Baron Pierre de Coubertin is the reviver of the Olympic Games stands inside the marble Panathinean Stadium, venue of the first modern Olympics in 1896, in Athens, early Thursday, Åpril 4, 2024. Born in 1863, Coubertin was the second president of the IOC — after Greece's Demetrios Vikelas — serving from 1896-1927. His tenure included the games held in Paris in 1900 and 1924.(AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
