The first Olympic Games of modern times were very different from todays’ “Olympics”. There were no national teams, only sports groups and single participants (although today, they give a medal count according to nations). Some nations even boycotted the event, e.g. Germany, thus, only 21 athletes came and they were threatened by their sports clubs. Australians were not allowed to participate, if their club paidd the the ship voyage (then they were not considered “amateurs” anymore). Even measured by the standards of the time, the athletes were not all exceptionally good, let alone best of their countries And “of course”, women were not allowed to participate.
The first Olympic Games of modern times were very different from todays’ “Olympics”. There were no national teams, only sports groups and single participants (although today, they give a medal count according to nations). Some nations even boycotted the event, e.g. Germany, thus, only 21 athletes came and they were threatened by their sports clubs. Australians were not allowed to participate, if their club paidd the the ship voyage (then they were not considered “amateurs” anymore). Even measured by the standards of the time, the athletes were not all exceptionally good, let alone best of their countries And “of course”, women were not allowed to participate.