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.

London, United Kingdom, October 14, 2011 --(PR.com)-- 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 will be released in the UK on 17/10/2011, U.S.A on the 31/10/2011 and in other countries shortly afterward. 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 on 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

###
Contact
Blacktoad Publishing and Promotions
Simon Randall
07525344007
www.blacktoadpromotes.com
ContactContact
Categories