Born in Paris on January the 1st 1863, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was an inspired French aristocrat, who had vivid dreams of elevating the quality and standards of French youth; following France’s dreadful loss to the Prussians in the Franco-Prussian war (1870-71). Pursuing his endeavours, de Coubertin studied the impact that sport had on society, with optimism that exercise could play a key role in the reformation of the French youth. The Barons incessant studies were recognised by the French Education board, and with reassurance from Coubertin, the board decided to send the Frenchman to the 1889 conference on physical education, which was held in Boston. De Coubertin spent a total of four months travelling through the United States, visiting numerous universities across many great cities. The baron had hoped to return to his homeland with new concepts regarding sport. …show more content…
The baron ensured his conference was well known, by having his friends in England publish it in the English Press. Doctor William Penny Brookes; an older English gentleman, got in contact with de Coubertin and explained that he had founded a competition called the ‘Wenlock Olympic Games’, an event held every four years in Much Wenlock. Brookes invited de Coubertin to attended the 1890 ‘Wenlock Olympic Games’ and declared he would host the event in the barons honour. Penny Brookes went on to express his intent to rejuvenate the ancient Olympics, and how it has been a long ambition of his to do so. De Coubertin was fascinated and excited with the concept of bringing back the Olympic Games, and knew that this was the opportunity he had been searching for. Not only would a modern Olympics reshape the French youth, but it would bring back a part of ancient history that captivated de Coubertin as a