Over 1,500 years had to pass before the Olympic Games were revived in Athens in 1896. In ancient times, they flourished in the Greek town of Olympia in the north-west of the Peloponnese peninsula. The first attempts to bring the games back to life date back to the early 17th century. The Greeks celebrated four Olympics between 1859 and 1889, but it was the French humanist and educationalist Baron Pierre de Coubertin (1863 – 1937) who succeeded in establishing the Games in a new form and for all nations. After the founding of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Paris in 1894, things took great strides forward. The exhibit illustrates the historical development. It recalls the ancient games in Olympia and shows that the internationalisation of sport in the second half of the 19th century created essential conditions for the return of the games. The preparation and realisation of the premiere in Athens is presented. On display are rare original designs and proofs of the Greek special stamp issue of 1896, postal stationery and letters from the time of the 1896 Olympic Games, including mail from the organising committee. The philatelic section is complemented by original photos, tickets, numerous autographs and mail from Olympic champions, the only known document with the names of the seven IOC members present in Athens, letters and postcards from Coubertin and the first IOC President Demetrios Vikelas, as well as antique coins and medals from participants.