When and where did the modern Olympic Games start?

The first modern Olympic games was held in Athens in 1896 and only twelve nations participated。Besides the host nation man participants were tourists who happened to be in Greece at the time。Though the whole affair was informal and the standard was not high,the old principle of amateur sport was kept up。Since then the games had been held every four years except during the interruption of the two World War。This was definitely a departure from the old Olympic spirit when wars had to stop and make way for the games。The games have grown enormously in scale and physical performances have now reached unprecedented heights。Unfortunately the same cannot be said about their moral standard。Instead of Olympia,the modern games are now held in different cities all over the world。Inevitably politics and commercialism get involved as countries vie each other for the honour to hold the games because of the political prestige and commercial profit to be had out of them。In the 11th games held in Berlin in 1936,Hitler who had newly come to power in Germany tried to use the occasion for his Nazi propaganda。For the first time the Olympic flame was brought all the way from Olympia to the games site in relays,a marathon journey now often taking months to accomplish。