ATHENS 2004: The marathon races followed the same route as the 1896 race, beginning in Marathon and ending in Athens' Panathenaic Stadium. Vanderlei de Lima (BRA) was in the lead with less than 7 kilometres to go when he was pushed off the course. De Lima held on to earn the bronze medal and was awarded the Pierre de Coubertin Medal in recognition of his Olympic spirit.
The Olympic Movement
While a great deal is known about the Games themselves, the meaning behind the term used to describe the event - ‘Olympic Games’, or ‘Olympism’ is less well understood.
As introduced in the Olympic Charter (the document that governs the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement) ‘Olympism’ is defined as a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind.
Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental, ethical principles.