The deep esteem that Baron Pierre de Coubertin felt for the ancient world was rooted in his childhood education by the Jesuits, who emphasized the classics in their curriculum, and the astonishing archaeological discoveries at Ancient Olympia that began when Pierre was eleven and continued for six years.  The Baron wanted to reproduce the spiritual reverence and prestige the Greeks had for the Ancient Games in his new, modern edition.  He emphasized that point in this passage from his article, “Why I Revived the Olympic Games,” which appeared in the British Fortnightly Review in 1908.

“Anyone who studies the ancient Games will perceive that their deep significance was due to two principal elements: beauty and reverence. If the modern Games are to exercise the influence I desire for them they must in their turn show beauty and inspire reverence—a beauty and a reverence infinitely surpassing anything hitherto realized in the most important athletic contests of our day.”