Promotional poster of I Olympic Games: Cream-colored sketch of ancient Roman architecture with female sculpture to left.

The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, was the first international Olympic Games in modern history. Organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), created by Pierre de Coubertin, the games were held in Athens, Greece. Winners were given a silver medal, while runners-up received a copper medal. Retroactively, the IOC converted these to gold and silver, and awarded bronze medals to third placed athletes. Ten of the fourteen total participating nations earned medals.