1896day.year
1896 Summer Olympics: The Olympic marathon is run ending with the victory of Greek athlete Spyridon Louis.
Greek runner Spyridon Louis wins the marathon at the first modern Olympic Games in Athens on April 10, 1896.
The 1896 Summer Olympics in Athens saw the inaugural marathon event, inspired by the ancient Greek legend of Pheidippides.
Spyridon Louis, a 24-year-old water carrier, emerged as the unexpected champion, finishing in just under three hours.
His victory captured the imagination of the public and fueled national pride in Greece.
The race covered approximately 40 kilometers from Marathon to the Panathenaic Stadium.
Louis became an international sports hero and the marathon earned its place as a cornerstone of Olympic competition.
1896
1896 Summer Olympics
marathon
Spyridon Louis
1916day.year
The Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA) is created in New York City.
The Professional Golfers' Association of America is founded in New York City on April 10, 1916, to promote professional golf.
On April 10, 1916, a group of 35 leading golf professionals met at the Taplow Club in New York City to establish the PGA of America.
Their aim was to advance interest in the game, improve standards of professional conduct, and organize competitions.
The association provided a unified voice for professionals and fostered growth of golf instruction.
It later inaugurated major tournaments, including the PGA Championship, solidifying its role in American sports.
Today, the PGA of America is one of the world's largest sports organizations.
1916
Professional Golfers' Association of America
1971day.year
Ping-pong diplomacy: In an attempt to thaw relations with the United States, China hosts the U.S. table tennis team for a week-long visit.
China invited the US table tennis team for a visit, initiating 'Ping-pong diplomacy' to improve Sino-American relations.
On April 10, 1971, the People's Republic of China extended an unprecedented invitation to the United States national table tennis team. This exchange, known as 'Ping-pong diplomacy', marked the first official American delegation to visit China since 1949. Matches and cultural exchanges during the week-long visit fostered goodwill between the two nations amid decades of diplomatic isolation. The event paved the way for high-level talks and President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972. Ping-pong diplomacy demonstrated how sports could transcend political barriers and reshape international relations. It remains a seminal example of soft power and cultural diplomacy.
1971
Ping-pong diplomacy
table tennis