Athens to Athensis the definitive history of the Olympic Games and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), charting the re-creation of the Games by Pierre de Coubertin, the often tempestuous and controversial fortunes of the governing body, and all the highs and lows of the Games themselves. Here, too, are the stories of the competitors—from Spyridon Louis, Jim Thorpe, and Jessie Owens to Carl Lewis, Steve Redgrave, and Cathy Freeman. The twin evolutions of the IOC and the world’s greatest sports event unfold in alternate chapters,nbsp;and includenbsp;personal reminiscences by famous champions andnbsp;notable IOC figures. The book also details the many crises, including the Nazi Games of 1936, the Israeli slaughter by terrorists in 1972, and the ongoing problems of commercialization and drug abuse. Journalist David Miller, who has covered 16 Olympic Games, is also the biographer of Juan Antonio Samaranch.
