Athens - 1896

The weather yesterday was cloudy and rainy.  There was no trip to Angel Paws Dog Park, but there was a nice evening walk.  Afterwards, we hung around Dad and relaxed at home.

Sherman At Rest

After our walk this morning, we trotted over to the WABAC machine.  Dad set the date for 1896, the place Athens, Greece.  When we got out the world was very different.  There were no cars, television or radio.  No hoomans were calling us Lassie.  In fact Terhune’s famous collie, Lad, was borne six years later in 1902.  The story of Lassie was many years later.

Official Olympics Report Cover

It is a Monday, and we can tell from the surroundings that Easter was the day before.  We see a large stadium and hear the rumble of the crowd.  As we walk toward the stadium we hear a voice say “"I declare the opening of the first international Olympic Games in Athens. Long live the Nation. Long live the Greek people."   We hear a familiar melody, we bark, the “The Olympics?  The Olympics are in August or September.”  Dad smiles and says “The first Modern Olympic Games were in Greece, 6-15 April and the voice you heard was that of King George I of Greece.  The Olympic Flame was introduced in 1928.  The Olympic Games Committee records state 14 countries competed; unfortunately it doesn’t list the countries by name.  Australia, Chile and the United States were the only countries not from Europe there.  The first Olympics had 43 events in nine sports.  The athletes competed in Track & Field, Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, Weightlifting and Wrestling.” 

Panathenaic Stadium Opening Day 1896

When we get back home, we look at the record books to find the United States won the most gold medals (11) but finished second in the medal count (20).  Greece won the most medals (46) and won ten gold medals.  We decide to have our own Olympics with events like wrestling, jumping, running, digging and barking. 

Dog  Speed,

Essex & Sherman