Demetrius Vikelas

Dimitrios vikelas, (Greek Δημήτριος Βικέλας, often Demetrios vikelas transcribed, * February 15, 1835 in Syros, Syros, † July 20, 1908 in Athens ) was a Greek businessman and writer. Significant is his work as the first president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Life

Vikelas came from a Greek merchant family. After only a few years of school, he was introduced in the wholesale business of his father. Besides, he had to learn French and English. At 17 he was sent to London, where he worked as an accountant in the business of his two uncles in the office. In his spare time he discovered his literary talent, wrote his own poems and took translations into Greek before.

At the age of 22 years vikelas became a partner in the company of his uncle and procured by a secure livelihood. In 1866 he married Kalliopi Geralopoulou, the daughter of a Greek merchant, who was 12 years older than vikelas. The increasing deterioration of the general economic situation prompted him in 1876 to carry out the liquidation of the company. With the proceeds he had a handsome fortune, which allowed him a comfortable life without gainful employment.

Vikelas, who had never earned a formal higher education was interested in many things and visited during his time as a businessman diverse events of the London University. His literary bent, he had not lost. He published a collection of poems and wrote articles for magazines that dealt with various topics. However, his urgent desire was to improve the situation and the reputation of his native country. Greece was to be played at that time in danger of the mutual interests of various European powers that Propaganda was not afraid Greeks hostility.

One of his wife serious mental illness necessitated a move to Paris, where she received the necessary medical care. Here vikelas found suitable conditions for the implementation of his passions and concerns. As a writer, he was awarded with the translations of all important works of Shakespeare into modern Greek wide recognition. He published his own stories, which he translated into eleven languages ​​personally. He also published small booklets that resembled travel reports about his home country, and with which he scored attention for the Greek tourism. 1879 vikelas was appointed to the Board of the Society for the Promotion of the Greek studies in France. These associated with frequent trips abroad activity strengthened offered him the opportunity to improve the image of Greece.

Another concern was vikelas of popular education, a passion he and his later business partner, Pierre de Coubertin, said. Published in the diary of a popular educator ideas made ​​vikelas now also in Greece to a recognized personality. 1887 he was appointed member of the Greek Textbook Commission.

In January 1894, Pierre de Coubertin sent invitations for a sports conference in Paris, which was received later than the first Olympic Congress in history. An invitation went to the Athenian Panhellenic Gymnastclub. Here we showed little interest to undertake the long journey to Paris. They remembered the vikelas based in Paris, to represent the association. Vikelas had come so far with little in contact sports, but saw here an opportunity to prove his homeland a service, even if it was only for a vikelas initially insignificant issue.

Vikelas was transferred to his surprise at the Congress in Paris even the chairmanship of the Commission, which dealt with the possibility of restoration of the Olympic Games. During the Congress, then he made the proposal to provide Athens as the venue for the first Olympic Games. This convinced the majority of the Commissioners and, beating the intention of Pierre de Coubertin through 1900 to carry out the first games in Paris.

The nominated by de Coubertin and the congress confirmed the International Olympic Committee should vikelas take over the presidency, this coincided with the initial statutes of the IOC, which stipulated that the President should come from the country, which hosts the Olympic Games.

In October 1894 vikelas died ' wife. Full -sacrifice he devoted himself his new job, but he had to fight in his home country with large resistors. The enormous costs meant an enormous Kraftanstrenung for the small country, at times challenged the government to be able to bear the financial burden of games this dimension. The persuasiveness of vikelas and his insistence led to the extent that the decision was for or against the Olympics on a matter of national importance, which even helped with to trigger a government crisis in Greece. After finally in January 1895 resigned the incumbent government, the way was clear for the supporters of the Olympic Games.

The organization and holding of the Olympic Games in 1896, leaving vikelas a specially appointed committee. He traveled until shortly before the Games from Paris to Athens, took over the management of various sessions of the IOC and watched the games as a spectator and guest of honor.

When, after the great success of the Games 1896 in Greece, the demand arose constantly discharge the Olympic Games in Athens, it was vikelas, who proposed the compromise to host the games alternating every two years in Athens and in another city in the world. This compromise was achieved only once, in 1906 at the Summer Olympics in Athens.

1897 saw vikelas its commitment to the Olympic movement to an end. The Olympic idea had taken root and he had at the same time his home country a service. He resigned from his membership of the IOC, with the intention to pursue other interests of his country, with whom he is now living in Athens, much more came in contact. He devoted special attention here to the education and schooling.

Vikelas received during his lifetime a number of honorary titles and awards. So by the Scottish University of St. Andrews, he was the title of Dr. jur. H.C. awarded, received the Commander of the Royal Order of the Redeemer Greek, was honored with the Danish Dannebrogordens and was appointed an Officer of the French Legion of Honour.