The Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC

The Official History of the Olympic Games and the IOC is the dramatic account of the dual history of the world's foremost sporting spectacle. It is the lavishly illustrated story of the re-creation of the Olympic Games by Pierre de Coubertin, of the often controversial fortunes of the governing body, which was formed in 1894, together with the highs and lows of the Olympics themselves since the first Games in 1896.

It also tells the story of the historic competitors - from Spyridon Louis (the inaugural marathon winner) and such heroes as Jim Thorpe, Paavo Nurmi, Sonja Henie, Jesse Owens, Fanny Blankers-Koen, Emil Zátopek, Herb Elliott, Kip Keino, Mark Spitz, Franz Klammer, Sebastian Coe and Carl Lewis through to Hicham El Guerrouj, Michael Phelps and Sun-Yu Jin.

Each chapter begins with a personal reminiscence by either a famous champion or a notable IOC figure. Detailed background is provided to the many crises: the Nazi Games of 1936; the massacre at Mexico City in 1968; the terrorist slaughter of Israelis at the 1972 Munich Games; the boycotts; the advent of professionals from 1988; and the Ben Johnson scandal and the ongoing threat of drug abuse.

As the sporting world awaits, with eager expectation, the 2012 Games in London, this book gives an unparalleled account of the Olympics story from its beginnings in Athens 1894 to the build-up to the Beijing Games in 2008.