On this day - 22 April

April 22nd 1906 saw the opening of the Intercalated Olympic Games in Athens. This was originally considered to be an official Olympic Games but are no longer considered such by the Olympic Committee. The idea behind the games was that every 4 years, offset by 2 years from the official Olympic Games, an event of similar size and nature would be held in Greece. This didn't happen. Planning issues made a 2 year timeline to prepare to hold the 1910 games impossible following the 1908 London Olympics. The start of World War 1 in 1914 combined with the failure to host a 1910 games meant diminished support in the concept as a whole. This led to the 1906 Intercalated Games being the only one held of its kind.

These games led to a revival of interest in the Olympics, and potentially contributed its continuation as a concept. Both the 1900 and 1904 Olympic Games struggled with international participation and public interest.