Summer Olympic Games 1906 Athens games were the first of an alternating series of games to be held in Athens, but the series failed to materialise. The games were more successful than the 1900 and 1904 games, with over 900 athletes competing, and contributed positively to the success of future games. The 1908 London Games saw numbers rise again, as well as the first running of the marathon over its now-standard distance of 42.195 km (26 miles 385 yards). The first Olympic Marathon in 1896 (a male-only race) was raced at a distance of 40 km (24 miles 85 yards). The new marathon
Athletics at the European Youth Summer Olympic Festival Athletics at the European Youth Summer Olympic Festival Athletics has featured as a sport at the European Youth Summer Olympic Festival since its first edition in 1991. It has appeared on the programme at every subsequent edition of the biennial multi-sport event for European athletes under the age of 18. This age group corresponds with the youth category of athletics competition. However starting from the 2013 festival the age group were changed and only athletes under the age of 17 can participate. The athletes must be either at the age of 15 or 16 of the year of the festival.