The first one to see it truly as politics was Adolf Hitler.
During the first International Olympics back in 1896.
First international championship was in the 1920 Summer Olympics, from then it was played in Winter Olympics (1924,1928...)
The first International Special Olympics were held in Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on 19 and 20 of July 1968.
The first international Olympics took place in Athens, Greece from April 6 to April 15, 1896
To show the sprirt of international competition.
America and Europe
winter olympics
The first international Olympics in the sense we now understand it was held in Athens in 1896.
The 1894 Olympics were the first to be held in the world, hosted by Athens, Greece.
The first Olympic games were held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. It was a summer Olympics. The first Winter Olympics were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France; however, winter Olympic events were held as early as London 1908, but not as a separate Olympics.
1986 when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) took away the amateur only rule!
If you mean national to the U.S then about the 1860's. If you mean to England then about 1849. If you meant to say international then 1896, which was the first international Olympics.