In which city and year were the first Modern Olympic Games held?

Introduction / Context:
The Olympic Games originated in ancient Greece but were revived in modern form in the late nineteenth century. The location and year of the first Modern Olympic Games are fundamental facts in sports history and a favourite topic in competitive exams. This question asks for both the city and the year of that modern revival.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the first Modern Olympic Games, not the ancient Olympics.
• Options combine city and year: Athens 1896, Barcelona 1798, Munich 1968 and Olympia 1698.
• We assume standard Olympic history as recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is that French educator Pierre de Coubertin played a central role in reviving the Olympics, and the first modern edition was held in Athens, Greece, in 1896. The other combinations either have fictional years or correspond to later or unrelated events. Recognising the correct city year pair from general history is enough to solve the question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the first Modern Olympic Games took place in Athens, Greece.Step 2: Remember that this revival occurred in the year 1896.Step 3: Compare this known pair with the options given.Step 4: The option "Athens 1896" exactly matches the known city and year of the first Modern Olympics.Step 5: Therefore, Athens 1896 is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
History books and official Olympic records consistently state that the first Modern Olympics were held in Athens in 1896. Later Games moved to cities such as Paris, Saint Louis, London and so on. There is no recognised Modern Olympic edition in 1798 or 1698, and Munich hosted the Games much later. These comparisons confirm that Athens 1896 is the only historically accurate option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Barcelona 1798 is incorrect because the Modern Olympic movement did not even exist at that time, and Barcelona first hosted the Games in 1992. Munich 1968 is wrong because the Munich Olympics were held in 1972, and even then they were not the first Modern Games. Olympia 1698 is not correct because that date is not associated with any recognised Olympic event, and the modern Games did not exist in the seventeenth century. Thus none of these pairs matches the required historical fact.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may be confused by the presence of ancient Greek sites like Olympia in the options and may mistakenly pick them without noticing the year. Others might be drawn to familiar modern host cities like Munich or Barcelona even when the years in the options are incorrect. To avoid such errors, it is helpful to memorise the simple fact that the Modern Olympics began in Athens in 1896, which directly leads to the correct option.

Final Answer:
The first Modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in the year 1896.