Coubertin adopted Dr William Penny Brooke 's idea to establish a multi-national and multi-sport event-the ancient games were in a sense international , because various Greek city-states and colonies were represented , but only free male athletes of Greek origin were allowed to participate .
Coubertin took Dr William Penny Brooke 's idea to have a multi-national and multi-sport event-the ancient games were in a sense international , because various Greek city-states and colonies were represented , but only free male athletes of Greek origin were allowed to participate .