Evangelis Zappas funded the first modern international Olympic Games held in an Athens city square in 1859. He also paid for the refurbishment of the Panathenian stadium in Athens that was used for Olympic Games in 1870, 1875, 1896, 1906, and for events in 2004.

Dr William Penny Brookes organised a national Olympic Games at the original Crystal Palace, London in 1866. This was the first Olympic Games, national or international, held outside of Greece.

Baron Pierre de Coubertin was born on 1st January 1863. He founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894. The first IOC Olympic Games was held in Athens at the Panathenian stadium in 1896.

So if Baron Pierre de Coubertin is the Father of the modern Olympic Games then Dr William Penny Brookes and Evangelis Zappas must be the Grandfathers of the modern Olympic Games.