The first Pan-Hellenic Games under the supervision and guidance of the Hellenic Olympic Committee had been scheduled to take place in 1900. This plan could not be realised so the Games were postponed for the next year, 1901. The first Games recorded as Pan-Hellenic took place in Athens shortly before the Olympic Games of 1896 and were, in effect, qualifying games for the Olympics.

In 1901 SEAGS appeared to be more active, partially due to the fact that its finances were in a better shape. Besides the decision to issue a Bulletin which, according to the Charter, would include short reports on the activities of the local athletic clubs, a decision was also taken to organise Pan-Hellenic Games, preferably at the Panathinaikos Stadium. If this proved to be impossible, the Cycling Track was chosen as an alternative venue.

The proclamation for the Pan-Hellenic Games of 1910

The first page from the publication of the results of the Pan-Hellenic Games of 1910

Throughout the organising stages, SEAGS was active chiefly with regard to technical issues. It was SEAGS which submitted proposals to the Hellenic Olympic Committee for the allocation of funds to Clubs that either distinguished themselves at the Pan-Hellenic Games or needed support to improve their gyms.

From 5 to 8 April 1901, 12 clubs took part in the 2^nd Pan-Hellenic Games which were deemed successful. It is worth noting that Cyprus was represented by 3 clubs and a ship was chartered to transport the athletes and a large number of spectators who came “…as spectators but also as pilgrims to the independent homeland…”.

The 2^nd Pan-Hellenic Games were a resounding success not only in terms of organisation but also in terms of the performance of the athletes. The breaking of no less than 9 Pan-Hellenic records as well as of all the records set in the first Games in 1896, except for that of the pole vaulting event, clearly showed that modern Greek athletics was on the upswing. Without a doubt, the establishment of the Pan-Hellenic Games -the development of which was naturally influenced by the economic, political and national life of Greece - is one of SEAGS's most important contributions.

Pan-Hellenic Games were again organised in 1904 with the participation of 8 Clubs and 80 athletes. The Games had been postponed for one year due to the Panathinaikos Stadium's state of disrepair. In the 1904 Games SEAGS supervised all the events which did not fall under the jurisdiction of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. The Games took place as scheduled from 1905 to 1912. However, the difficult political climate of 1913, 1915, 1916, 1918, 1921 1922 and 1923 meant that the Games were postponed. In the intervals the Games were held, not always successfully, but always with the same enthusiasm.

The athletes of Panellinios Athletic Club
who were declared winners of the Pan-Hellenic Games of 1908

From the minutes of the SEAGS Board of Directors' meetings, one can see that the President, Markos Mindler, proposed a ten minute stop in the proceedings on 8 February 1914 to honour the memory of the athletes who lost their lives in the two Balkan wars. He also proposed that a commemorative monument be erected at the Stadium on which would be inscribed the names of the athletes lost. The minutes also tell us of a document which gave information on the exclusion from the draft of 79 athletes so that they could take part in the Pan-Hellenic Games in 1916. The importance of the Games can be seen in the proposal that even if the Games could not take place, that at least the athletes put in an appearance.

In the 30 January 1917 meeting of the Board, the President M. Mindler, in response to a proposal by the Hellenic Olympic Committee to the government that the Pan-Hellenic Games of 1917 be postponed because of the war, stated that all athletic activity should not be postponed and that every effort should be made to hold events as normally as possible. The Board accepted this proposal and appointed an Organising Committee which approved the, what was for those days, princely sum of 1.000 drachmae for expenses.

Entering the Panathinaikos Stadium on the first day of the 1896 Games

SEAGS's activities were not limited to domestic athletic issues. Indicative of its wider interests was that during the meeting of the Board on 1 February 1920, the consultant C. Brisbitzakis set on the table for discussion the absence of the Greek sports of stone throwing, Greek discus throwing and javelin throwing, from the Antwerp Olympic Games. It was suggested that shooting events also be included in the Olympics. At the 30 January 1921 meeting, M. Chrysafis' proposal was accepted that a commemorative plaque, on which the names of Olympic winners would be inscribed, be placed at the Panathinaikos Stadium.

Administrative personnel and athletes
of the Piraeus Association

Athletes of the Ethnikos Athletic Club
with their coach, I. Giannoules

The break up of the athletic clubs of Asia Minor-of Smyrna, Melantina, Kydonia, Aramytios, Magnesia and Constantinople-meant that the Hellenic Olympic Committee ceased to participate in the organisation of the Pan-Hellenic Games which thus came under the exclusive supervision of SEAGS. 1922 marked not only the terrible events for Hellenism, but also the anniversary of the first 25 years of SEAGS.

The year began with the election of a new Board and continued with the formation of a Committee which was to revise the Charter so that the Pan-Hellenic Games would fall under the sole jurisdiction of the Hellenic Association of Amateur Athletics.