The ancient Olympic Games were banned for 1,500 years by a Roman Emperor

The Olympic Games were held every four years without interruption for over 1,100 years, from 776 BC until 393 AD. Roman Emperor Theodosius I then banned them as a pagan festival incompatible with Christianity. The Games remained suspended for nearly 1,500 years until Pierre de Coubertin revived them in Athens in 1896.

Source: Ancient History Encyclopedia / International Olympic Committee