The Zionist Congress was established in 1897 by Theodor Herzl as the supreme organ of the Zionist Organization (ZO). First Zionist Congress was the inaugural congress of the Zionist Organization (ZO) held in Basel (Basle), Switzerland, from August 29 to August 31, 1897. 208 delegates and 26 press correspondents attended the event. It was convened and chaired by Theodor Herzl, the founder of the modern Zionism movement. The Congress formulated a Zionist platform, known as the Basel program, and founded the Zionist Organization. It also adopted the Hatikvah as its anthem