Paris 1924 Olympics logo
The Summer Olympics are happening at the moment, 2024, in Paris, France, 100 years after it was held there in 1924. It was interesting and fun to research the Olympic events.
The 1924 opening ceremony was held on the 5th of July. It was the second time the city had hosted the event; it was also held there from the 14th of May to the 28th of October, 1900. They were held as part of the 1900 Exposition Universelle (World's Fair).
1900 Summer Olympics
Women took part in the games for the first time. American-born Hélène de Pourtalès became the first female Olympic champion as part of the Swiss winning team in the 1-2 ton sailing event. Two months later, Charlotte Cooper (UK) became the first woman to win an individual Olympic event after winning the women's singles tennis competition. Charlotte Cooper was the first individual female Olympic champion.
Charlotte Cooper - 1900
photographer unknown
Most of the winners in 1900 did not receive medals but were given cups or trophies. This was also the only Olympic Games in history to use live animals (pigeons) as targets during the shooting event.
1924 Summer Olympics
The selection process for the 1924 Summer Olympics consisted of six bids, and Paris was selected ahead of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Prague, and Rome. The cost of these Games was estimated to be 10,000,000 F (equivalent to €10.1 million in 2022.
The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) was used for the first time at the Olympics. It had been used before by the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques, a French sporting federation whose founding members included Pierre de Coubertin. These were the first Games to have an Olympic Village.
Images from the Atlantic Magazine (link below):
An aerial view of Colombes Olympic Stadium, situated along the Seine river near Paris, as spectators file in to watch the football final during the 1924 Olympic Games.
Colombes Olympic Stadium
photographer unknown
July 9, 1924: "Rocquencourt, France—The American Olympic candidates are taking more honors than hoped. Every man is right up to the minute physically, due to the rigorous training. Photo shows the American gymnasts during practice stunts at their Rocquencourt headquarters near here.
photographer unknown
From Time Magazine (link below): Lee Barnes, a 17-year-old high school student from Hollywood High in Los Angeles, wins the gold medal in pole vaulting.
photographer unknown
The games were featured in the 16th of July issue of Life Magazine. Rea Irvin designed the cover for it and was the first art editor of The New Yorker.
Life Magazine - July 16, 1924
cover art by Rea Irvin
The issue featured an article, “Secret Practice, where the Olympic games are really won.” with a two page centerspread art by Anton Otto Fischer.
Viewfinder links:
Net links:
The Atlantic ~ A Century Ago: Paris 1924 Summer Olympics
Olympic.com ~.
Time Magazine ~ Photos from the Paris Olympics—100 Years Ago
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