Summer Olympiad (1924)

The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, celebrated in Paris, France. The home town of Pierre de Coubertin, which had already hosted the 1900 Games, was chosen over bids of Amsterdam, Berlin, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and Rome. The cost of the Games of the VIII Olympiad was estimated at 10,000,000₣. With total receipts at 5,496,610₣, the Olympics resulted in a hefty loss despite crowds that reached 60,000 people at a time. The number of participating nations jumped from 29 to 44, signaling widespread acceptance of the Olympics as a major event, as did the presence of 1,000 journalists. At the 1924 Paris Games, the Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius", (Swifter, Higher, and Stronger) was introduced, as was the Closing Ceremony ritual of raising three flags: the flag of the International. Women’s fencing made its debut as Ellen Osiier of Denmark earned the gold medal without losing a single bout. Johnny Weissmuller of the United States won two gold medals in swimming on 20 July alone. That same day he earned a bronze medal in water polo. American swimmer Gertrude Ederle won a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle. Two years later, she caused a sensation by becoming the first woman to swim across the English Channel (La Manche) - and in a time almost two hours faster than any man had ever achieved. Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi won five gold medals to add to the three he had won in 1920.

Opening date: 04 May 1924

Closing date: 27 July 1924

Ceremonies

Official opening of the Games by: President Gaston Doumergue

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: The Olympic flame was first lit during the opening ceremony of the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

Olympic Oath by: Georges André (athletics)

Official Oath by: The first officials' oath was sworn at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

Participations

44 NOCs (Nations)
3,089 athletes (135 women, 2,954 men)
126 events

Country of the host city: France (FRA)

Candidate cities: Amsterdam (NED), Barcelone (ESP), Los Angeles (USA), Prague (CZE) and Rome (ITA)

Sports

• Aquatics
• Athletics
• Boxing
• Cycling
• Equestrian
• Fencing
• Football
• Gymnastics
• Modern Pentathlon
• Polo
• Rowing
• Rugby
• Sailing
• Shooting
• Tennis
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling

Demonstration sports

•   Basque pelota
•   Canoeing
•   Jeu de paume
•   La canne
•   Savate

Highlights

• This VIII Olympiad was the last one organized under the presidency of Pierre de Coubertin.

• British runners Harold Abrahams won the 100 m and Eric Liddell the 400 m. Their stories are depicted in the 1981 movie Chariots of Fire. In addition, Douglas Lowe won the 800 m.

• The 1924 Olympics were the first to use the standard 50-metre pool with marked lanes.

• Fencer Roger Ducret of France won five medals, of which three were gold.

• The Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger), was used for the first time. This was originally used as a motto by the Union des Societies Francaises de Sports Athletiques, a French sporting federation whose founding members included Pierre de Coubertin.

• Ireland was given formal recognition as an independent nation in the Olympic Movement in Paris in 1924 and it was at these games that Ireland made its first appearance in an Olympic Games as an independent nation.

• Originally called Semaine des Sports d'Hiver ("International Winter Sports Week") and held in association with the 1924 Summer Olympics, the sports competitions held in Chamonix between 25 January and 5 February 1924 were later designated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the I Olympic Winter Games. (1924 Winter Olympics)

• Ville Ritola (FIN-athletics) won the 10,000m by breaking his own world record, and then went on to win the 3,000m steeplechase. In the team events, he won the cross-country and the 3,000m with the Finnish team. He finally added two silver medals, finishing behind Paavo Nurmi (FIN) in the 5,000m and in the cross-country race.

Facts

• These Games were better known as the Olympic Games of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell, the "Chariots of Fire" Games, immortalized on the silver screen by Hugh Hudson.

• At the closing ceremony, the practice of raising three flags (one for the International Olympic Committee, one for the host country and one for the future host country of the Games) was instigated.

• Last appearance of tennis until the 1988 Games.

• First time that the athletes were accommodated in an Olympic Village, a group of wood cabins.

• Peter John “Johnny” Weissmuller made his first Olympic appearance. He also participated in the 1928 Games and then went on to Hollywood where he famously became Tarzan.