Let us hope the 2024 Paris Olympics goes better than the first Paris Olympics!
In 1894 Pierre de Coubertin, the so-called Father of the Modern Olympics Games, originally wanted the first Olympic Games to take place in Paris in 1900. However, the delegates to the conference were unwilling to wait six years and lobbied to hold the first games in 1896 in Greece, the site of the ancient Olympic Games. The decision was to have Paris instead host the second Games in 1900.
The Games were held as part of the 1900 World’s Fair. Technological advances like the Ferris Wheel, “moving sidewalks” and talking films were showcased at this Fair. The organizers created a pretty spectacular exposition, but they apparently put very little effort into the Olympic “side show” event.
A bit of googling reveals these factoids:
- There was no opening or closing ceremony.
- Most of the winners did not receive medals or trophies.
- Some of the competitors were reportedly unaware that it even was the Olympics.
- Three USA marathon runners contested their result saying the French runners who finished first and second took a short cut, and in fact they were the only contestants not spattered with mud.
- The Track events were held on an uneven, grassy field.
- The discus and hammer throwers often found that there was not enough room to throw, so their shots landed in the trees.
- A shooting event rewarded gunning down live pigeons!
- One of the swimming events in the muddy Seine River required both swimming underneath and climbing over rows of boats.
- The 400 Hurdles were run over broken telegraph polls, ending with a water jump! Rai and Sydney: Are you game for this?!?
Pierre DeCoubertin, who had ceded control of the Games to the local organizers was quoted to say that “It’s a miracle that the Olympic Movement survived that celebration. “
All that said, there was at least one positive: Women athletes took part for the first time. They represented just 22 of the 1000+ competitors, but it was a start. They competed in tennis, sailing, croquet, equestrian and golf.
Despite that inauspicious debut Paris was later awarded the hosting duties for the 1924 Olympics. These Olympics were apparently much more successful. The Oscar winning film Chariots Of Fire features athletes and stories from these 1924 Games.
