The Second Olympics, which took place in Paris, took place from May 4 to July 27, 1924. Such cities as Amsterdam, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Prague, and Rome claimed the right to host the games, but the French capital won. This was thanks to Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who revived the Olympic movement and sought to restore the reputation of his favourite city after the 1900 Olympics.
By the way, any au online casino gives you the opportunity to follow the competition whenever and wherever you want from your smartphone. Operators of licenced gambling clubs offer free live streaming and bonuses for new customers. Many newcomers have managed to earn five-figure prise money thanks to these invitational gifts.
The Olympic Games were officially considered the eighth, but in fact they were the seventh, as the Olympics scheduled for 1916 in Berlin did not take place for objective reasons. By the early 1920s, the rules for competitions in various disciplines had already been established. National federations began to organise qualifying tournaments, which ensured the participation of the best athletes, and international federations began to play a more significant role. At the 1924 Paris Olympics, more than 3,000 athletes (including 135 women) from a record 44 countries competed. On this occasion, the American team performed outstandingly, winning 99 medals, while the French came in second with 41 medals and the Finns were in third place with 37 medals.
The Olympic Games continued to develop organizationally. The 1924 Olympics were the first Olympics for whose participants an Olympic Village was specially built in the Paris suburb of Roccancourt. It was also the first time that Paris hosted the opening and closing ceremonies, as well as the hoisting of three flags: the International Olympic Committee, the flag of the host city, and the flag of the next host city. It was also during this period that the famous Olympic motto, ‘Faster! Higher! Stronger!’
Champions and records of the 1924 Olympics
The main stars of the athletics programme were Finnish long-distance runners Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola. Together, they won nine gold medals and set several world records. The spectators were particularly impressed by Nurmi, who first won the 1500 metres and, less than an hour later, was back at the start of the 5000 metres and again became champion.
Among the track and field athletes, the British Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell stood out, with victories in the 100 and 400 metres, respectively. Their story and achievements formed the basis of the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, which won four Oscars. Also of note is American Bud Hauser, who did a unique double by winning the shot put and discus events.
In swimming, 20-year-old Johnny Weissmuller had three victories: two in the individual distances and one in the relay. Although he was an Olympic debutant, he had already set a world record by becoming the first person in history to swim the 100-metre freestyle in under a minute. In addition to swimming, he also competed for the water polo team, with which he won a bronze medal.
In the rowing eight event, the gold medal was won by the United States team, which included Benjamin McLane Spock. This man became the famous Dr. Spock, whose book The Child and its Care, published after World War II, would change the way many parents thought about parenting.
Women, who competed in much smaller numbers and in a limited number of disciplines compared to men, once again proved their eligibility for the Olympics. Tennis player Helen Wills-Moody and swimmer Gertrude Ederle were triumphant at the Paris Olympics. Wills-Moody won gold medals in both individual and doubles events and also set a unique record by not losing a single set in a head-to-head match from 1927 to 1932. Ederle won the 4×100 metre relay and won two bronze medals in the individual heats. Two years later, she became the first woman to cross the English Channel, bettering the time of her male predecessors by almost two hours.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Tags: Second Paris Olympics
