The chaotic history of the Olympics in Paris, where one games nearly ended the movement – and the other helped save it

Paris is hosting its third summer Olympics. While we don’t yet know what the legacy of this year’s games will be, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on the city’s previous Olympics of 1900 and 1924 – the first of which nearly ended the modern Olympic movement, whereas the second set it alight.

The disaster of Paris 1900

The 1900 Paris Olympics was negatively impacted by the decision to link the games with the World Fair, held in Paris at the same time. The committee of the much larger and more popular fair was given control of organising everything, despite its minimal knowledge of sport. The organisers saw the Olympics as far less important than the fair’s exhibits, focused on fashion and new technologies such as escalators and audio recorders.

As a result, the Olympic games were treated like a sideshow. This poorly organised event was held at inadequate venues over nearly six months and almost ended the modern Olympic movement in its infancy.

https://youtu.be/_KIJhd428Vc

Sports historians refer to 1900 as the farcical games and have debated whether it should even be considered an Olympics. The founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, later commented that it was a miracle the Olympic movement survived.

Confusing scheduling led to few spectators. Minimal venues were built and there were no officially agreed rules and regulations, which led to numerous disputes. There were no opening or closing ceremonies and many athletes were unaware they were competing in the Olympics.

Competing for one’s country was also not a concept yet, so numerous medals were won by teams with athletes from different countries. One Danish journalist became a last-minute substitute on a combined Danish-Swedish tug-of-war team that defeated France in the final. A young unknown French boy was also pulled out of the crowd to cox a Dutch rowing team to a gold medal, because the team had decided the adult cox was too heavy.

Australian sprinter Stan Rowley, who referred to the games as a “huge joke”, became the only person to win medals for two different countries in the same Olympics. He won medals in athletics for Australia and then as part of the British cross-country team. The strange points system meant he just had to finish and record a time for the British team to win – so he walked. In the end, he didn’t even have to finish; officials got sick of waiting and awarded him last place so they could leave.

Some people who attended the World Fair signed up for the Olympic games while they were there. One example is Margaret Abbott, who entered the golf tournament along with her mother and won gold. These were the first Olympic games that saw women competing. Unfortunately, the poor organisation meant Abbott was never informed of her victory as the United States’ first female Olympic gold medallist. Her family was notified by a sports historian years after her death in 1955.

On this day 118 years ago, the Summer Olympics were held in Paris as part of the World’s Fair. Women made their first appearance at these Games competing in sailing, tennis and golf. #Paris1900 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/tT7c2b9aCD

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) May 14, 2018

Athletics events took place in a wet, uneven field with trees in the way. Discus and hammers ended up in the trees or the crowd, as the area was too narrow. The long jumpers had to dig their own pit before they could start competing. Fencing events were held in the cutlery section of the World Fair.

Swimming events took place in the polluted Seine River – which had a strong current, resulting in unrealistically fast times. The shooting events used live pigeons. And the marathon winner was accused of taking shortcuts – and didn’t receive his medal until the dispute was settled 12 years later.