Six European cities competed for the 1924 Summer Olympics. The preference was given to Paris, thus noting the merits of the Frenchman Coubertin - the founder of the Olympic Games.
The preparatory period was quite difficult, but the organization of the Games themselves was impeccable. These were the last games that Pierre de Coubertin was involved in preparing. The Paris Olympics have become one of the most attended. More than 620 thousand people watched it. The opening ceremony on July 5 was attended by the President of the French Republic Gaston Doumergue, the Prince of Wales and Prince Carol of Romania.
44 countries and 3,092 athletes took part in the VIII Olympic Games. For the first time, athletes from Ireland, Mexico, Romania, Uruguay, the Philippines and Ecuador took part. The teams of Germany and the USSR were not allowed to play due to the unstable political situation in these countries.
The Games program included competitions in 17 sports. The demonstration performances featured French boxing and Basque ball games. These Games were the last time rugby tournaments were held. Women participated in swimming, diving, fencing and tennis competitions.
The great runner from Finland Paavo Nurmi was recognized as the hero of the Olympic Games, who won five gold medals. The star of American swimmer Johnny Weissmuller has risen in Paris. He won the two main distances and the freestyle relay, winning three gold medals. Five medals, three of which are gold, were won by a swordsman from France Roger Ducre.
At these Games, the tennis competition was held for the last time before the big break due to disagreements between the International Tennis Federation and the IOC. It wasn't until 1988 that tennis returned to the Olympics again. US tennis players have not missed a single championship title, having received five gold medals.
22 teams took part in the football tournament. For the first time, overseas footballers - Uruguayans - defeated the strong team of Yugoslavia with a score of 7: 0.
In the overall standings, the victory at this Olympics was won by American athletes, in second place was the home team, and in third - the athletes of Finland.
