Olympic Village
For the first time, athletes in 1924 could stay together at a purpose-built Olympic Village. Built near the Olympic Stadium, the accommodation comprised row after row of small wooden chalets complete with running water, and the site featured a post office, newsagent, bureau de change, hairdressing salon and a restaurant.
Media coverage
The 1924 Games were also the first to be broadcast live on radio. There were 724 journalists officially accredited to cover the Games, mostly coming from overseas, which was testament to increasing popularity and global interest in the Games.
Edmond Dehorter, sometimes referred to as ‘the unknown speaker’ and later as the ‘father of sports commentary’, commentated on the Games for Radio-Paris.
Olympic venues
The 1924 Olympic Stadium later also staged football’s 1938 World Cup final. Several renovations later, the same site will be used at this summer’s Games to host hockey.
Several other venues were built especially for the Games 100 years ago – such as a new aquatics stadium and tennis courts.
The Piscine des Tourelles – which will be used in 2024 as a training venue for swimmers – became the first 50m Olympic pool. Its lanes were marked out by cork floats.
Just two new venues have been built from scratch for 2024 as the City of Light looks to use its existing venues, along with famous landmarks as the backdrop to events. Temporary sporting stages are being erected, including one at the Eiffel Tower which will showcase beach volleyball.
Closing ceremony
The 1924 Games were the first to feature a closing ceremony with similarities to those of today. This involved the distribution of medals to competing nations along with the raising of four flags – those of the International Olympic Committee, France, Greece – who staged the inaugural modern Games in 1896 – and 1928 hosts the Netherlands.
Ireland
Ireland was also given formal recognition as an independent competing nation for Paris 1924, making a debut appearance in an Olympic Games.
Winter Olympics
Sports competitions held in Chamonix between 25 January and 5 February 1924 in association with the Paris Games were later designated as the inaugural Winter Olympics. Athletes from 16 nations competed in the Games across 16 disciplines, spanning curling, bobsleigh, figure and speed skating and skiing.
