1924 Chamonix Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony

www.olympicceremony.org
St. Moritz 1928

I Olympic Winter Games

Chamonix, France
1924

Stade Olympique de Chamonix - site of the first Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games

Olympic Ceremony Records
italics indicate records at the time

• First Olympic Winter Games
• First Nation to Host 2 Official Olympic Games (1900, 1924 Winter)
• First Opening Ceremony Held on Ice
• Largest Crowd to Attend an Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony (~10,000)
• Largest Stadium to Host an Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony (45,000)
• Most Nations Participating in a Winter Olympics - 16
• Most Athletes Participating in a Winter Olympics - 258
• Most Events in a Winter Olympics - 16

Opening Ceremony

Stade Olympique de Chamonix (45,000)
January 24, 1924

Video

Opening Ceremony Highlights

The Opening Ceremony of the first Winter Olympics were extremely simple.  Officially, the IOC did not recognize these games separate from the 1924 Summer Games in Paris at the time, so the simple ceremony was mainly designed to detail the taking of the Olympic Oath.  Another interesting element was that the Parade of Nations were held entirely in alphabetical order, with France entering in the middle of the order.

• Parade of Nations
• French Under Secretary of State declares the games open
• Olympic Oath

Photos

Gold Medal from the 1924 Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France

Official Poster of the I Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France

Athlete's Oath at the 1924 Olympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony of the I Olympic Winter Games in Chamonix, France

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1924 Paris Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony

www.olympicceremony.org
1920 Antwerp - Amsterdam 1928

The Games of the VIII Olympiad

Paris, France
1924

The 1924 Olympic Stadium in Paris

Olympic Ceremony Records
italics indicate records at the time

• First City to Host Two Official Summer Olympic Games (1900,1924)
• First Country to Host Two Official Summer Olympic Games (1900, 1924)
• First Country to Host Three Olympic Games (1900, 1924 Winter, 1924)
• First Use of a Canon (canons were also used in the Closing Ceremony of 1920 Antwerp)
• First Use of Loudspeakers
• Last Olympics Without an Olympic Flame
• Most Nations Participating (44) - previous Antwerp 1920 (29)
• Most Athletes Participating (3,089) - previous Antwerp 1920 (2,626)

Opening Ceremony

Stade Olympique (45,000)
July 5, 1924

Video

Official Report
(many pictures of the Opening Ceremony are found in this report - click the black arrow in the right-hand corner to see a larger view)

Opening Ceremony Highlights

The Opening Ceremony of the 1924 Olympics solidified the rituals that began with the 1920 Antwerp Games.  This ceremonial program would be followed for several decades, and beginning with these Olympics you will slowly be able to see a crescendo of artistic elements that will eventually lead to the ultra-elaborate ceremonies of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin in Nazi-controlled Germany.  The 1924 Paris games will be the last Olympics without an Olympic Flame.

• Church Service at Notre Dame Cathedral, along with a Protestant service as well
• French President and dignitaries meet at L'Elysee Palace to parade to the Stadium
• French President Arrives at the Stadium
• The Parade of Nations enters through the giant "Marathon Door" at the Olympic Stadium
• Band music plays during the Parade
• Airplane Flyover
• French President declares the Games open
• Trumpet fanfare and canon blasts
• Olympic Flag raised
• Doves released
• All the national flags form a semicircle around an athlete who takes the Athlete's Oath on loudspeakers for the first time
• 500 person choir performs (song unknown)

Photos

Gold Medal of the 1924 Paris Olympics

Opening Ceremony of the 1924 Olympics in Paris

Official Poster of the 1924 Olympics in Paris

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