Chamonix Ready to Celebrate Centenary of Hosting 1st Winter Olympics & Founding of FIS
Chamonix Ready to Celebrate Centenary of Hosting 1st Winter Olympics & Founding of FIS
Published : 16-Jan-2024 05:47
Although one of the world's most famous ski resorts has been at the forefront of winter sports many times over the past 100 years or so, the next few weeks are significant anniversaries for Chamonix, as it nears the centenary of hosting the world's first ever Winter Olympic Games in January – February 1924, in just over a week's time.
At the first Winter Olympics which ran from 25 Jan – 5 Feb 1924, there were less than 300 competitors from 16 nations with about 10,000 fans in resort. The concept proved popular from the start and by the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics there were nearly 3,000 competitors from more than 90 nations and a global TV audience in the hundreds of millions.
Although there was no downhill skiing at the original Games (that finally happened in Garmisch in 1936), it still saw the foundation of the International Ski Federation, which does after all also represent cross country skiers and ski jumpers, who were present at the 1924 Games. This Kandahar World Cup ski races next month on 2-4 February coincides with the centenary of the FIS being founded.
Visitors to Chamonix won't find a lot remaining from the Games of a century ago, the old bobsleigh run is lost in the woods, the original Aiguille du Midi lift (The bottom stage of which was used to lift bobsleighs up the slopes) was discontinued before completion after WW2 after the current route was deemed better, but the original ski jumping ramp is still there and there's an ice rink on the site of the 1924 Olympic facilities. You can also stay or eat in one of the luxury hotels used to host athletes, media and others in 1924.
Along with a commemorative book (English edition available) there are also two exhibitions to visit. 'The Invention of the Olympic Winter Games' is being staged at the Maison de la Mémoire et du Patrimoine in the resort centre and 'Champions at the Olympic Games' in the Maison de Village in Argentière.
There are several anniversary parades planned, including one to coincide with the centenary of the games starting, another on March 16th. Things will come full circle in June when the torch relay for the 2024 Paris Olympics will pass through.
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