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Olympic Games : The Winter Olympics

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After many decades of holding the Olympic Games, people started to think that having a second type of Olympics would make the most beloved sports competition even more popular. The first Winter Olympics changed the image of the Olympic Games forever. The thrilling event of “International Winter Sports Week” later became known as the first Winter Olympic Games. The Ancient Grecian summer tradition was brought to the winter for the first time in Chamonix, France on January 25, 1924. The event was a huge success and it became a tradition in the same manner as the Summer Olympics. It was to be celebrated every four years. Having a Winter Olympics as well as a Summer Olympics gave more athletes the opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games …show more content…

He thought that a sporting competition could be a peacemaker between nations. With the help of other leaders, he formed the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC became the governing body for the modern Olympic Games. In Athens, Greece on April 6, 1896, the first modern Olympic Games had its opening ceremony. The games had 280 people from 13 different nations participating in 43 events. All of the 280 participants were males. Some of the events included track and field, gymnastics, swimming, wrestling, cycling, tennis, weightlifting, shooting, and fencing. This modern revival of the Olympic Games was a very popular competition right from the beginning. The official symbol of the modern Olympics eventually became five rings representing 5 continents, which are North and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia. As time went on, people started to wonder if having a winter version of the beloved summer competition would be a success. (ebscohost.com) Members of the International Olympic Committee decided to hold a separate winter games. Chamonix, France was the proud home of the first Winter Olympics. “International Winter Sports Week” had its opening ceremonies on January 25, 1924 and its closing ceremonies on February 5, 1924, with 258 athletes from 16 countries competing over a period of 11 days in 16 events. 247 of the athletes were men and 11 were women.

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