Paris played host to a landmark sporting spectacle when the second Summer Olympic Games kicked off on May 20th, 1900. Officially dubbed the "Games of the Second Olympiad," this remarkable occasion was staged alongside the World's Fair, drawing competitors from 24 different countries. A total of 1,226 athletes took part in 95 events spanning 19 different sports, with the competition stretching all the way through to October 28.
The idea for a Paris-based Olympic event actually traces back to 1894, when the Olympic Congress — also called the IOC — convened for the first time and put forward a proposal for Games in Paris in 1900. Yet many delegates pushed back, arguing that a six-year wait was simply too long. After considerable debate, a compromise emerged: the first Olympic Games would be held in Athens in 1896, while the plan to hold the second Olympics in Paris in 1900 remained intact.
Fun Facts about the 2nd Summer Olympic Games:
- Female athletes made their Olympic debut at these Games — a historic first. Of the 1226 athletes participating in the Games, 22 were women. In the current Olympic Games, women represent nearly half of all participants.
- Several sports made their one and only Olympic appearance here: the angling, cricket, and ballooning events were only ever contested in the Paris Summer 1900 Games and discontinued afterwards.
- Live animals served as targets in a shooting competition that used pigeons — making these the only Games ever to feature such an event.
- Despite running for several months, the Games did not feature any opening or closing ceremonies.
- No nation dominated quite like the host country: France achieved the most gold, silver, and bronze medals.