on this day in 1924

on this day 93 years ago was the opening ceremonies for the first Winter Olympic games, held in Chamonix, France. it was held from January 25 to February 5. it was initally know as "International Week of Winter Sport." a year later it was decided that it would be renamed the first Winter Olympics and to be held every 4 years. the first gold went to Charles Jewtraw of the U.S. in the 500m speed skating event. two unique situations happened at these games. 1. figure skater Gillis Grafstrom of Sweden defended his summer Olympic gold from 1920 (figure skating was a summer Olympic sport. i don't get it either) and 2. the Canadian ice hockey team also defended it's summer Olympic gold from 1920. (ice hockey was also a summer sport. i still don't get) it was also the last summer sport defended in the winter games. it was the first time a host nation failed to win a gold on home soil. France had three bronze. it would also happen at the 1928 winter Olympics, the 1976 summer Olympics, the 1984 winter Olympics and the 1988 winter Olympics. Canada won one medal - the hockey gold - at these games. below is the poster for these games.