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Fascinating Photos Show Paris’ Last Olympic Games In 1924

The vintage images demonstrate how the global sporting spectacle has evolved over the past 100 years.
Lee Moran
By 

Reporter, HuffPost

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The Olympics return to Paris this summer after 100 years.

And these photos from the inter-war 1924 games in France’s capital provide a fascinating insight into how the globe’s biggest sporting spectacle has evolved.

A then-record number of 3,089 athletes, housed in an Olympic Village for the first time, competed across 17 sports in front of 625,000 spectators in the first games to be covered on the radio.

U.S. swimmer Johnny Weismuller pictured after a victory at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.
U.S. swimmer Johnny Weismuller pictured after a victory at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris.
PA Images via Getty Images

U.S. swimmer Johnny Weissmuller — later of “Tarzan” fame — took the pool by storm, and British track stars Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams inspired the Academy Award-winning film “Chariots of Fire.”

Paris 1924 is widely considered to be when the Olympics came of age, and its main stadium, now called the Stade Yves-du-Manoir, will host this year’s hockey competitions. Paris also hosted the games in 1900.

Check out photos from the 1924 Olympics below:

Paris 1924 featured the very first Olympic Village for athletes.
Paris 1924 featured the very first Olympic Village for athletes.
via Associated Press
The women of the Great Britain team at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, 1924.
The women of the Great Britain team at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, 1924.
Hulton Archive via Getty Images
The U.S. rowing team at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
The U.S. rowing team at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Bettmann via Getty Images
Preliminary rounds in the water polo competition at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Preliminary rounds in the water polo competition at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Central Press via Getty Images
America's Harold Osborn clears the high jump using the "western roll" style at the Paris Olympics in 1924.
America's Harold Osborn clears the high jump using the "western roll" style at the Paris Olympics in 1924.
FPG via Getty Images
America's Bud Houser heaves the discus for a new record at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
America's Bud Houser heaves the discus for a new record at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Bettmann via Getty Images
Philadelphia rowing crews representing the U.S. at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Philadelphia rowing crews representing the U.S. at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Bettmann via Getty Images
Finland's Vilho Ritola, America's Marvin Rick and France's Paul Bontemps competing in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Finland's Vilho Ritola, America's Marvin Rick and France's Paul Bontemps competing in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Central Press via Getty Images
U.S. gymnasts at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
U.S. gymnasts at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Bettmann via Getty Images
Britain's Lucille Norton winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke at the 1924 Olympics.
Britain's Lucille Norton winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke at the 1924 Olympics.
PA Images via Getty Images
A heat in the 200-meter track event at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
A heat in the 200-meter track event at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
George Rinhart via Getty Images
Johnny Weissmuller (left) and Duke Kahanamoku at the 1924 Olympics in Paris.
Johnny Weissmuller (left) and Duke Kahanamoku at the 1924 Olympics in Paris.
via Associated Press
U.S. diver Elizabeth Becker at Paris 1924.
U.S. diver Elizabeth Becker at Paris 1924.
via Associated Press
British sprinter Harold Abrahams posing at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
British sprinter Harold Abrahams posing at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.
via Associated Press
The U.S. and Romanian rugby teams face off at Paris 1924.
The U.S. and Romanian rugby teams face off at Paris 1924.
via Associated Press
Britain's Eric Liddell in the 400-meter track event at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Britain's Eric Liddell in the 400-meter track event at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
via Associated Press
Italy's Ugo Frigerio competing in the 10,000-meter walking race at Paris 1924.
Italy's Ugo Frigerio competing in the 10,000-meter walking race at Paris 1924.
via Associated Press
The opening of the 1924 Olympics at Colombes Stadium in Paris.
The opening of the 1924 Olympics at Colombes Stadium in Paris.
ARCHIVES CNOSF via Getty Images
An Irish hockey forward, in the white uniform, is shown scoring at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
An Irish hockey forward, in the white uniform, is shown scoring at the Paris 1924 Olympics.
Bettmann via Getty Images
Finland's Vilho Ritola after winning the men's 10,000-meters at Paris 1924.
Finland's Vilho Ritola after winning the men's 10,000-meters at Paris 1924.
via Associated Press
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