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CHAMONIX SKIING PART FOUR:THE FIRST WINTER OLYMPICS OF 1924© Annette R. Bignami
Jan 4, 2001
While Chamonix’s connection with winter sports extends back into the 1800’s, the 1924 Winter Olympics, even though it was called the Chamonix International Sports Week, expanded the areas winter options. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, International Olympic Committee president used a certain amount of French penache – the Scandinavians who had heretofore controlled winter championships would doubtless say “duplicity” – to ram though a voice vote for Winter Games. Marquis Melcior de Polignac, did the deed and managed to piggy-back the winter games onto the summer games that were guaranteed to Paris as a tribute to the retiring Coubertin. A deal was cut that resulted in Chamonix’s building ice and hockey rinks and a jumping hill under the shadow of Mt. Blanc. This, in return for 40 percent of the proceeds and a 500,000-franc guarantee, came at a time when francs were worth something. After considerable persuasion the Scandinavian countries turned up to win 28 of 43 metals offered in the natal events – four-man bobsledding, ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating and Nordic skiing and ski jumping. Oddly enough, an American, Charles Jewtaw won the first and the only American gold, of this Olympics in the 500-meter speed skating event. Perhaps the most overwhelming Olympic team of all time, the Canadian ice hokey team, took the gold by outscoring the opposition 110 goals to three. However, the most interesting medal story is doubtless that of Anders Haugen, a 36-year-old American who barely missed a metal with 17.916 points. Thorleif Haug, edged him out with 18.000. At least, that was the case until the 50th anniversary reunion when a sports historian noticed that Haug’s score was incorrect, and only 17.821. The Norwegians got the results changed and brought Haugen, now 86, from his California home to a special Oslo Ceremony when he got his long-delayed metal from Thorleif’s daughter. Haugen is still the only American ski jumping metalist. The winter games, aside from the fact the host French only won a single medal, a bronze, were off and running..
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