This week in Olympic history: 1-7 July – Paris 1924 opens to the world

Welcome to This Week in Olympic Sports History, where Olympics.com remembers the most significant sports events of the past. This week, we'll cover 1-7 July.

On this day – 5 July 1924: Paris 1924 Opening Ceremony

As the Olympic Games return to Paris this month, it is a great time to look back on the city’s historic connection with the modern Olympic movement.

Paris hosted the second ever Olympic Summer Games in 1900 and it will be the second city after London to host three Games. In fact, the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, was born in Paris in 1863, and desperately wanted his final Games before retirement to be held in his hometown.

His wish came true, as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the 1924 Olympic Games to Paris.

Paris 2024 is made even more special as it marks 100 years since the city of lights last hosted the Olympic Games. Paris 1924 began on 4 May 1924 with a few events such as football and rugby, but the Opening Ceremony did not take place for another two months.

On 5 July 1924, Paris held its official opening to the world at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium in Colombes. The Olympic oath was taken by French curler Georges André, who was part of the team that had won bronze at the inaugural Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924 just six months earlier.

It was a traditional ceremony in many ways: pigeons were released, canons were fired and the Olympic flag was raised over the Parisian skyline for the duration of the Games. The Closing Ceremony on 27 July concluded with what would become an Olympic tradition with the raising of three flags: those of the IOC, the host nation and the next host nation.

The Opening Ceremony for Paris 2024 will be like no other on the River Seine, but a part of Paris 1924 will still be present 100 years on. As well as the ceremonies, Colombes hosted rugby and football in 1924, and in 2024 it will be the home of hockey.

Quote of the Week | Pierre de Coubertin (1863-1937), founder of the modern Olympic movement

“For each individual, sport is a possible source for inner improvement"

Notable Olympic birthdays: 1-7 July

• Carl Lewis (USA, Athletics, nine-time Olympic champion) born 1 July 1961
• Alex Morgan (USA, Football, Olympic champion) born 2 July 1989
• Katie Taylor (IRL, Boxing, Olympic champion) born 2 July 1986
• Teemu Selanne (FIN, Ice Hockey, four-time Olympic medallist) born 3 July 1970
• Souleymane Cissokho (FRA, Boxing, Olympic bronze medallist) born 4 July 1991

• Hernan Crespo (ARG, Football, Olympic silver medallist) born 5 July 1975
• Mary Peters (GBR, Athletics, Olympic champion) born 6 July 1939
• Pau Gasol (ESP, Basketball, three-time Olympic medallist) born 6 July 1980
• Lisa Leslie (USA, Basketball, four-time Olympic champion) born 7 July 1972
• Jennifer Jones (CAN, Curling, Olympic champion) born 7 July 1974

Make sure to check back on Olympics.com next week for more sports and Olympic history.