1920 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event
in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium
.
The 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honor the people of that city after the suffering they endured during World War I. The initial choice for the site of the Games had been Budapest
, Hungary. Though the majority of events took place in Belgium, there was a single sailing event which took place in Dutch waters and as such, the games were officially in both countries.
The 1916 Summer Olympics
, to be held in Berlin, capital of the German Empire
, were canceled due to the war. The aftermath of the war
and the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
affected the Olympic Games not only due to new states being created, but also by sanctions against the nations that lost the war and were blamed for starting it.
Budapest had initially been selected to host the Games over Amsterdam
and Lyon
, but as the Austro-Hungarian Empire had been a German ally in the First World War, the Games were transferred to Antwerp in April 1919. Hungary, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey were also banned from competing in the Games. Germany remained banned until 1925, and instead hosted a series of games called Deutsche Kampfspiele, starting with the Winter edition of 1922 (which predated the first Winter Olympics).
A total of 29 nations participated in the Antwerp Games, only one more than in 1912, as Germany, Austria
, Hungary
, Bulgaria
and Turkey
were not invited, having lost World War I. From the newly created European states, only Estonia
took part, and Czechoslovakia
, succeeding Bohemia
which had sent athletes prior to World War I as part of the Austrian Empire
. Poland
was busy with the Polish-Soviet War
and therefore was unable to form an Olympic team. Argentina
, Finland
, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Brazil
, Monaco
competed as nations at the Olympic Games for the first time. New Zealand
, which had competed as part of a combined team with Australia in 1908 and 1912, competed on its own for the first time.
As the local Olympic Organizing Committee went bankrupt during the Antwerp 1920 Games, no official report of the Games was ever produced. The documents of the Games were archived at the Belgium Olympic Committee headquarters in Brussels.
Official name of Yugoslavia was the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes before 1929.
Multi-sport event
A multi-sport event is an organized sporting event, often held over multiple days, featuring competition in many different sports between organized teams of athletes from nation-states. The first major, modern, multi-sport event of international significance was the modern Olympic Games.Many...
in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
The 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honor the people of that city after the suffering they endured during World War I. The initial choice for the site of the Games had been Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary. Though the majority of events took place in Belgium, there was a single sailing event which took place in Dutch waters and as such, the games were officially in both countries.
The 1916 Summer Olympics
1916 Summer Olympics
The anticipated 1916 Summer Olympics, which were to be officially known as the Games of the VI Olympiad, were to have been held in Berlin, Germany. However, due to the outbreak of World War I, the games were cancelled.-History:...
, to be held in Berlin, capital of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, were canceled due to the war. The aftermath of the war
Aftermath of World War I
The fighting in World War I ended in western Europe when the Armistice took effect at 11:00 am GMT on November 11, 1918, and in eastern Europe by the early 1920s. During and in the aftermath of the war the political, cultural, and social order was drastically changed in Europe, Asia and Africa,...
and the Paris Peace Conference, 1919
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
affected the Olympic Games not only due to new states being created, but also by sanctions against the nations that lost the war and were blamed for starting it.
Budapest had initially been selected to host the Games over Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
and Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, but as the Austro-Hungarian Empire had been a German ally in the First World War, the Games were transferred to Antwerp in April 1919. Hungary, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria and Turkey were also banned from competing in the Games. Germany remained banned until 1925, and instead hosted a series of games called Deutsche Kampfspiele, starting with the Winter edition of 1922 (which predated the first Winter Olympics).
Highlights
- These Olympics were the first in which the Olympic OathOlympic OathThe Olympic Oath is a solemn promise made by one athlete -- as a representative of each of the participating Olympic competitors; and by one judge -- as a representative of each officiating Olympic referee or other official, at the opening ceremonies of each Olympic Games...
was voiced, the first in which doves were released to symbolize peace, and the first in which the Olympic Flag was flown. - The USA won 41 Gold, 27 Silver, and 27 Bronze medals, the most won by any of the 29 nations attending. Sweden, Great Britain, Finland and Belgium rounded out the five most successful medal-winning nations.
- The Games also featured a week of winter sports, with figure skatingFigure skatingFigure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
and ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
making their Olympic debut. - Duke KahanamokuDuke KahanamokuDuke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian swimmer, actor, lawman, early beach volleyball player and businessman credited with spreading the sport of surfing. He was a five-time Olympic medalist in swimming.-Early years:The name "Duke" is not a title, but a given name...
retained the 100 m swimming title he won before the war. - Nedo NadiNedo NadiNedo Nadi was an Italian fencer, widely regarded as one of, if not, the best ever. He is the only fencer to win a gold medal in each of the three weapons at a single Olympic Games and won the most gold medals ever at a single Games - five...
won 5 gold medals in the fencing events. - At the age of 72, Sweden's 100 metre running deer double-shot event champion Oscar SwahnOscar SwahnOscar Gomer Swahn was a Swedish shooter who competed at three Olympic games and won several medals....
won in the team event to become the oldest Olympic champion ever. - 23-year-old Paavo NurmiPaavo NurmiPaavo Johannes Nurmi was a Finnish runner. Born in Turku, he was known as one of the "Flying Finns," a term given to him, Hannes Kolehmainen, Ville Ritola, and others for their distinction in running...
won the 10,000 m and 8,000 m cross country races, took another gold in team cross country, and a silver in 5,000 m run. His contributions for FinlandFinlandFinland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
broke the U.S. dominance record in track and field with 9 medals. - In a unique moment in Olympic history, the 12-foot dinghy event in sailingSailing at the 1920 Summer OlympicsThe sailing at the 1920 Summer Olympics consisted of a total of 16 sailing classes . Two of these classes finally did not have entries. For each class three races were scheduled from 7 July 1920 to 9 July 1920 of the coast of Ostend North Sea. On 10 July 1920 sail-off races could be held.Two...
was held in two different countries. The final two races in the event were held in the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, as the only two competitors in the event were Dutch. - Sport shooter Guilherme ParaenseGuilherme ParaenseGuilherme Paraense was a Brazilian sport shooter and Olympic Champion. He was the first Brazilian ever to win an Olympic gold medal.He won gold medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Rapid-Fire Pistol...
won Brazil's first ever Gold Medal at the Olympic Games.
Medals awarded
|
Modern pentathlon at the 1920 Summer Olympics At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, a single modern pentathlon event was contested. As in 1912, Swedish athletes won all three medals.-Results:-Reference:*... Polo at the 1920 Summer Olympics Polo returned to the Olympic program at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, after not being contested at the 1912 Games.-Medalists:-Bracket:-References:... Rowing at the 1920 Summer Olympics The Olympic Rowing Events at the 1920 Summer Olympics, the first Olympics after World War I, saw five events. The competitions were held from August 27, 1920 to August 29, 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium.... Sailing at the 1920 Summer Olympics The sailing at the 1920 Summer Olympics consisted of a total of 16 sailing classes . Two of these classes finally did not have entries. For each class three races were scheduled from 7 July 1920 to 9 July 1920 of the coast of Ostend North Sea. On 10 July 1920 sail-off races could be held.Two... Shooting at the 1920 Summer Olympics At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, 21 events in shooting were contested. The competitions were held from July 22, 1920 to August 3, 1920.-Medal summary:-Medal table:... Swimming at the 1920 Summer Olympics At the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, ten swimming events were contested. The women's 300 metre freestyle event was new since the previous Games in 1912. The competitions were held from Sunday August 22, 1920 to Sunday August 29, 1920... Tennis at the 1920 Summer Olympics Final results for the Tennis competition at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. The competition was held from Monday, August 16, 1920 to Tuesday, August 24, 1920.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Mixed events:-Participating nations:... Tug of war at the 1920 Summer Olympics The tug of war contest at the 1920 Summer Olympics was held on August 17, 1920 and on August 18, 1920.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:A total of 40 tug of war competitors from 5 nations competed at the Antwerp Games:... Water polo at the 1920 Summer Olympics -Medal summary:-Gold medal round:-Silver medal round:-Bronze medal round:... Weightlifting at the 1920 Summer Olympics Weightlifting returned to the Olympic program at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, with competition in five weight classes, for men only. The sport had previously been contested at the Olympic Games in 1904.-Medal summary:-Participating nations:... Wrestling at the 1920 Summer Olympics At the 1920 Summer Olympics, ten wrestling events were contested, for all men. There were five weight classes in Greco-Roman wrestling and five classes in freestyle wrestling... |
Venues
- Antwerp - Cycling (road)
- Antwerp ZooAntwerp ZooAntwerp Zoo is a zoo in the centre of Antwerp, Belgium, located right next to the Antwerpen-Centraal railway station. It is the oldest animal park in the country, and one of the oldest in the world, established on 21 July 1843.- History :...
- Boxing, Wrestling - Beerschot Tennis ClubBeerschot Tennis ClubThe Beerschot Tennis Club, now known as the Royal Beerschot Tennis and Hockey Club is a club founded in 1899 in Kontich, Belgium, located in neighboring Antwerp. It hosted the tennis events for the 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:**...
- Tennis - Beverloo CampBeverloo CampBeverloo Camp was the old name of the military installations in Leopoldsburg, Belgium, 75 km northeast of Antwerp.During World War I, it hosted Belgian and German troops. In 1920 the facilities hosted the pistol and rifle shooting events for the 1920 Summer Olympics...
- Shooting (pistol/ rifle) - Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal - Rowing
- Buiten YIJ (bay)The IJ is a river, formerly a bay, in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is known for being Amsterdam's waterfront. The name derives from the generic Germanic term for "water" and is similar to other Aa/Ee names for bodies of water. In Dutch, the name consists of the digraph ij, which is...
(AmsterdamAmsterdamAmsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
) - Sailing (12 foot dinghy) - Gardens de la Palace d'EgmontEgmont PalaceThe Egmont Palace is a large mansion at the Wolstraat / Rue aux Laines and the Kleine Zavel / Petit Sablon Square in Brussels, Belgium...
- Fencing - Hoogboom Military CampHoogboom Military CampHoogboom Military Camp was a military installation located in Brasschaat, Belgium, located 10 km northeast of neighboring Antwerp. The venue hosted the Olympic trap and 100 metre running deer shooting events for the 1920 Summer Olympics.-Reference:*...
- Shooting (trap shooting, running target) - Jules OttenstadionJules OttenstadionJules Ottenstadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Gentbrugge, Ghent, Belgium. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of K.A.A. Gent. The stadium holds 12,919 and was built in 1920. It is due to be replaced by the new Arteveldestadion in 2010. The people of Ghent...
(GhentGhentGhent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
) - Football - Nachtegalen ParkNachtegalen ParkNachtegalen Park is a park located in the Antwerp, Belgium municipality of Wilrijk. It served as the archery venue for the 1920 Summer Olympics....
- Archery - Olympisch StadionOlympisch Stadion (Antwerp)The Olympisch Stadion or Kielstadion was built as the main stadium for the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. For those games, it hosted the athletics, equestrian, field hockey, football, gymnastics, modern pentathlon, rugby union, tug of war, and weightlifting events. It is currently used as the...
- Athletics, Equestrian, Field hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Modern pentathlon, Rugby union, Tug of war, and Weightlifting. - OstendOstendOstend is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. It comprises the boroughs of Mariakerke , Stene and Zandvoorde, and the city of Ostend proper – the largest on the Belgian coast....
- Polo, Sailing - Palais de Glace d'AnversPalais de Glace d'AnversThe Palais de Glace d'Anvers was a sports venue located in Antwerp, Belgium. Measuring long by long, it hosted both the figure skating and ice hockey events for the 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:***...
- Figure skating, Ice hockey - Stade Joseph MarienStade Joseph MarienStade Joseph Marien is a multi-use stadium in Brussels, Belgium. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of R. Union Saint-Gilloise. The stadium holds 8,000 and was opened in 1919...
(BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
) - Football - Stade Nautique d'AntwerpStade Nautique d'AntwerpStade Nautique d'Antwerp was an aquatics venue located in Antwerp, Belgium. For the 1920 Summer Olympics, it hosted the diving, swimming, and water polo.This was the first structure devoted to the aquatics events for the Summer Olympics....
- Diving, Swimming, Water polo - Stadion BroodstraatStadion BroodstraatStadion Broodstraat is an Association football or soccer venue located in Antwerp, Belgium. The venue hosted the Royal Antwerp FC from 1908 to 1923. It served as the main venue for the football tournament at the 1920 Summer Olympics.-Reference:* *...
- Football - Vélodrome d'Anvers ZuremborgVélodrome d'Anvers ZuremborgThe Vélodrome d'Anvers Zuremborg was a velodrome located in Antwerp, Belgium. A 400 metre track, it hosted the track cycling events for the 1920 Summer Olympics. The British media referred to the venue as The Garden City Velodrome.-Reference:*...
- Cycling (track)
Participating nations
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
were not invited, having lost World War I. From the newly created European states, only Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
took part, and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, succeeding Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
which had sent athletes prior to World War I as part of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
. Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
was busy with the Polish-Soviet War
Polish-Soviet War
The Polish–Soviet War was an armed conflict between Soviet Russia and Soviet Ukraine and the Second Polish Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic—four states in post–World War I Europe...
and therefore was unable to form an Olympic team. Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
competed as nations at the Olympic Games for the first time. New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, which had competed as part of a combined team with Australia in 1908 and 1912, competed on its own for the first time.
As the local Olympic Organizing Committee went bankrupt during the Antwerp 1920 Games, no official report of the Games was ever produced. The documents of the Games were archived at the Belgium Olympic Committee headquarters in Brussels.
Official name of Yugoslavia was the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes before 1929.
Medal count
These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1920 Games.| 1 | 41 | 27 | 27 | 95 | |
| 2 | 19 | 20 | 25 | 64 | |
| 3 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 43 | |
| 4 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 34 | |
| 5 | (host nation) | 14 | 11 | 11 | 36 |
| 6 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 31 | |
| 7 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 23 | |
| 8 | 9 | 19 | 13 | 41 | |
| 9 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 11 | |
| 10 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 13 |