Next week marks the 100th anniversary of the Closing Ceremony of the first Olympic Winter Games Chamonix 1924. We celebrate the occasion by looking at the impact the event had on its host city and region.
Iran NOC; Tehran: Until 1924,
Chamonix, a picturesque town in the heart of the French Alps, was primarily
known to climbers and mountaineers attempting the ascent of Mont Blanc and
exploring the surrounding mountains during the summer. The first-ever Olympic
Winter Games, which unfolded in the shadow of Europe's tallest peak, injected
new life into the town. They transformed it into a world-renowned, year-round
destination that today welcomes over eight million overnight visitors each
year, spread equally between the winter and summer seasons. The Games did more than
just introducing Chamonix to international tourism; they propelled the town
into the realm of hosting major sporting events and ignited a global passion
for winter sports.
Some 258 athletes from 16 nations
came together, competing in 16 events spanning 9 disciplines: bobsleigh,
cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, ice hockey, military patrol,
Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating.
The Games’ kick-off was preceded
by challenges. For the first time, an international winter sports competition
of this scale was organized, and preparing the three main sites – the ice rink,
ski jump hill and bobsleigh track – on time, was a monumental task.
Temperatures were unseasonably high a few weeks before the Opening Ceremony,
turning the ice rink, the world’s largest at the time, into what seemed like a
“paddling pool”. However, the cold weather returned, and over 130 centimeters
of snow fell over one night, requiring urgent shoveling efforts to ensure the
beginning of the Games.
Thanks to the commitment and
dedication of the Chamoniards, the Games kicked off under perfect conditions. Apart
from cherished memories, the Olympic Winter Games created a lasting impact too.
The economic dividends of hosting the Games were substantial, significantly
boosting the tourism industry and contributing to Chamonix’s growth as a
premier winter sports destination. Eighty-nine per cent of the permanent venues
from all the Olympic Winter Games editions between Chamonix 1924 and
PyeongChang 2018 are still in active use today.