1924 Winter Olympics: Historic Photos & Images
News Context
At a glance
- The first Winter Olympics took place in Chamonix, France, in January 1924.
- Historic photographs from those Games reveal a stark difference from the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
- Archival images show scenes from the opening ceremony, athletes in training, and even a bobsleigh accident.
The first Winter Olympics took place in Chamonix, France, in January 1924. Around 258 athletes representing 16 nations participated in the inaugural event.
Historic photographs from those Games reveal a stark difference from the upcoming 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The 2026 Games are expected to draw approximately 3,500 athletes from over 90 countries.
Archival images show scenes from the opening ceremony, athletes in training, and even a bobsleigh accident. Notably absent from these early photos are the ubiquitous sponsorship logos and digital scoreboards common in modern sporting events.