Chamonix 1924 Olympic Winter Games

Chamonix 1924 Olympic Winter Games, athletic festival held in Chamonix, France, that took place Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 1924. The Chamonix Games were the first occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

The Chamonix Games were originally staged as International Winter Sports Week, a meet sponsored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but not sanctioned as an official Olympic Games. Well-organized and equipped with new facilities, the event was a success and led the IOC to amend its charter in 1925, establishing the Winter Games. Chamonix was thereafter recognized as the first Winter Olympics.

Some 250 athletes representing 16 countries attended the Games, competing in 16 events. The 11 female athletes participated in the figure skating competition, the only sport open to women until the addition of the Alpine (skiing) combined in the 1936 Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Ger.

Finnish speed skater Clas Thunberg turned in the most impressive performance at Chamonix, capturing three gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. Norwegian Thorleif Haug was the star of the Nordic skiing competition, winning three events. Canada dominated the ice hockey competition, winning games by as many as 33 goals before defeating the United States in the championship game 6–1. Chamonix marked the Olympic debut of 11-year-old figure skater Sonja Henie of Norway. Though she would become one of the greatest figure skaters of all time, she finished last in the standings.