CHAMONIX 1924
- 24 January – 5 February 1924
- 16 official medal events.
- 291 competitors from 16 countries.
- Finnish team: 19 athletes (17 participated in official events).
The event that took place in early 1924 under the shadow of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain of the Alps, was called “The International Winter Sports Week”. It was held under the auspices of the Organising Committee of the Paris Olympic Games, but it was not recognised by the IOC as the first Olympic Winter Games until later, in 1926.
The Chamonix Games marked the grand debut of Finnish cross-country skiing on Central European snows. The opening 50-kilometre event was a rude awakening, as three of the four Finns fell off the track on the steep Alpine slopes. The only finisher was Matti Raivio in a humble seventh place. Tapani Niku’s bronze in the 18-kilometre race gave some consolation. By contrast, not much was yet expected of Finnish ski jumpers and Nordic combined athletes. Lack of Finnish success in skiing events was fully compensated in speed skating, where Clas Thunberg and Julius Skutnabb combined to win four out of five available gold medals. Thunberg was the overwhelming champion in the points competition, for which medals were awarded only this once in Olympic history. Aged 41 and 39, Mr. and Mrs. Jakobsson won their last medal in pairs figure skating. Finland finished second in military patrol skiing. This event of the Chamonix Games was confirmed as an official Olympic competition by the IOC only in 2006.
