First Winter Olympics

Winter sports take off in style as the first Winter Olympiad is staged in Chamonix, France. The previously unknown sport of ski jumping thrilled spectators, as did 12 other events involving a total of six sports. Sixteen nations were represented by 281 men and 13 women. The Olympics offered a particular boost to skiing, a sport which made enormous strides within the next decade. At Chamonix, Scandinavians dominated the slopes, with Norway winning three gold medals.