ANTWERP 1920

When the world's best athletes gathered next time under the Olympic movement, the First World War had just finished and there were lots of young olympic athletes had lost their lives in the war.  For example the winner of 400m in London 1908 Halswell had fallen in the battle of Somme.

After the war there were also new independent countries, for example Finland and the Baltic countries were at the olympics first time with their own teams.

The organizing of the 1920 Olympic games were granted to Belgium. Brussels promised to take over the games. However the aftermath of the war was too much for Brussels' resources and the games were eventually transferred to the Antwerp.

OLYMPISCHE STADION

The old beautiful original Olympic Stadium was unfortunately demolished in 1971, when the present football stadium was built to the spot.  The football stadium is still called Olympic Stadium and it is owned by the local football team Beerschot AC whose home game I had a pleasure to see while visiting Antwerp.

With the assistance of the local club officials and pictures, it was easy to locate the old stadium's location comparing to the present one.  For example the office building of the new stadium is located exactly on the finish line of the former stadium.

NACHTEGAALEN PARK

Park's name can be translated beautifully the Park of Nightingale. The locals told me that in the beginning of the summer you can hear singing of tens of nightingales same time and it can be a great experience for the bird watchers.

My visit to the park was in April so you were unable to hear the nightingales yet

In the park there is a small zoo which is very popular with the local families. 

The Nachtegalen Park was the venue for the Archery of 1920 Olympic Games

ANTWERPEN ZOO

The Antwerp zoo is so far one of the most interesting sites I've visited. The zoo was the venue of the boxing and wrestling events in the 1920 Olympic Games.

The location of the venue was found with help of old picture I found at the IOC files.  Many passer by was wondering that what is this bloke doing running around with an old picture in his hand.  I told about my task to one of the zoo keepers and he recognized the site immediately.  The grass area next to the bird house was the old olympic venue.  This my friendly helper didn't know and he promised to add this information to the zoo's guide books and to the historical files.

BEERSCHOT TENNIS CLUB

The Beerschot Tennis Club is located approximately half an hour bus ride outside the Antwerp city center. Again finding the venue required a lot of walking and asking from the local people but eventually I found out that the tennis club is now the venue of local FC Kontich football club.

Now the tennis club is just the name of the location, there are no longer tennis courts in this area.

By surprise I found an Olympic flag in front of a local house as if welcoming the Olympic Adventurer to an 80 years old Olympic venue.  Unfortunately the gates to the stadium were closed but I was able to get a good idea of the area.

THE WILLEBROEK CANAL

Located in halfway between Antwerp and Brussels the Willebroek Canal hosted the rowing events of the 1920 Olympic Games

The canal is now refurbished to fulfill the measures needed to transport goods different way than in 1920.  The rowing stadium was mentioned as one of the most beautiful rowing venues in the world in the reports of 1920 games.

To locate the venue, I had again help from the old pictures, but the exact location is no longer known and it cannot be found in any archives.

GARDENS DE PALACE EGMONT

Some of the Olympic events of Antwerp games were competed in the capital Brussels.  The gardens of the Palace de Egmont was the venue of the fencing events of the 1920 Olympic Games.

The palace is now used by Belgian foreign ministry and understandably the security around the area was very high.  After explaining my task to the local guards wished me a pleasant day and gave a permission to take pictures.  The park in front of the palace is now a public park

STADE JOSEPH MARIEN

An old football stadium located in Brussels.  The main stands are still in the same format as 1920.  You can still see outside the stadium the marks of the old times and the stadium is located in a beautiful spot by  forest.

The Joseph Marien Stadium is still in active use for football teams playing in the lower divisions of Belgian football league.

DID YOU KNOW THAT

* The olympic rings were seen first time in the Summer Olympic games.  The rings were created by Pierre    de Coubertain himself to highlight the get together of all the people in the world.  In addition the colours of the rings can be seen in every flag in the world.

* The Olympic Oath was sworn first time in the Olympic games history

* The new world peace was celebrated with releasing the doves at the opening ceremonies  

* American rower Jack Kelly was so supreme in the Single sculls that he had time to stop his race in final to let a flock of ducks crossing his lane