ST LOUIS 1904

Oribinally the 1904 Olympic games were granted to Chicago in IOC's congress in Paris. However St Louis suggested the IOC to move the games to be held same time with the World Fair in St Louis.

The suggestion was generally opposed specially in Chicago, but they had to give up hosting the games specially due to the economical reasons.  It would be easier to organize the games together with the World Fair.

So my olympic adventure takes me now first time a little bit further over the Atlantic Ocean to the USA.

So far of all the cities I've visited the venues were the easiest to find.  Only the artificial lake used for swimming competitions didn't exist anymore.  Unfortunately there are not so many original photographs left of the games or the venues.

FRANCIS FIELD

Francis Field was named after David Francis, the General Secretary of the Olympic Games and the World Fair.  The stadium was built 1903 specifically for the Olympic games

The stadium is now the stadium of St Louis' University.  During my visit to the stadium had hosted on previous day the graduation of the St Louis University

During the olympics the stadium hosted most of the events of the games -  athletics, archery, cycling, football, lacrosse, croquet, tennis, tug-of-war, weight lifting and wrestling.  The participants from outside USA came onlyto the athletics, football, lacrosse, tennis, tug-of-war and weight lifting. 

FRANCIS GYMNASIUM

 

Francis Gymnasium was originally built 1903 as an exhibition hall for the World Fair but when the Olympic games were given to St Louis, the gymnasium was taken over by the olympic organizers. The gymnasium hosted the boxing and fencing events of the games.

During the events the spectators were following the games on the "shelves" on the wall surrounding the venue.

After the games, the Francis Gymnasium was taken over the University of St Louis and it is now the training center for the University's athletics department.

 

CREVE COEUR LAKE

In the south western part of St Louis is located the national park of Creve Coeur.  In the park is located also the lake of Creve Coeur.  Creve Coeur hosted the rowing events of the Olympic Games.

My olympic adventure became a real adventure when on my way to the lake there was a tornado warning. A friendly lady living by the road took me inside her cellar to take cover from the tornado.  

Thank goodness this was a false alarm and I was able to continue searching the rowing stadium.  After several kilometers walk the beautiful lake was found and sitting by the lake for a moment gave strength to continue

 
The St Louis Olympic games ended in November in confused feelings.  Attached to the World Fair, the Olympic event had become more like side show than a great sports event and the games didn't get the value it deserved. 

 

The Olympic games of 1908 were granted to London.  The Great Britain promised to organize Olympic games and baron de Coubertain decided to give his beloved Olympic movement one chance.  The success looked good in advance as the 1908 World Fair was not held in London

For myself the next city on my Olympic adventure is indeed very easy as London is my home town and for example the White City Olympic stadium was located only half an hour bus ride from where I live now - so let's go to London next

DID YOU KNOW THAT

* George Eyser who won 5 gold medals in gymnastics was very genuine Olympic champion as his left leg was made of wood.  He had lost his leg three years earlier in a train crash 

 

* Future favorite Olympic sport - basketball - was in St Louis as an exhibition sport

* The manager for St Louis' tennis tournament John Davis donated a trophy for the best tennis team of the tournament.  The trophy was named after him and it became the prize for the international tennis tournament Davis Cup.  The original trophy is still used in the Davis Cup every year