25: How Chicago Lost the 1904 Olympics (Part 1)

Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin was embarrassed. He had just revived the Ancient Olympic Games on a global scale. But the 1900 Games in his hometown of Paris, France were a disaster. They were a sideshow at the World’s Fair! Many competitors weren’t even aware they were participating in the Olympics!

Next time around, Coubertin vowed to find a host nation that would appreciate the Olympics.

And that’s when a colleague suggested the United States should play host.  But which city? Unfortunately, making that selection was easier said than done. 

Remember, kids, history hoes always cite their sources! For this episode, Norm pulled from: 
Boykoff, Jules. Power Games: A Political History of the Olympics. Verso, 2016.
Matthews, George R. America’s First Olympics: The St. Louis Games of 1904. University of Missouri Press, 2018.

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