1551: “Birthplace of the Winter Olympics – Chamonix 1924 to Beijing 2022”

HistoryPodcastSports
Written By JC

Interesting Things with JC #1551: “Birthplace of the Winter Olympics – Chamonix 1924 to Beijing 2022” - On February 4, 1924, winter sports quietly stepped onto the world stage in Chamonix, France. Ninety eight years later, on the same date, the Winter Olympics opened in Beijing. This episode traces how a small experiment became a global event.

Curriculum - Episode Anchor

Episode Title: Birthplace of the Winter Olympics – Chamonix 1924 to Beijing 2022
Episode Number: #1551
Host: JC
Audience: Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area: History, Sports History, Media Literacy, Geography, STEM in Society

Lesson Overview

Students will:

  • Define key terms related to the Winter Olympics and international sports history.

  • Compare the origins of the Winter Olympics in 1924 with the 2022 Games.

  • Analyze how technological, cultural, and political factors have changed the Olympic experience.

  • Explain the historical significance of February 4 as a symbolic date in Olympic history.

Key Vocabulary

  • Chamonix (shah-moh-NEE): A mountain town in France that hosted the first Winter Olympics in 1924, then known as “International Winter Sports Week.”

  • Mont Blanc (mont BLAHN): The highest mountain in the Alps, overlooking the site of the 1924 Games.

  • Thorleif Haug (THOR-layf HOWG): A Norwegian skier who dominated the 1924 Games, initially receiving an incorrect medal due to scoring errors.

  • Artificial Snow: Man-made snow created using machines and chemicals, necessary for the 2022 Beijing Olympics due to lack of natural snowfall.

  • Bird’s Nest Stadium: The nickname for Beijing National Stadium, reused from the 2008 Summer Olympics for the 2022 Winter Games opening ceremony.

Narrative Core

  • Open: A quiet winter event in 1924 ends under the peaks of Mont Blanc, not yet known as the Winter Olympics.

  • Info: Chamonix hosted what was first called the “International Winter Sports Week,” with 16 nations and 6 sports.

  • Details: The story of medal miscalculation and retroactive correction between Thorleif Haug and Anders Haugen adds complexity to the history.

  • Reflection: From wool jackets to carbon fiber gear, the Olympic Games reflect human and technological evolution—yet the core purpose remains.

  • Closing: These are interesting things, with JC.

Vintage style poster reading “Birthplace of the Winter Olympics,” showing Chamonix 1924 and Beijing 2022 with Olympic rings, snowy mountains, and winter athletes in action.

Transcript

Interesting Things with JC #1551: "Birthplace of the Winter Olympics – Chamonix 1924 to Beijing 2022"

It wrapped up on February 4, 1924, under the snow-covered peaks of Mont Blanc. No big sendoff. No global broadcast. Just sixteen flags and a finish to something brand new, an international gathering for winter sports.

At the time, it was called “International Winter Sports Week” in Chamonix (shah-moh-NEE), France. It wasn’t labeled the Winter Olympics until later, when the Olympic Committee officially gave it that title. Back then, it was an experiment.

Sixteen countries took part. There were six sports: figure skating, ski jumping, speed skating, cross-country skiing, bobsled, and ice hockey. Norway’s Thorleif Haug (THOR-layf HOWG) stood out with three gold medals in skiing. He also got a bronze in ski jumping, by mistake. That wasn’t discovered until 1974, when officials realized American Anders Haugen (HOW-gen) had actually scored higher. He finally received the medal at age 86.

From that small start in France, the Winter Games took root. And February 4 became part of its legacy.

Jump ahead 98 years.

On February 4, 2022, the Winter Olympics opened in Beijing (BAY-jing), China. Same date, different world.

The opening ceremony lit up the Bird’s Nest stadium with LED floors, snowflake drones, and digital ice. Beijing became the first city ever to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

But there was no fresh snow. It had to be made using artificial systems across Yanqing and Zhangjiakou (JANG-jyah-koh). The entire Games played out under strict COVID rules. No fans in the stands. Daily testing. Closed bubbles.

Still, the athletes showed up. They raced. They skated. They jumped.

In 1924, it was wooden skis and wool jackets. In 2022, it was sensors, carbon fiber, and machine-groomed halfpipes. Yet both events happened on the same date. Both carried the same idea. February 4 became more than just a number on the calendar. It marked the day winter sports found their place on the world stage.

And through every change, from handwritten scorecards to electronic timing, from outdoor rinks to climate-controlled arenas, the purpose stayed steady. Test the limits of human skill in the harshest season, on ice and snow, in full view of the world.

These are interesting things, with JC.

Student Worksheet

  1. What was the original name of the event held in Chamonix in 1924?

  2. List three of the six sports included in the 1924 Winter Games.

  3. Who was mistakenly awarded a bronze medal, and when was the error corrected?

  4. Why did Beijing need to use artificial snow in 2022?

  5. How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the 2022 Winter Olympics?

Teacher Guide

Estimated Time:
1–2 class periods (50–90 minutes)

Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy:

  • Use image-based vocabulary cards for places and sports terms.

  • Watch brief clips from both Chamonix 1924 and Beijing 2022 openings.

Anticipated Misconceptions:

  • Students may think the 1924 event was always called the “Winter Olympics.”

  • Some may assume all Olympic Games have natural snow.

  • Confusion between Haug and Haugen due to similar names.

Discussion Prompts:

  • How does technology change the experience of international sports?

  • Why is it important to recognize and correct historical errors (like the bronze medal)?

  • What role does weather and climate play in planning global events?

Differentiation Strategies:

  • ESL: Use dual-language vocabulary supports.

  • IEP: Provide visual timelines and guided reading questions.

  • Gifted: Research another year of the Winter Olympics and present comparative findings.

Extension Activities:

  • Create a mini-documentary comparing 1924 and 2022 Olympics.

  • Investigate how Olympic venues are reused or abandoned.

  • Explore the physics of winter sports like ski jumping or speed skating.

Cross-Curricular Connections:

  • Physics: Friction, gravity, and balance in winter sports.

  • Geography: Mapping Olympic locations and climates.

  • Ethics/Media Literacy: The role of fairness and accuracy in competition.

Quiz

Q1. What city hosted the first Winter Olympics?
A. Oslo
B. Chamonix
C. Lausanne
D. Tokyo
Answer: B

Q2. In what year did the Winter Olympics open in Beijing?
A. 2020
B. 2024
C. 2022
D. 2018
Answer: C

Q3. What was used to replace natural snow in Beijing?
A. Salt
B. Plastic snow
C. Artificial snow systems
D. Imported snow
Answer: C

Q4. What sport did Thorleif Haug win three gold medals in?
A. Ice hockey
B. Ski jumping
C. Speed skating
D. Skiing
Answer: D

Q5. Why was Anders Haugen awarded a bronze medal in 1974?
A. He cheated.
B. He was a late replacement.
C. A scoring error was discovered.
D. He was a last-minute competitor.
Answer: C

Assessment

  1. Compare the 1924 and 2022 Winter Olympics in terms of technology, atmosphere, and global attention.

  2. Analyze how correcting the bronze medal error reflects the importance of historical truth and accuracy.

Rubric – 3–2–1

  • 3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful

  • 2 = Partial or missing detail

  • 1 = Inaccurate or vague

Standards Alignment

Common Core (CCSS):

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.2 — Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.3 — Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence.

C3 Framework:

  • D2.His.1.9-12 — Evaluate how historical events and developments were shaped by unique circumstances of time and place.

  • D2.Geo.7.9-12 — Analyze the relationships and interactions between human and physical systems.

ISTE (Digital Literacy):

  • ISTE 3a — Students plan and employ effective research strategies to locate information and other resources.

International Equivalents:

  • UK National Curriculum: History KS4 — Understand how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.

  • IB MYP Individuals & Societies Criterion B — Investigating: Students use research skills to explore historical and societal topics.

  • Cambridge IGCSE History (0470): — Develop understanding of continuity and change across significant global events.

Show Notes

This episode of “Interesting Things with JC” compares the humble beginnings of the Winter Olympics in 1924 with the technologically advanced 2022 Games in Beijing. From the quiet snow of Mont Blanc to the LED-spectacle of the Bird’s Nest, listeners are taken through time to witness how much has changed—and how the Olympic spirit endures. The episode provides rich material for classroom conversations about sports, history, fairness, global traditions, and the ever-present relationship between humans and their environment. Teachers can use it to bring alive discussions of how past and present intersect, and how legacy and innovation shape our understanding of global events.

References

JC https://jimconnors.org
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1550: “Hákarl”