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Most of the winners in 1900 did not receive medals, but were given cups or trophies.
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The decision to hold competitions on a Sunday brought protests from many American athletes, who traveled as representatives of their colleges and were expected to withdraw rather than compete on their religious day of rest. Women took part in the games for the first time, with sailor Hélène de Pourtalès, born Helen Barbey in New York City, becoming the first female Olympic champion. Many athletes, some of whom had won events, were unaware that they had competed in the Olympic Games. This number relies on certain assumptions about which events were and were not "Olympic". In total, 1226 competitors took part in 19 different sports. The Games were held as part of the 1900 World's Fair. A decision was made to hold the first Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens and have Paris host the second Games. However, the delegates to the conference were unwilling to wait six years, and lobbied to hold the first games in 1896. No opening or closing ceremonies were held.Īt the Sorbonne conference of 1894, Pierre de Coubertin proposed that the Olympic Games should take place in Paris in 1900. The 1900 Summer Olympics (French: Jeux olympiques d'été de 1900), today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad ( Jeux de la II e olympiade) and also known as Paris 1900, were an international multi-sport event that took place in Paris, France, from 14 May to 28 October 1900.