Jump directly to the content
freeze frame

Athletes wear suits and ties and smoke pipes in amazing photos of first ever Winter Olympics in 1924

FLAT CAPS, three-piece suits and ties and athletes puffing on their pipes - welcome to the first ever Winter Olympics.

It was like an episode of Miss Marple on Ice.

Britain's gold medal-winning curling team in plus-fours and ties
18
Britain's gold medal-winning curling team in plus-fours and tiesCredit: Hulton Archive - Getty
The Swedish curling team take a break and one enjoys a puff on his pipe
18
The Swedish curling team take a break and one enjoys a puff on his pipeCredit: Chamonix 1924 Official Olympic Report

These amazing pics of the first ever Winter Olympics, held in Chamonix in the French Alps, in 1924, show just how much the world has changed.

Helmets and safety equipment were nowhere to be seen.

Lycra was several decades away from even being invented.

The bobsleighs looked like something banged together in someone's garage... probably because they were.

The BBC's Repair Shop would have a field day.

It was a very different type of Olympics 98 years ago.

A bobsleigh used by the French team at the first Winter Olympic Games at Chamonix in 1924
18
A bobsleigh used by the French team at the first Winter Olympic Games at Chamonix in 1924Credit: Getty - Contributor
The British bobsleigh team bravely ride the course at Chamonix
18
The British bobsleigh team bravely ride the course at ChamonixCredit: Chamonix 1924 Official Olympic Report
Speedskaters at the starting line at the first Winter Games
18
Speedskaters at the starting line at the first Winter GamesCredit: Getty - Contributor
The American bobsleigh team show off their flamboyant uniforms
18
The American bobsleigh team show off their flamboyant uniformsCredit: Chamonix 1924 Official Olympic Report

Back in 1924, there were 258 athletes competing for 16 gold medals, and Britain actually came third in the medal table.

One of the most celebrated competitors was Norwegian ice skater Sonja Henie, who was just 11 years old.

She came last, out of eight entrants, but went on to win gold medals at the next three Winter Olympics.

most read in sport

Man Utd and Tottenham face tricky Europa League last-16 ties after wins COST them
EUR ON

Man Utd and Tottenham face tricky Europa League last-16 ties after wins COST them

Utd, Spurs and Rangers through to last-16 after frantic league phase finale
EURO VISION

Utd, Spurs and Rangers through to last-16 after frantic league phase finale

Red Devils win means TOUGHER Europa League draw as Dalot and Mainoo strike
FCSB 2 Man Utd 0

Red Devils win means TOUGHER Europa League draw as Dalot and Mainoo strike

Utd and Spurs eye Tel, Arsenal ready 'second Watkins bid' as Duran has medical
DONE DEALS

Utd and Spurs eye Tel, Arsenal ready 'second Watkins bid' as Duran has medical

Norway's Sonja Henie, 11, who came last in figure skating
18
Norway's Sonja Henie, 11, who came last in figure skatingCredit: Chamonix 1924 Official Olympic Report
Sonja Henie later became a Hollywood star, seen here with Tyrone Power in Second Fiddle
18
Sonja Henie later became a Hollywood star, seen here with Tyrone Power in Second FiddleCredit: Getty - Contributor
Norway's Jacob Tullin Thams went on to win a gold medal in the ski jump
18
Norway's Jacob Tullin Thams went on to win a gold medal in the ski jumpCredit: Chamonix 1924 Official Olympic Report
American goalkeeper La Croix, during ice hockey practice at the rink at Chamonix
18
American goalkeeper La Croix, during ice hockey practice at the rink at ChamonixCredit: Bettmann Archive via Getty Images
Charles Jewtraw became the first American to win a gold medal in Winter Olympic competition with victory in the 500m speedskating event
18
Charles Jewtraw became the first American to win a gold medal in Winter Olympic competition with victory in the 500m speedskating eventCredit: Getty - Contributor
Crowds gather to watch the ice hockey competition at the first ever Winter Olympics
18
Crowds gather to watch the ice hockey competition at the first ever Winter Olympics
French athletes swear to uphold the Olympic spirit in what looks like a forerunner of the Nazi salute
18
French athletes swear to uphold the Olympic spirit in what looks like a forerunner of the Nazi saluteCredit: Hulton Archive - Getty
Official poster for the first Winter Olympics from 98 years ago
18
Official poster for the first Winter Olympics from 98 years ago
A gold winner's medal from the 1st Winter Olympic Games in Chamonix
18
A gold winner's medal from the 1st Winter Olympic Games in ChamonixCredit: Getty - Contributor
Another poster publicising the Winter Olympics in 1924
18
Another poster publicising the Winter Olympics in 1924

Henie moved to American and became a Hollywood superstar who famously had an affair with boxer Joe Louis.

Britains’s only gold came in the curling, where the Scots dominated.

The four-man team wore jackets and ties, plus-fours and flat-cap bunnets on their heads.

Things have changed enormously since those halycon days.

This year's Games open on Friday when 2,871  athletes from 91 countries descend on Beijing in China, chasing 109 gold medals.

Sadly, no pipes, ties or plus-fours.

American skaters practising for the 1924 Winter Olympics at Chamonix
18
American skaters practising for the 1924 Winter Olympics at ChamonixCredit: Hulton Archive - Getty
The first Winter Olympics proved popular with fans who flocked to Chamonix for the competition
18
The first Winter Olympics proved popular with fans who flocked to Chamonix for the competitionCredit: Chamonix 1924 Official Olympic Report
Topics
machibet777.com