Backgrounder: Olympic Games Antwerp 1920: Marred by resentment after WWI

The 6th Olympic Games were supposed to have been held in Berlin in 1916. However, due to the First World War, they were suspended even though the numbering of the Games were kept the same, as if they had gone ahead as originally planned in Germany.

After the war, the accumulated resentment headed to Belgium, the 1920 7th Olympics host, as the countries that lost the war were banned from competing. Despite this, the Games had the highest number of participants since the start of the modern Olympics back in Athens 1896.

The Games took place in the city of Antwerp, from April 20 to September 12 with 2,622 athletes (65 women) from 29 countries participating in 156 disciplines from 22 sports.

In 1919, during the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) congress in Lausanne, Switzerland, Antwerp was chosen to host the Games which were to be known as the "Games of Peace." For that reason, the Belgian city only had one year to prepare for the Games of the VII Olympiad, as it is officially known.

However, despite pressure from the IOC, the hosts stuck to their decision about not inviting the countries that had invaded their country during WWI - Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and the Ottoman Empire (Turkey). Also the Soviet Union did not receive an invitation to the sporting event.

During the Opening Ceremony, the Olympic flag with the five rings signifying the five continents and the universality of the Olympic Games was waved for the first time.

The Olympic oath was also voiced for the first time during this ceremony: "We swear. We will take part in the Olympic Games in a spirit of chivalry, for the honor of our country and for the glory of sport." It was taken by Belgian fencer and water polo player Victor Boin on behalf of all competitors. During the ceremony 2,000 white doves were released as a symbol of peace.

Finland shocked the world in this Olympics since the Scandinavian country, whose delegation only had 60 athletes, won 15 gold medals. Their two most famous figures where Hanes Kolehmainen and Paavo Nurmi.

Kolehmainen, who had previously won the 5,000, 10,000 meters and individual cross country in Stockholm 1912, won in the marathon event this time.

Nurmi set an Olympic record in the 10,000 meters that went unbeaten for ten years and managed to win three gold medals at his Olympics debut.

United States runner Charles Paddock won the 100 meters with a jump that made him the first person to cross the finish line when his legs were still in the air.

Italian fencer Nedo Nadi won gold medals in five of the six fencing events. In swimming, Ethelda Bleibtrey from the U.S. won gold medals in all three women's contests. Including the preliminary heats, she swam five races and broke the world record in every one.

French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen showed superiority by only losing four out of the 10 sets she played.

At age 72, Oscar Swahn from Sweden, showed that age was no barrier when he won the silver medal in the the team double-shot running deer event, making him the oldest Olympic medallist ever.

OLYMPIC GAMES ANTWERP 1920 MEDAL TABLE

COUNTRY GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL

U.S. 41 27 27 95

Sweden 19 18 24 61

UK 15 15 13 43

Finland 15 10 9 34

Belgium 14 11 11 36

Norway 13 9 9 31

Italy 13 5 5 23

France 9 19 13 41

Netherlands 4 2 5 11

Denmark 3 9 1 13

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