Chapter 6: Olympic or Not? Paris 1900

It was agreed at the foundational congress of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Paris should host the second games in 1900, but Coubertin would find his ambitions for a games focussed on the French capital somewhat frustrated. The games were held as part of the Exposition Universelle Internationale de 1900 which itself dominated the agenda, symbolising the technological and economic achievements of fin-de-siecle Europe. We discuss the exhibition as well as Coubertin’s attempts to get sporting events included into it, and while these events happened, they were not considered formally Olympic at the time, being only recognised retrospectively. The events were considered important enough however to merit international competition, and the British Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) provided expenses for an athletics team to attend. We narrate the British participation in the events, including the famous cricket match which was the only time cricket appeared in the Olympic Games prior to 2028.