# 1906 Intercalated Games

The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games (Greek: Μεσολυμπιάδα, romanized: Mesolympiada, lit. 'Mesolympics'), held from 22 April 1906 to 2 May 1906, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated in Athens, Greece. They were at the time considered to be Olympic Games and were referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, the medals that were distributed to the participants during these games were later not officially recognised by the IOC and are not displayed with the collection of Olympic medals at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The 1906 games are noted for their influence on the Olympic tradition and the records broken during these games are recorded in history, but are no longer considered part of the Olympic records. 894 athletes from 20 nations competed in this competition. The idea behind the Intercalated games was to have an Olympics in Greece every four years, but this would be the first and last. The idea was not pursued further and is sometimes called the "forgotten games" in the context of the Olympics. The next Olympic Games would be the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, and the next time the Olympic Games would return to Greece was 98 years later in 2004 also in Athens.

## Intercalated Games

The Intercalated Olympic Games were to be a series of International Olympic Games halfway between what is now known as the Games of the Olympiad. This proposed series of Games, intercalated in the Olympic Games cycle, was always to be held in Athens and was to have equal status with the international Games. However, the only such Games were held in 1906.
One reason for the games in 1906 was to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 1896 games.
The first Intercalated Games had been scheduled by the International Olympic Committee in 1901 as part of a new schedule, where every four years, in between the internationally organised Games, there would be Intermediate Games held in Athens.
This was a compromise; after the successful Games of Athens 1896, the Greeks suggested they could organise the games every four years. Since they had the accommodation and had proven they could hold well-organised games, they received substantial public support. However, Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, opposed this, as he had intended for the first Games to be in Paris in 1900. After Paris had lost the première Olympics, De Coubertin did not want the games to be permanently hosted elsewhere.
The 1900 Games were overshadowed by the Exposition Universelle, whose organising committee disagreed with De Coubertin's ideas to such an extent that he resigned. The organisation of the 1900 Games was haphazard by today's standards, and although some events, such as archery, drew widespread attention, many others were poorly attended. Historians' opinions still differ over which events should be considered "Olympic".
Consequently, the IOC supported the Greek idea by granting them a second series of quadrennial games in between the first series. All of the games would be International Olympic Games: the difference was that half of them would follow De Coubertin's idea of "organisation internationale", while the other half would follow the Greeks' idea of a permanent home with the Committee of the Olympic Games, as it was then known, as experienced organisers.
This was a departure from the ancient schedule, but it was expected that, if the ancient Greeks could keep a four-year schedule, the modern Olympic Movement could keep a two-year schedule. As 1902 was now too close to be logistically workable, and Greece was experiencing political and economic difficulties, the 2nd Olympic Games in Athens were scheduled for 1906, and the IOC as a whole gave Greece full support for the organisation.
The 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri were overshadowed by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and their organisation was even worse than that of Paris 1900, while travel difficulties meant that only 20% of the athletes were non-American; of these, half were Canadian.
It was clear the Olympic Movement was in a dire situation and desperately needed to recapture the spirit of Athens 1896. It also needed to do so quickly, as to those who did not participate in St. Louis, 1908 was a gap of eight years, by which time there would be little, if any, goodwill left for the Games.
To make matters worse, Rome, the proposed host for 1908, was also planning an exhibition at the same time as the Games, which had been responsible for the failures of Paris and St. Louis.
To the IOC, the 1906 Athens Games being just around the corner would have been a lifeline. While De Coubertin still opposed the idea and did not do anything more than his function required of him, the IOC as a whole gave the Greek organising committee full support for the organisation.

## Improvements

The 1906 Games were quite successful: unlike the Games of 1900, 1904 or 1908, they were not stretched out over several months, and unlike 1900 and 1904, they were not overshadowed by an international exposition. Their crisp implementation was most likely instrumental in the continued existence of the Games.
Contemporary publications praised the Games:
   The Olympic Games of 1906 will go down in athletic history as the most remarkable festival of its kind ever held. They exceeded in every way the successful Olympic Games of 1896 ... The scenes and incidents and everything in connection with the Olympic Games of 1906 made an impression that will never be forgotten and it is hoped that future Olympic Games will be up to the standard of the ones of 1906.$^{:11–13}$
These Games were the first to have:
* All athlete registration going through their NOCs.
* The Opening of the Games as a separate event: an event at which the athletes marched into the stadium in national teams, each following its national flag.
* An Olympic Village (at the Zappeion).
* A formal Closing Ceremony.
* The raising of national flags for the medalists.
These, along with various other changes, are now accepted as tradition.

## Games

The Games were held from 22 April to 2 May 1906, in Athens, Greece. They took place in the Panathenaic Stadium, which had already hosted the 1896 Games and the earlier Zappas Olympics of 1870 and 1875. The games excluded several disciplines that had occurred during the past two games; it was unclear whether they ought to have been part of the Olympic Games. Added to the program were the javelin throw and the pentathlon.
The 1906 games are noted for their opening and closing ceremonies, which initiated this tradition. The official Olympic website notes there was no opening ceremony with parade of athletes, in the 1896, 1900, and 1904 games, and notes the 1906 games as the genesis of the idea, but the 1908 Summer games is the first still recognized Olympics with the opening parade of athletes which was more organized. The 1908 games introduced the tradition of the host coming in as the last in the parade also.

### Opening

These were the first games to include an opening ceremony with athletes marching into the stadium as national teams behind their flags. King George I officially opened the games.
* Royals enter the Stadium
* Royals enter the Stadium
* Reception of the king of England

### Highlights

* There were only two standing jump events in Athens, but Ray Ewry successfully defended his titles in both of them, bringing his total up to 8 gold medals. In 1908 he would successfully defend them one last time for a total of 10 Olympic titles, a feat unparalleled until 2008 when Michael Phelps pushed his Olympic gold medal total to 14.
* Paul Pilgrim won both the 400 and 800 metres, a feat that was first repeated during Montreal 1976 by Alberto Juantorena.
* Canadian Billy Sherring lived in Greece for two months, to adjust to the local conditions. His efforts paid off as he unexpectedly won the Marathon. Prince George accompanied him on the final lap.$^{:43}$
* Finland made its Olympic debut, and immediately won a gold medal, as Verner Järvinen won the Discus (Greek style) event.
* Peter O'Connor of Ireland won gold in the hop, step and jump (triple jump) and silver in the long jump. In protest at being put on the British team, O'Connor scaled the flagpole and hoisted the Irish flag, while the pole was guarded by Irish and American athletes and supporters.
* Martin Sheridan of the Irish American Athletic Club, competing for the U.S. team, won gold in the 16-pound Shot put and the Freestyle Discus throw and silver in the Standing high jump, Standing long jump and Stone throw. He scored the greatest number of points of any athlete at the Games. For his accomplishments he was presented with a ceremonial javelin by King Georgios I. This javelin is still on display in a local pub near Sheridan's hometown in Bohola, County Mayo, Ireland.

### Closing ceremony

Six thousand schoolchildren took part in the first ever Olympic closing ceremony.

## Participating nations

854 athletes, 848 men and 6 women, from 20 countries, competed at the 1906 Intercalated Games.
* Australia (4)
* Austria (31)
* Belgium (16)
* Bohemia (13)
* Canada (3)
* Denmark (53)
* Egypt (2)
* Finland (4)
* France (56)
* Germany (49)
* Great Britain (47)
* Greece (321) (host country)
* Hungary (35)
* Italy (76)
* Netherlands (16)
* Norway (32)
* Ottoman Turkey (2)
* Sweden (39)
* Switzerland (9)
* United States (38)

## The Games

78 events in 14 disciplines, comprising 12 sports, were part of the 1906 Games.
* Aquatics
** Diving (1)
** Swimming (4)
* Athletics (21)
* Cycling
** Road (1)
** Track (5)
* Fencing (8)
* Football (1)
* Gymnastics (4)
* Rowing (6)
* Shooting (16)
* Tennis (4)
* Tug of war (1)
* Weightlifting (2)
* Wrestling (4)
Pistol dueling was an unofficial event.

## Medal count

These medals were distributed but are no longer recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
* Host nation (Greece)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | France | 15 | 9 | 16 | 40 |
| 2 | United States | 12 | 6 | 6 | 24 |
| 3 | Greece | 8 | 13 | 13 | 34 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 8 | 11 | 5 | 24 |
| 5 | Italy | 7 | 6 | 3 | 16 |
| 6 | Germany | 4 | 6 | 5 | 15 |
| 7 | Switzerland | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 8 | Austria | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 9 | Denmark | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 10 | Sweden | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 |
| 11 | Hungary | 2 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 12 | Belgium | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 13 | Finland | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Canada | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | Norway | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 16 | Mixed team | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | Netherlands | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 18 | Australia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 19 | Bohemia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Totals (19 entries) | Totals (19 entries) | 74 | 76 | 74 | 224 |