Ninety years ago, on January 25, 1924, the first Winter Olympic Games opened in Chamonix, France. Initially known as Semaine des Sports d'Hiver (International Winter Sports Week), the games were associated with the 1924 Summer Olympics and were later designated as the first Winter Olympic Games. The small mountain resort town invested heavily to build a bobsled run and an ice rink and improve its existing ski jump. (15 PHOTOS)
The First Winter Olympics: Chamonix 1924
![U.S. athletes carry their flag during the opening ceremonies for the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, on January 25, 1924.](https://gdb.rferl.org/fdb2ecad-7614-4eaa-8623-fc795dda7ae9_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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U.S. athletes carry their flag during the opening ceremonies for the first Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, on January 25, 1924.
![The Olympic ice skating rink in Chamonix](https://gdb.rferl.org/a6d7ef46-e83e-422d-b7ca-dd872b9cdbed_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The Olympic ice skating rink in Chamonix
![Supporters gather in front of the officials' stands.](https://gdb.rferl.org/4ff4b39e-67ff-4e1f-ba17-c010d4e36121_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Supporters gather in front of the officials' stands.
![Athletes take the Olympic oath.](https://gdb.rferl.org/a66029c2-dc8c-4cb8-a29c-8d21a8354caf_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Athletes take the Olympic oath.
![A Norwegian ski jumper in flight](https://gdb.rferl.org/0a83a73b-ab9d-409f-8b08-33c9e854ad37_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A Norwegian ski jumper in flight
![A curling competition](https://gdb.rferl.org/eb63bb39-649d-4069-9ab6-55fedcc99ceb_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A curling competition
![A French figure skating pair](https://gdb.rferl.org/29ad6614-ae1a-490f-b640-c7e74998bdc4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A French figure skating pair
![Czechoslovakia plays against Switzerland in hockey](https://gdb.rferl.org/2e90a2c5-b0e4-4047-a158-1870b4c6ea0b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Czechoslovakia plays against Switzerland in hockey
![A four-man bobsled team](https://gdb.rferl.org/43a0b159-aab1-45d4-a845-e6785533417f_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A four-man bobsled team
![Speed skaters on the ice](https://gdb.rferl.org/4a6b6230-20a5-4c6c-ac13-b078891a7196_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Speed skaters on the ice
![Members of the Swedish and British curling teams, which won the silver and gold medals](https://gdb.rferl.org/eaadc2cc-4058-4c7e-9ff5-be95beb3db22_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Members of the Swedish and British curling teams, which won the silver and gold medals
![Figure skaters Walter Jakobsson and Ludovika Jakobsson of Finland](https://gdb.rferl.org/0c9e0d50-4c02-4812-b81d-79a632af0d07_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Figure skaters Walter Jakobsson and Ludovika Jakobsson of Finland
![Staff clear snow in the Olympic Stadium](https://gdb.rferl.org/18c2e2d1-8081-4de9-badc-e8d5eb0473f6_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Staff clear snow in the Olympic Stadium
![Officials oversee the competition.](https://gdb.rferl.org/18296c9c-f975-4e22-b6e0-858b6519a395_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Officials oversee the competition.
![The Olympic skating rink framed by Chamonix's mountains](https://gdb.rferl.org/4c2f546d-6dd2-4112-bbcf-52b8d76a506c_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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The Olympic skating rink framed by Chamonix's mountains