Female athletes competed in the Olympics for the first time in Paris in 1900, but they made up only about 20 of the total number of competitors that exceeded 1000.

Again there had been controversy prior to the Games with Greece claiming they had the right to stage all future Olympiads.

But the Olympic committee went back to its resolution of 1894 and chose Paris, which was also hosting the World's Fair. The Greek-Turkish war did not help the case of Greece.

However while the Greek people had warmed to the Games in 1896, the French public barely took any notice due to a lack of information and organisation.

Those that did attend took their lives into their own hands as discus champion Rudolf Bauer of Hungary sent all three of his throws into the crowd.

The number of nations represented had doubled to 28 and there were now 75 events contested, but once again it was athletes from the host nation that dominated the participants.

Confusion reigned for years after as to the names and nationalities of some of the medallists.

The first medals won by Canada were not discovered for some years as the athlete in question, George Orton, had been entered by his American university and had been registered as an American.

Cricket, croquet, golf and sailing all made first appearances but many competitors were not even aware that they were competing in the Olympics.