1928 Summer Olympics

Highlights

For the first time, the Olympic Flame was lit during the Olympics. The torch relay, however, would not occur until the 1936 Summer Olympics.
For the first time, the parade of nations started with Greece, which holds the origins of the Olympics, and ended with the host country, a tradition which continues today.
The Games were officially opened by Prince Hendrik, consort of Queen Wilhelmina, who had authorized him to deputise for her. This was the second time a head of state had not personally officiated at an Olympic opening ceremony. The first at the games of 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri in the USA by David R. Francis the mayor of the city at the time. In opposition he had refused offers by heads of state to do this, whereas the Queen refused as she was on holiday in Norway and did not want to disrupt her trip. The Queen was furious at the organizing committee for not consulting with her about the opening date.
Athletics events were held on a 400 meter track, later becoming the standard for athletics tracks.
These games were the first to feature a standard schedule of 16 days, which is still followed. Previously, competition was stretched out over several months.
Johnny Weissmuller, who later appeared in several Tarzan movies, won two gold medals in swimming.
Paavo Nurmi of Finland won his ninth and final gold medal, in the 10,000 m race.
Canada's Percy Williams surprised everyone by winning both the 100 m and 200 m sprint events.
South American football made a definite breakthrough, as Uruguay retained its title by defeating Argentina.
India took its first ever gold in the sport of field hockey, beginning a streak of six consecutive gold medals in the sport.
The captain of Japan team, Mikio Oda won the triple jump event with a result of 15.21 meters. He is the first gold medalist from Asian countries.
The first appearance of the sponsor Coca-Cola at the Olympic Games.
These games were the first to bear the name "Summer Olympic Games".
Germany returned to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1912, after being banned from the 1920 and 1924 Games. The German team finished second in the 1928 medal count.
Helena Nordheim, Anna Dresden-Polak and Jud Simons won gold medals as three of the five Jewish athletes on the Dutch women's gymnastics team. They were later killed at the Sobibor extermination camp in German-occupied Poland as part of the Holocaust, where their coach Gerrit Kleerekoper was also killed. Their team mate Estella Agsteribbe was gassed in Auschwitz.