Amsterdam 1928  

Symbolic fire

For the first time, a symbolic fire was lit during the Games. The fire was lit in a cauldron that was placed at the top of a tower in the stadium, which had been designed by Jan Wils, a celebrated Dutch architect.

Olympic firsts

At the Opening Ceremony, the team from Greece led the Parade of Nations, with the host Dutch team marching in last. Greece-first, hosts-last has been Olympic protocol ever since. The number of female competitors more than doubled as women were finally allowed to compete in gymnastics and athletics, and Asian athletes won gold medals for the first time.

Winning streaks begin

The team from India swept to victory in field hockey. Between 1928 and 1956, India’s men would win six straight gold medals in this event. Another winning streak also began in 1928, when Hungary earned the first of seven consecutive gold medals in team sabre fencing.

Innocent times

The actions of Australian rower Henry Pearce at Amsterdam have since become legend. He stopped midway through his quarter final to let a family of ducks pass, but still went on to win the race and eventually the gold medal.

NOCs 46
Athletes 2,883 (277 women, 2,606 men)
Events 109
Volunteers n/a
Media n/a

• Artistic Gymnastics
• Athletics
• Boxing
• Cycling Road
• Cycling Track
• Diving
• Equestrian / Dressage
• Equestrian / Eventing
• Equestrian / Jumping
• Fencing
• Football
• Hockey
• Modern Pentathlon
• Rowing
• Sailing
• Swimming
• Water polo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling Freestyle
• Wrestling Greco-Roman

A symbolic fire

For the first time, a symbolic fire was lit during the Games of the Olympiad. The fire was lit in a cauldron that was placed at the top of a tower in the stadium which had been designed by Jan Wils.

Return of Germany

Germany participated in the Games once again, after 16 years of absence, since the 1912 Games.

More events open to women

Although women had participated in the past in tennis, golf, archery, figure skating, sailing, swimming and fencing, 1928 marked the first time that one women’s artistic gymnastics event and a small number of women’s athletics events were included on the programme.

Ceremonies

Amsterdam 1928. Henri Denis (NED) pronounces the Olympic oath in the medium of the carriers of the flags of the nations.

Official opening of the Games by: HRH Prince Hendrik

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: A symbolic fire at an Olympic Summer Games was first lit in 1928 in Amsterdam.

Olympic Oath by: Henri Denis (football)

Official Oath by: The officials' oath at an Olympic Summer Games was first sworn in 1972 in Munich.