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Stockholm 1912 Collection

Identity Card

Opening date	05 May 1912
Closing date	27 July 1912
Country of the host city	Sweden

Competitors from all five continents were represented at the Games for the first time

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On time

The Stockholm Games were a model of efficiency. The Swedish hosts introduced the first Olympic use of automatic timing devices for the track events, the photo finish and a public address system.

Last man standing

If there was an unofficial theme of the 1912 Games, it was endurance. The course for the cycling road race was 320km (199 miles), the longest race of any kind in Olympic history. In Greco-Roman wrestling, the middleweight semi-final match between Russian Martin Klein and Finland’s Alfred Asikainen lasted 11 hours.

Debuts and firsts

For the first time, competitors in the Games came from all five continents. It was also the first time Japan participated. The modern pentathlon, women’s swimming and women’s diving all made their Olympic debuts.

Mighty Jim

Jim Thorpe, a Native American from Oklahoma, won the pentathlon and decathlon by huge margins. He was later disqualified when it was discovered that he had accepted a modest sum to play baseball before the Games. But in 1982, the IOC decided to reinstate him and gave his medals back to his daughter.

NOCs 28
Athletes 2,407 (48 women, 2,359 men)
Events 102
Volunteers n/a
Media n/a

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All Facts

New technology

A well-organised edition of the Olympics, the Stockholm Games saw the first Olympic use of automatic timing equipment, the photo finish and a public address system.

Swimming open to women

Women's swimming events made their entrance.

Japan took part

Japan participated for the first time.

The first art and literature competition

Under the nom de plume of Georges Hohrod and M. Eschbach, Baron de Coubertin was awarded first place for his "Ode to sport" which "praises sport in both a literary and sporting way". (Illustration: "Les sports d'hiver" of Carlo Pelligrini, winner of the painting competition of the Concours d'Art)

The story of Jim Thorpe

A native American from Oklahoma, Jim Thorpe, described by King Gustav V of Sweden as "the greatest athlete in the world", won the pentathlon and decathlon. However, he was disqualified in January 1913 when it was discovered that he had accepted a very modest sum of money to play baseball before the Games. In 1982, the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee decided to reinstate Jim Thorpe and to give back to his daughter the medals that were rightfully his. His feat was immortalised in the film "The Bronze Man" by Michael Curtiz, with Burt Lancaster in the role of Thorpe.

Representation of the five continents

For the first time, competitors in the Games came from all five continents.

Long live the Games!

With the close of the 1912 Olympics, all eyes turned towards the city of Berlin where the next edition of the Games was scheduled to take place. Although World War I made it impossible for plans to proceed, the Games proved their resilience. The 1916 celebration remained in Olympic history as the Games of the VI Olympiad and in 1920 the Olympics were once again held, with the Belgian city of Antwerp acting as Olympic host.

Ceremonies

Stockholm 1912, Games of the V Olympiad: the Swedish team of women gymnasts parades in the stadium during the Opening Ceremony.

Official opening of the Games by: His Majesty The King Gustav V

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

Olympic Oath by: The athletes’ oath was first sworn at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp.

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

Olympic medallists

All Medalled Athletes