At the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, six pigeon racing events were contested. [1] These events have generally not been classified as official, [2] [ failed verification ] although the IOC has never decided which events were "Olympic" and which were not. [3]
The report on the "International Contests of Physical Exercise and of Sports" in Paris in 1900 lists lâcher-concours de pigeons-voyageurs (lit. ' homing pigeon release competition', in French) occurring on 6 separate sundays: 24 June, 8 July, 29 July, 26 August, 9 September and 16 September 1900, all in the French commune of Vincennes. [1] [4] The pigeons were originally planned to be released at 10:00 each day, [4] but, as a Dr. Conil reports, actual release times varied depending on the distance pigeons had to cover and the direction of the wind. [5] Due to additional restrictions, such as not having pigeons flying in opposite directions at the same time, there were "almost as many releases" as there were competing companies, which "could only be of interest to people initiated in our sport", hence the relatively low attendance. [5]
Some dates also included a lâcher-spectacle de pigeons-voyageurs (lit. 'homing pigeon release spectacle'), [1] events where pigeons were released simultaneously, in the thousands, just for an audience's viewing pleasure. [5] This was due to conflicting needs when planning the competitions: pigeon races are only successful "at an early hour", Dr. Conil writes, while the majority of the public only attends events in the afternoon. [5] Thus, the pigeon release spectacles were added to give the public something to watch that was related to the competitions, while the races themselves were done earlier in the day. [5]
A subcommittee of colombophiles was in charge of preparing "the complete project for racing pigeon competitions". [6] The Fédération Colombophile de la Seine was chosen to be responsible for the competitions. [7]
The competition was restricted to French companies established at least 80 kilometres (50 mi) away from Paris. [4] Those interested in participating had to commit to sending at least 100 pigeons, which had to arrive by the day before the competition. [4]
In total, there were 47 competing companies, totaling 7,721 pigeons. [5] [lower-alpha 1] The competitions had a total prize pool of 7,300 francs, reduced to 6,254 after operational costs. [5] This was split and awarded to every participating company, paid on a per pigeon basis at a rounded up value of 0.81 franc each. [5] As such, no "winner" was picked and rewarded separately; the event instead had an emphasis on patriotism and verifying whether pigeons from different regions of France could be used for war. [5]
| Company | Origin | Number of pigeons | Times | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release | Return | ||||
| Fédération | Agen | 100 | 8:00 | 18:23 | 10h 23min |
| Fédération | Bordeaux | 103 | 8:03 | 17:29 | 9h 26min |
| Pigeons messagers | Rive-de-Gier | 125 | 8:05 | 15:00 | 6h 55min |
| La Courageuse | La Grand-Croix | 135 | 9:00 | 16:03 | 7h 3min |
| Cercle colombophile | Saint-Étienne | 245 | 9:00 | 15:53 | 6h 53min |
| La Colombe | La Talaudière | 100 | 9:00 | 15:32 | 6h 32min |
| Messager rochefortais | Rochefort-sur-Mer | 125 | 9:03 | 17:19 | 8h 16min |
| La Rochefortaise | Rochefort-sur-Mer | 100 | 9:03 | 17:20 | 8h 17min |
| Messager de la patrie | Niort | 100 | 9:03 | 15:58 | 6h 55min |
| Colombe vannelaise | Vannes | 138 | 9:05 | 18:58 | 9h 53min |
| Espérance des courriers limousins | Limoges | 222 | 9:07 | 15:27 | 6h 20min |
| Abeille | Rennes | 250 | 10:00 | 16:02 | 6h 2min |
| Messager angevin | Angers | 208 | 10:02 | 16:23 | 6h 21min |
| Messager coutançais | Coutances | 116 | 10:04 | 15:31 | 5h 27min |
| La Domfrontaise | Domfront, Orne | 142 | 10:04 | 14:35 | 4h 31min |
| L'Avenir | Rosendaël | 118 | 10:06 | 13:30 | 3h 24min |
| Total: 16 companies, 2,327 pigeons | |||||
| Company | Origin | Number of pigeons | Times | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release | Return | ||||
| Le Rapide | Saint-Chamond | 120 | 8:03 | 12:39 | 4h 36min |
| Estafette lyonnaise | Lyon | 101 | 9:00 | 13:29 | 4h 29min |
| Hirondelle | Lyon | 140 | 9:00 | 13:29 | 4h 29min |
| Messagère | Calais | 183 | 10:00 | 14:58 | 4h 58min |
| Colombophile | Saint-Venant | 120 | 10:00 | 14:00 | 4h |
| Orléanaise | Orléans | 100 | 10:05 | 11:25 | 1h 20min |
| Espérance de Landelle | Charleval | 100 | 10:10 | 12:20 | 2h 10min |
| Fédération | Anzin | 386 | 10:15 | 13:46 | 3h 31min |
| Total: 8 companies, 1,250 pigeons | |||||
| Company | Origin | Number of pigeons | Times | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release | Return | ||||
| Éclair | Talmont | 125 | 9:45 | 18:21 | 8h 36min |
| Messager de l'Océan | Les Sables-d'Olonne | 112 | 9:45 | 19:46 | 10h 1min |
| Union colombophile | La Roche-sur-Yon | 152 | 9:45 | 18:17 | 8h 32min |
| Union colombophile | Roanne | 103 | 10:00 | 16:55 | 6h 55min |
| Messager roannais | Roanne | 125 | 10:00 | 19:01 | 9h 1min |
| Union | Loudun | 100 | 13:20 | 18:20 | 5h |
| Voltigeurs de L'Aâ | Saint-Omer | 100 | 13:25 | 18:46 | 5h 21min |
| Colombophile | Le Mans | 130 | 13:35 | 17:05 | 3h 30min |
| Courriers nogentais | Nogent-le-Rotrou | 135 | 13:35 | 15:42 | 2h 7min |
| Fédération | Reims | 515 | 13:50 | 16:51 | 3h 1min |
| Colombe ébroïcienne | Évreux | 150 | 13:55 | 15:42 | 1h 47min |
| Total: 11 companies, 1,747 pigeons | |||||
| Company | Origin | Number of pigeons | Times | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release | Return | ||||
| Ramier dauphinois | Rives | 100 | 7:30 | 17:15 | 9h 45min |
| Messager niortais | Niort | 100 | 9:00 | 14:30 | 5h 30min |
| Éclaireurs | Nancy | 100 | 9:50 | 15:10 | 5h 20min |
| Expresse | Calais | 54 | 10:00 | 14:44 | 4h 44min |
| Fraternelle | Boulogne-sur-Mer | 166 | 10:00 | 13:45 | 3h 45min |
| Colombe patriote | Le Havre | 100 | 10:05 | 12:31 | 2h 26min |
| Ramier | Amiens | 174 | 10:10 | 12:29 | 2h 19min |
| Pigeon messager | Épernay | 170 | 10:20 | 12:40 | 2h 20min |
| Vedette | Mourmelon | 120 | 10:20 | 13:37 | 3h 17min |
| Total: 9 companies, 1,084 pigeons | |||||
| Company | Origin | Number of pigeons | Times | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release | Return | ||||
| La Messagère | Mouzon | 126 | 10:00 | 13:43 | 3h 43min |
| Total: 1 company, 126 pigeons | |||||
| Company | Origin | Number of pigeons | Times | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release | Return | ||||
| Union | Roubaix | 252 | 10:00 | 12:44 | 2h 44min |
| Fédération | Rouen | 935 | 10:10 | 11:39 | 1h 29min |
| Total: 2 companies, 1,187 pigeons | |||||
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad and also known as Paris 1900, were an international multi-sport event that took place in Paris, France, from 14 May to 28 October 1900. No opening or closing ceremonies were held.
The homing pigeon is a variety of domestic pigeon, selectively bred for its ability to find its way home over extremely long distances. Because of this skill, homing pigeons were used to carry messages, a practice referred to as "pigeon post". Until the introduction of telephones, they were used commercially to deliver communication; when used during wars, they were called "war pigeons".
Five equestrian competitions were held from 29 May to 2 June 1900 at the Concours Hippique International in Paris as part of the Exposition Universelle. The events were later classified as part of the 1900 Summer Olympics. The events were organised by the Société hippique française, with competitors from eight countries competing in three jumping and two driving events at the Place de Breteuil in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
The 1900 Summer Olympics took place in Paris, France. Two of the golf events that were contested in early October at the Compiègne Club, Compiègne as part of the Exposition Universelle, the men's and women's individual stroke play competitions, have since been afforded Olympic status. As such the 1900 games are recognised as the first time that golf was held in the Olympics.
At the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, many shooting events were featured within the concurrent 1900 Exposition Universelle, but only eight events currently are considered as "Olympic" by IOC. Before July 2021 the International Olympic Committee has never decided which events were "Olympic" and which were not. The competitions were held from 3 August to 5 August and took place at the military sporting complex in Satory and at Boulogne-Billancourt. According to Olympic historian Bill Mallon, one of these nine shooting events was an event for professionals with prize money and therefore does not meet inclusion criteria for 1900 Olympic Games events.
Pigeon racing is the sport of releasing specially trained homing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a carefully measured distance. The time it takes the animal to cover the specified distance is measured and the bird's rate of travel is calculated and compared with all of the other pigeons in the race to determine which animal returned at the highest speed.
The Exposition Universelle of 1900, better known in English as the 1900 Paris Exposition, was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from 14 April to 12 November 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next. It was the sixth of ten major expositions held in the city between 1855 and 1937. It was held at the esplanade of Les Invalides, the Champ de Mars, the Trocadéro and at the banks of the Seine between them, with an additional section in the Bois de Vincennes, and it was visited by more than fifty million people. Many international congresses and other events were held within the framework of the exposition, including the 1900 Summer Olympics.
The Bois de Vincennes, located on the eastern edge of Paris, France, is the largest public park in the city. It was created between 1855 and 1866 by Emperor Napoleon III.
The 0 to 0.5 ton was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics program in Meulan. Seven boats started during the two races in the 0 – 0.5 ton. Twelve competitors from France are documented. The races were held on 22 and 24 May 1900 on the river Seine.
The 0.5 to 1 ton was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics program in Meulan. Twenty boats started during the two races in the 0.5 to 1 ton. thirty–five competitors from three countries are documented. The races were held on 24 and 25 May 1900 on the river Seine.
The 1 to 2 ton was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics program in Meulan. Nine boats started during the two races in the 1 to 2 ton. Twenty–two competitors from three countries are documented. The races were held on 22 and 25 May 1900 on the river Seine.
The 2 to 3 ton was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics program in Meulan. Four boats started during the two races in the 2 to 3 ton. Eleven sailors are documented, besides the France participants there was a Mixed country team from Great Britain and France. The races were held on 22 and 25 May 1900 on the river Seine.
The 3 to 10 ton was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics program in Meulan. Eleven boats started during the two races in the 3 to 10 ton. Twenty sailors are documented, besides the France and Great Britain participants there was a Mixed country team from the US and Great Britain. The races were held on 24 and 25 May 1900 on the river Seine.
The Open class was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics program in Meulan. All boats intended to compete in other races of the Meulan program were supposed to compete in the Concours d'Honneur. It was held on 20 May 1900. About seventy–eight sailors, on about forty–seven boats, from six nations competing. The latest finishing time was at 19:00 hours. Only seven boats made it to the finish in time.
Angling was contested at the 1900 Olympics in Paris. At a series of competitions in August, some 600 fishermen, of whom 40 were from five countries other than France, participated in six separate events. These events have generally not been classified as official, although the IOC has never decided which events were "Olympic" and which were not. There was no such designation at the time of the Games. The angling events, officially named Concours international de pêche à la ligne, were organized as part of the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris.
The "hacks and hunter combined", also known as the "chevaux de selle", was one of five equestrian competitions held in late May and early June 1900 at the International Horse Show in Paris. The event was part of the Exposition Universelle, and later classified as part of the 1900 Summer Olympics. It is unknown how many riders competed. The top four placers are known, as are about half the remaining riders who competed, including three women. As an upper limit, 50 men and 1 woman are listed as entrants in the Official Report, but it is almost certain that not all actually competed.
Eugène Bergès was a French fencer, and sub-officer maréchal des logis in French Army. He competed in the individual foil event at the 1900 Summer Olympics coming in 10th place.
Ballooning, using gas balloons, was on the Summer Olympic Games programme in 1900. The aeronautical pioneer Henry de La Vaulx set two world records for distance and duration piloting a balloon flight.
The 20+ ton was a sailing event on the Sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics program in Le Havre. The race was planned for 2 August 1900. However, as result of the storm that was unleashed on the port and the poor condition of the sea the race was postponed to Sunday 3 August 1900. 14 boats, from 4 nations registered for the competition. Due to the weather conditions only four of them started and finished the race. Originally this race was not a part of the Olympic competition but was part of the l’Exposition universelle. Later it was incorporated in the Olympic history.
In many works, it is read that the IOC later met to decide which events were Olympic and which were not. This is not correct and no decision has ever been made. No discussion of this item can be found in the account of any Session.
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