A century after Paris last welcomed the world’s premiere athletes, the City of Light is ready to play host for the Summer Olympics once again.
What began as a modest gathering of mostly European athletes, their performances timed by mechanical stopwatches, has evolved into a global spectacle where precision is measured to the thousandth of a second.
The numbers tell a compelling story.
From 45 countries to 200, including a team of refugees. A budget that's ballooned from millions to billions. An Olympic Village that’s grown 50-times in its capacity to host the world’s greatest athletes. And a dramatic increase in media coverage – the crackling radio broadcasts of 1924 have given way to a 24/7 media extravaganza, with 6,000 journalists invited to report on the event.
Let's compare the Paris Olympics of 1924 and 2024, a century apart but sharing the same spirit of athletic competition. We'll explore the remarkable leaps in technology, the dramatic increase in participation, and yes, even the skyrocketing price of a croissant.
Scroll down to explore the Paris Olympics: 1924 vs 2024.
Countries Represented
1924
44 countries represented, 27 of which were European
2024
200 countries represented, as well as the IOC Refugee Olympic Team
Cost to the City
1924
10 million francs ($1.8 million)
2024
€8.2 billion ($8.9 billion)
Olympic Village
1924
Featured the first-ever Olympic Village of portable wooden cabins that housed three people each
2024
Includes 3,500 apartments that will accommodate 14,250 athletes and team officials
Media Coverage
1924
Approximately 1,000 journalists covered the Olympics, which were the first Games to be broadcast over radio
2024
The IOC will give out 6,000 official press accreditations for the Paris 2024 Olympics – with a total media presence that’s likely to be significantly higher
Athletes
1924
3,089 (135 women), including notable feats by athletes like Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi and American swimmer Johnny Weismuller
2024
10,500 (5,250 men and women), featuring stars like American gymnast Simone Biles, sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson, and Brazilian skateboarder Rayssa Leal
Sports and Events
1924
126 events across 23 sports
2024
329 events across 32 sports
Timing and Scoring Technology
1924
The Heuer Mikrograph Pocket Chronometer, accurate to one one hundredth of a second, was a stopwatch of choice at the time
2024
Electronic timing systems are accurate to one thousandth of a second; Omega’s Quantum Timer has a resolution of one millionth of a second
Medal Counts
1924
Approximately 378 medals awarded, but no medal ceremonies were held
2024
Approximately 987 medals will be awarded
Spectators
1924
625,000 spectators
2024
8.6 million tickets sold of 10 million available
Cost of a Baguette
1924
0.30 francs ($0.05)
2024
€4.07 ($4.42)
Cost of a Newspaper
1924
0.25 francs ($0.04)
2024
€3.00 - €4.00 ($3.26-4.34)
Popular French Pastries
1924
Boulangeries offered a modest selection of staples alongside simple pastries like the croissant, which France declared a national product in 1920
2024
Boulangeries and patisseries offer a wide variety of bread types and an extensive range of pastries, including a variety of “Instagram-able” croissants
In the writing of this article, multiple sources were used to provide comprehensive information on the Paris 1924 and 2024 Olympic Games, including details on historical context, organizational aspects, and comparisons between the two events. These sources include the official Olympics website, Omega Watches, and scholarly journals.
