The 1906 Intercalated Games or 1906 Olympic Games (), held from 22 April 1906 to 2 May 1906, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated in Athens, Greece. It was at the time considered to be part of the series of the Olympic Games, and was referred to as the "Second International Olympic Games in Athens" by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). However, the medals distributed to participants during these Games were later stripped of official recognition when, in 1949, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to no longer recognize the 1906 Games, and as a result they are not displayed with the collection of Olympic medals at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The 1906 Games is noted for its influence on the Olympic tradition and the records broken during these Games are recorded in history, but are no longer considered part of the Olympic records. 894 athletes from 20 nations competed in this competition. The idea behind the Intercalated Games was to have an Olympics in Greece every four years, but this would be the first and last. The idea was not pursued further, and is sometimes termed the "forgotten Games" in the context of the Olympics. The next Olympic Games was the 1908 Summer Olympics in London; the next time the Olympic Games returned to Greece was 98 years later in 2004, also in Athens.
Intercalated Games
The Intercalated Olympic Games were to be a series of International Olympic Games halfway between what is now known as the Games of the Olympiad, old and new. This proposed series of Games, intercalated in the Olympic Games cycle, was always to be held in Athens and was to have equal status with the international Games. However, the only such Games was held in 1906.
One reason for the Games in 1906 was to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the 1896 Games. as part of a new schedule, where every four years, in between the internationally organised Games, there would be an Intermediate Games held in Athens.
This was a compromise; after the successful Games of Athens 1896, the Greeks suggested they could organise the Games every four years. Since they had the accommodation and had proven they could hold well-organised Games, they received substantial public support. However, Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the International Olympic Committee, opposed this, as he had intended for the first Games to be in Paris in 1900. After Paris had lost the première Olympics, De Coubertin did not want the Games to be permanently hosted elsewhere.
The 1900 Games were overshadowed by the Exposition Universelle, whose organising committee disagreed with De Coubertin's ideas to such an extent that he resigned. The organisation of the 1900 Games was haphazard by today's standards, and although some events, such as archery, drew widespread attention, many others were poorly attended. Historians' opinions still differ over which events should be considered "Olympic".
thumb|Vaulting at the 1906 Games
Consequently, the IOC supported the Greek idea by granting them a second series of quadrennial Games in between the first series. All of the Games would be International Olympic Games: the difference was that half of them would follow De Coubertin's idea of "organisation internationale", while the other half would follow the Greeks' idea of a permanent home with the Committee of the Olympic Games, as it was then known, as experienced organisers.
This was a departure from the ancient schedule, but it was expected that, if the ancient Greeks could keep a four-year schedule, the modern Olympic Movement could keep a two-year schedule. As 1902 was now too close to be logistically workable, and Greece was experiencing political and economic difficulties, the 2nd Olympic Games in Athens were scheduled for 1906, and the IOC as a whole gave Greece full support for the organisation.
The 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri were overshadowed by the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and their organisation was even worse than that of Paris 1900, while travel difficulties meant that only 20% of the athletes were non-American; of these, half were Canadian.
It was clear the Olympic Movement was in a dire situation and desperately needed to recapture the spirit of Athens 1896. It also needed to do so quickly, as to those who did not participate in St. Louis, 1908 was a gap of eight years, by which time there would be little, if any, goodwill left for the Games.
To make matters worse, Rome, the proposed host for 1908, was also planning an exhibition at the same time as the Games, which had been responsible for the failures of Paris and St. Louis.
To the IOC, the 1906 Athens Games being just around the corner would have been a lifeline. While De Coubertin still opposed the idea and did not do anything more than his function required of him, the IOC as a whole gave the Greek organising committee full support for the organisation.
These games offered Greece the huge opportunity to show that it was important to Europe’s present and its past. It is clear from the beginning that the Olympic Games 1906 became "a grand project far beyond the status of a mere sports meeting", with new structures built to accommodate the events including the restoration of the ancient stadium in Athens.
These Games were the first to have:
- All athlete registration going through their NOCs.
- The Opening of the Games as a separate event: an event at which the athletes marched into the stadium in national teams, each following its national flag.
- An Olympic Village (at the Zappeion).
- A formal Closing Ceremony.
- The raising of national flags for the medalists.
These, along with various other changes, are now accepted as tradition.
Games
thumb|left|Panathinaiko Stadium in 1906
thumb|right|Panathinaiko Stadium
The Games were held from 22 April to 2 May 1906, in Athens, Greece. They took place in the Panathenaic Stadium, which had already hosted the 1896 Games and the earlier Zappas Olympics of 1870 and 1875. The Games excluded several disciplines that had occurred during the past two Games; it was unclear whether they ought to have been part of the Olympic Games. Added to the program were the javelin throw and the pentathlon.
The 1906 Games is noted for its opening and closing ceremonies, which initiated this tradition. The official Olympic website notes there was no opening ceremony, with parade of athletes, at the 1896, 1900, and 1904 Games, and notes the 1906 Games as the genesis of the idea; but the 1908 Summer Games is the first Olympics still recognized as such with the opening parade of athletes which was more organized. The 1908 Games introduced the tradition of the host coming in as the last in the parade also.
Opening
These were the first Games to include an opening ceremony with athletes marching into the stadium as national teams behind their flags. King George I officially opened the Games. took part in the first ever Olympic closing ceremony.
Medal count
thumb|Commemorative plaque for the 1906 Intercalated Games, designed by P. Vannier, from the Numismatic Museum, Athens
These medals were distributed but are no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee.