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Because of its heritage, Greece wanted the right to organise and stage all future Olympic Games, but the Baron de Coubertin won the
agreement of the Olympic committee to hold the 1900 Games in Paris.It was the turn of the Century and the Fifth Universal Exposition was being held at the same time. The organising committee erred badly by allowing
the Games to be made part of the Exposition and it became a mere side show with only handfuls of interested spectators – and even these were almost reduced further when the 1986 Olympic champion, Robert Garrett, threw
his discus into the crowd on three occasions The track and field events were held on uneven turf at Croix-Catelan where, it was reported, the jumpers had to dig their own pits. The American team, once more consisting
entirely of college students, was unhappy at having to run on grass and there was general confusion among many of the competitors, even medal winners, who were unaware, until much later that they had actually competed
in the Olympic Games. |
