In March 1912, during the 13th session of the IOC, Belgium’s bid to host the 1920 Summer Olympics was made by Baron Édouard de Laveleye, president of the Belgian Olympic Committee and of the Royal Belgian Football Association.

The 1916 Summer Olympics, to be held in Berlin, were cancelled due to World War I. The 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honor the suffering that had been inflicted on the Belgian people during the war.

During the Opening Ceremony, the Olympic flag with the five rings was raised for the first time at an Olympic Games. The Olympic oath was taken for the first time by an athlete on behalf of all competitors, and for the first time doves were released as a symbol of peace.

The Olympisch Stadion was built as the main stadium for the Summer Olympics in Antwerp. For those games, it hosted the athletics, equestrian, field hockey, football, gymnastics, modern pentathlon, rugby union, tug of war and weightlifting. Following the Olympics it was converted to a football stadium.

                             ▶  100 Years of the Olympic Games – Antwerp 1920

                                                                        Featured Image: 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium

                                                                               Websites: olympic.org/Antwerp1920, beerschot.be