In 1896, the capital of Greece, Athens, hosted the first edition of the modern Olympic Games. The revival of this historic sporting event is credited to the French aristocrat and historian Pierre de Coubertin, who contributed to the establishment of the International Olympic Committee that organized the Games. After the 1896 edition in Athens, no one anticipated that this sporting event would continue for decades to come. In the 1900 edition in Paris and the 1904 edition in St. Louis, the Olympic Games were merely a part of the international exhibitions hosted by these cities. On the other hand, the modern Olympic Games saw significant development over the years, and many sporting activities featured in the early editions were eventually abandoned.
**Hot Air Balloon Race in 1900**
In 1896, the Olympic Games lasted only about two weeks. In contrast, the 1900 Games lasted several months alongside the ongoing international exhibition. During that period, the 1900 Games took place from May to October and included many sports, as well as a greater number of athletes. Among the peculiar sports of the 1900 edition was the hot air balloon race, where competitors were required to fly as far as possible. In the 1900 competition, the Frenchman Henry de La Vaulx won the title after launching from Paris and flying a distance of 768 miles before landing in Poland, which was then part of the Russian Empire. There, he was arrested by the Russian police and taken to jail for questioning for illegally crossing the border.
**Pigeon Shooting in 1900**
During the 1900 Olympic Games, pigeon shooting emerged, which many described as the strangest sport of Paris 1900. Competitors were required to shoot and kill as many pigeons as possible that officials released. In the 1900 Games, the Belgian Leon de Lun took the title after shooting approximately 21 pigeons. Just like the hot air balloon race, pigeon shooting disappeared by the next Olympic Games in St. Louis.
**Tug of War from 1900 to 1920**
Tug of war represented a kind of strength exhibition between the competing teams. This sport made its appearance in five Olympic Games before completely disappearing. During the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the American team accused their British opponents of cheating due to their wearing heavy shoes while pulling the rope.
**Pistol Duels in 1908**
In 1906, Athens hosted a type of sporting event that included a strange sport where competitors shot at dolls. Although the International Olympic Committee did not recognize the 1906 Games, a variation of this sport emerged in the London Olympics in 1908. In this sport, known as pistol dueling, athletes shot at each other with pistols loaded with non-lethal wax bullets.
**Arts from 1912 to 1948**
During the Olympic Games held in Stockholm in 1912, competitive events in the arts were highlighted. Odd competitions in drawing, sculpture, singing, and culture appeared in the Olympic Games. At that time, it was common for an athlete to compete in both a sports event and another in the arts. For example, American athlete Walter Winans won a gold medal in shooting in 1908 in London and won another gold medal in sculpture in Stockholm in 1912. After the 1948 Olympic Games, the Olympic Committee decided to abolish artistic competitions, preferring to keep only sports competitions.
