Ethel Catherwood competes for CanadaThe Amsterdam Olympics wrote new chapters in the history of the Games and continued a few enthralling stories which had begun at previous celebrations.
They are remembered as probably the last Olympic Games to take place free of issues ranging from economic hardship to political posturing, drugs cheats and terrorism.
The monument to the success of the event was the stadium in Amsterdam, designed by Jan Wils and considered worthy of a gold medal for architecture in the art competitions which were still part of the schedule.
Of greater significance were the three medals — a gold and two silvers — with which Paavo Nurmi ended his Olympics career, the two swimming golds secured by Johnny Weissmuller before embarking on a career in showbusiness and the second football gold for Uruguay.
Nurmi, fellow Finn Ville Ritola and Finnish-born Swede Edvin Wide again dominated the distance events. With a silver in the 3,000 metres steeplechase, Nurmi separated two more Finns, winner Toivo Loukola and bronze medallist Ove Andersen.
Uruguay on way to football goldUruguay's title came courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Argentina in a replay after a 1-1 draw. Remarkably, they never entered the Olympic football competition again, although they did win the World Cup in 1930 and 1950.
Lord Burghley at the GamesOlympic firsts were many. Lord David Burghley became the first member of the British House of Lords to win an athletics gold with his victory in the men's 400m hurdles, while Crown Prince Olav, part of Norway's successful sailing team, became the first member of a royal household to strike gold.
Pigeons were released to symbolise peace, the Olympic flame burned throughout the event, Rhodesia and Panama attended their first Games — and women were allowed to have a go at track and field, although only in five events.
Anni Holdmann, a member of the returning German team, was the first woman to win an Olympic athletics contest with her triumph in a heat of the 100m, while Poland's Halina Konopacka was the first female gold medallist, claiming the discus with a world record throw.
Poster from the 1928 OlympiadHowever, events after the 800m set back the cause of women athletes considerably. Lina Radke, of Germany, landed the gold medal, but the official view after the race was that too many competitors were clearly exhausted, so they dropped the event until 1960.
The men's marathon, Finland's property at the previous two Games, provided a pointer to the future with victory for Boughera El Ouafi, who competed under the French flag but was born in Algeria.
Hockey returned to the schedule and India kept it largely to themselves. They won every game, didn't concede a single goal and collected the first of six successive gold medals with ease.
In the pool the departure of Weissmuller was one story and the arrival of Japan was another, Yoshiyuki Tsuruta notching his country's first swimming gold. His team-mates later added a silver and bronze, and they built on that success to become a real force in Olympic swimming during the 1930s.
Top three performances
1- India - India won its first ever gold in hockey, beginning a streak of six consecutive gold medals in the sport.
2- Uruguay - Retained their football title, and two years later won the inaugural World Cup. They have never taken part in the Olympic football since.
3- Percy Williams (CAN) - Won a surprise sprint double in the 100m and 200m.
Did you know?
-Germany took part for the first time since 1912, and finished second in the medal table.
-Athletics was held on the now-standard 400m track for the first time.
-With art disciplines still part of the programme, archietct Jan Wils was awarded gold for designing the Olympic Stadium.
The celebrated Olympic Stadium