Postcard of opening ceremonyAs war raged throughout Europe, preparations continued for the 1916 Olympic Games in Berlin because no one imagined the hostilities would last so long. And though the Games of the VI Olympiad were cancelled, they retained their place and number in the sequence.
So Antwerp, at the heart of Europe's First World War battleground, became the venue for the VII Olympiad in 1920, and the innovations were of peace and unity. Victor Boin, who had won water polo medals for Belgium in 1908 and 1912, became the first person to swear the new Olympic Oath, and went on to win a silver in fencing.
The Olympic Flag, presented to the IOC in time for the 1916 Games but never used, was flown for the first time, the colours selected because every national flag contains at least one of them.
Germany, Austria and Hungary were not invited because of their role in the war, but among the new nations were Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand - the latter competing for the first time as an individual nation after formerly making up part of the Australasian team.
Hannes Kolehmainen won the marathon for FinlandFinland, independent since 1917, also competed in its own right and Hannes Kolehmainen made up for his frustrations of eight years previously by celebrating under his own national flag after winning gold in the marathon.
It was Kolehmainen's last Olympic medal, but as he bowed out another 'Flying Finn' emerged and went on to achieve true greatness. Paavo Nurmi was out-sprinted n the closing stages of the 5,000m by the Frenchman Joseph Guillemot, who had been told in 1918 he would never run again because of the effects of mustard gas inhaled during the war.
But Nurmi returned to take gold in the 10,000m and in the individual and team cross-country events. By the time he retired in 1928 he had collected 12 Olympic medals, including nine golds.
Albert Hill wins the 800mAlbert Hill, another First World War veteran, won the double of 800m and 1,500m, a feat that would not be matched for another 44 years.
Poster from the GamesOscar Swahn concluded his career and became the oldest person to win a medal when he took silver at the age of 72 as part of Sweden's team in the running target competition.
The American marksman, Willis Lee, was the most successful performer at the Games with seven medals, including five golds. In fencing, the Nadi brothers Nedo and Aldo between them took nine medals home to Italy.
Both were members of the winning Italian teams for foil, sabre and epee. In addition Nedo, the older by five years, won the individual foil gold and then beat his brother in the final of the individual sabre. The Frenchman Armand Massard won the individual epee to prevent a clean sweep by the Italians.
Belgium made their mark in the archery competitions, with four gold medals and two silvers for Hubert Van Innis. They also won the football when their Czech opponents, who were losing 2— 0, walked off the pitch after 40 minutes of the final in protest at the officials. And they won the praise of a record number of performers and nations who took part in the Games.
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