Return Medal from the 1924 Summer Olympic Games, Paris

Gold-colored medal attached to the bottom of a red, white, and blue ribbon attached to a yellow rectangular pin with "COMMITTEE" printed in black. This John F. Hylan medal was to honor the Olympic athletes returning from the 1924 Paris Olympics. This belonged to the donor's father, Ben Levine. Levine was a participant in the development of amateur sports competition from 1902 as a boy of 13 when he went to work for James Sullivan, President of the Amateur Athletic Union until his retirement from the A.A.U. in 1968. Levine's primary contribution was to Amateur boxing, which he first promoted prior to 1920. He staged the first Golden Gloves and was the Assistant Manager of the U.S. Boxing teams at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games and an international jurist in boxing at the Olympics in 1932.

The 1924 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad were held in Paris, France with 44 countries, 2,954 men and 135 women athletes participating. This marks the first Olympics where the media played a role in broadcasting the Olympics worldwide. This was also the first Olympics where the motto Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger) was used and the first to feature a closing ceremony. Although not official, an Olympic Village complete with running water, a post office and hairdresser was constructed for the first time as well. US swimmer Johnny Weismuller’s first Olympic appearance earned him three gold medals in swimming and a bronze in water polo. He beat favorite Duke Kahanamoku in the 100-meter men’s final although Kahanamoku was the first American to win three medals in the event taking the silver. American Helen Wills won gold in the tennis singles and doubles tournaments although this was the last year tennis would appear in the Olympics until its return in 1988 due to a question of amateur standings of some of the athletes. The United States won the medal count with 99.

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