Stade Pershing ( French pronunciation: [stad pɛʁʃiŋ] ) was a multi-purpose stadium in the Bois de Vincennes in Paris , France. It was used mostly for football matches and hosted the final of the Coupe de France on four occasions. It hosted the Inter-Allied Games in 1919 and the first Women's World Games in 1922. It also hosted some of the football matches during the 1924 Summer Olympics . The stadium was able to hold 29,000 spectators at its height; it opened in 1919 and closed in 1960.
6-530: The Inter-Allied Games was a one-off multi-sport event held from 22 June to 6 July 1919 at the newly constructed Pershing Stadium just outside Paris , France following the end of World War I . The host stadium had been built near the Bois de Vincennes by the U.S. Military in cooperation with the YMCA . The event was only open to participation by military personnel who were currently serving or had formerly served in
12-749: The England and Australian national rugby league football teams in December 1933 (won 63–13 by the Australians) as part of the Australian teams 1933–34 Kangaroo Tour , inspired the beginnings of rugby league in France . 48°49′49″N 2°27′23″E / 48.83028°N 2.45639°E / 48.83028; 2.45639 This article about a French sports venue is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about
18-558: The armed forces during the War. Around 1500 athletes from a total of eighteen nations participated in the proceedings which featured nineteen sports. Following the conclusion of the games, Pershing Stadium was presented as a gift to the people of France from the United States of America. The area, still known as Le Stade Pershing, continues to be used as an open air recreation park to this day. A total of nineteen sports were contested at
24-710: The engineers of the United States Army intervened and completed construction. It hosted the Inter-Allied Games , and then was presented as a gift from the US to France after the games concluded. At the June 22, 1919, inauguration ceremony, YMCA Chief Secretary Edward Clark Carter delivered the stadium to General Pershing , who in turn, immediately presented the deed to French Minister of Marine Georges Leygues . An exhibition match at Stade Pershing between
30-515: The games. A number of military-oriented events was initially planned, but only hand-grenade throwing and shooting made it on to the final programme. A total of twenty-eight nations from the Allies of World War I were invited to the competition and eighteen nations accepted the invitation. China aimed to compete, but ultimately was unable to send any athletes to the games within the timescale. It did, however, provide medals and trophies in support of
36-436: The games. The Kingdom of Hejaz sent a delegation but with no athletes, choosing to demonstrate the skills of their Arabian horsemen instead. A full list of participants was made by the organisers. These athletes competed in and won gold medals at the 1919 Inter-Allied Games: Stade Pershing Construction of the stadium was originally contracted to a French firm. However, labour disputes stopped all work. At this time,
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