The 1906 Intercalated Olympic Games

If you do the math, and count backwards from 2016 in four year increments, you don't arrive at 1906. So how can 1906 be an Olympic year?

The intercalated Games were to be a series of Olympic Games halfway between the regular Olympic Games. The proposed series of games, intercalated in the Olympic Games cycle was to always be held in Athens. They were to have the same status as the regular Olympic Games. However, the only such games were held in 1906.

Pierre de Coubertin didn't like the idea at all! Especially not Athens hosting the intercalated games all the time. He had intended the first Olympic Games to be held in Paris in 1900. But instead they were held in Athens in 1896. He had no intention of losing not only the premiere for Paris, but the games as well. So the second Olympic Games were held in Paris, France.

However, because of the "Exposition Universelle" being held in Paris, the 1900 Olympics didn't turn out so well, being overshadowed by the Exposition. The International Olympic Committee supported the Greek idea of the Intercalated games.

The 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri were also overshadowed by an Exposition, the "Louisiana Purchase Exposition". As a result, the Olympic Movement was in difficult shape. It had to regain the momentum of the 1896 Athens Games.

De Coubertin still didn't like the idea, and didn't do anything more than his function required him to do. But the IOC as a whole gave the Greek NOC their full support for the 1906 games. The 1906 were quite successful, unlike the 1900, 1904, and 1908 games. They were not overshadowed by an international exhibition.

These games were the first to have all athletes register through their National Olympic Committees. They were the first to have the Opening Ceremonies of the Games as a separate event. This event introduced the athletes marching into the stadium in national teams, and following their national flag. The Closing Ceremonies were also introduced this year, as was the raising of the national flags for the Olympic victors.

Unfortunately, due to a variety of circumstances beyond Greece's control, they were not able to keep the schedule of following the 1908 Olympic Games with another one two years later. International events also eclipsed the Intercalated Games, and they were never held again.

The stamps in this set were issued by Greece in 1906 to help raise money for the games. The two vacant openings are for the two stamps that are the most scarce and therefore the most expensive. Stamps way out of my price range! But who knows what will happen in the future?