A Bobsleigh used by the French team at the first Winter Olympic Games at Chamonix in 1924, an extremely rare survival, the nose cone with traces of re

A Bobsleigh used by the French team at the first Winter Olympic Games at Chamonix in 1924, an extremely rare survival, the nose cone with traces of red paint, a depiction of a dolphin and inscribed DAUPHIN, steering wheel mechanism still operational as are the front foot brakes and the rear hand brakes, canvas seat with areas of damage, and the central side struts are missing, runners still in tact., length approx. 2.70m. Bobsledding was still a fairly young sport in 1924, having been invented in the late 19th century. The International Federation for Bobsleigh and Tobogganing (FIBT) was founded on 23 November 1923 just months before the inaugural Winter Olympic Games. The Olympics were the first major international championship in the sport, as World Championships were only established in 1930. The track at Chamonix ran for a length of 1,370 meters, starting at an altitude of 1210 m and finishing at 1054 meters above sea level. The quality of the course was considered to be quite low and it moreover proved to be dangerous, three of the nine teams crashing. The only event was the men's 4-man bob although curiously rules at the time allowed a 5th rider. The competition was held on 2nd & 3rd February over four runs. Footage of the event can be viewed on the Olympic Channel on You Tube . Switzerland I took gold from Great Britain II with Belgium I collecting bronze. France II finished fourth. France I, interestingly, crashed out on run 2, but evidently were allowed to complete the 3rd & 4th runs even though their subsequent times would have no count in final placings.