The Olympic Games saw their first modern giant-stadium, the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Americans provided many innovations: an Olympic Village, electronic timing and photo-finish. What they could not provide, to the inconvenience of the European's, were metric measurements. Hollywood inspired a spectacular opening ceremony and California supplied glorious sunny weather. Hopes to stage the greatest games ever were shattered by the Great Depression, but by paying many participants travel, the organizers saved the Games from disaster.