The 1904 Olympic Games were somewhat overshadowed by the bustle of the World Fair. The fair commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase and there were plenty of exhibitions to show off turn-of-the-century innovations . The motorcar display was the highlight of the Fair but among other popular recent inventions included hamburgers, ice-tea and ice-cream cones. For the first time athletes from the western hemisphere had the opportunity to travel via the newly opened Panama CannAl to reach Missouri. However, only a small Australian delegation made use of the new route. Airplanes were still not an alternative to a long sea voyage. The Wright Brothers' first flight the previous year lasted only 12 seconds.