After the dismal failure of the chaotic 1900 games in his native Paris, the 1924 Paris Games brought great joy to Baron de Coubertin, founder and mentor of the Olympic movement. A record 44 nations sent a record 3,072 athletes to the Games. The famous Colombes stadium was enlarged and upgraded, ready to host 60,000 spectators. Other venues, like the Tourelles Pool, were considered state of the art - and a far cry from the Seine River, the site of the 1900 swimming events. Athletes were accommodated within close proximity of the venues, which contributed to good will and friendship. The Paris crowd, although over patriotic at times, contributed to the warm surrounding. Unfortunately so did Mother Nature, as temperatures soared to a scorching 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit)..