Jan. 25: First Winter Olympics 1924; JFK's Televised Press Conference 1961
1924 First Winter Olympics
Originally called "Winter Sports Week," the first Winter Olympics games were held in Chamonix, France. The games opened on Jan. 25, 1924, and closed on Feb. 5, 1924. The participating countries were France, Belgium, Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Canada and the United States.
Canada dominated in ice hockey, scoring 85 unanswered goals and winning the gold medal (this medal was, however, the only one won by Canada at the 1924 games). Other sports events at the first Winter Olympics were biathlon, bobsleigh, cross country skiing, curling, figure skating, Nordic combined, ski jumping and speed skating.
1961 First Televised Presidential Press Conference
President John F. Kennedy held the first live broadcast of a presidential news conference from the State Department. In the news conference, JFK talked about the release of an Air Force crew held by the Soviet Union, famine in the Congo, U2 spy plane policy, and a delay of the Geneva negotiations.
1972 Shirley Chisholm's Presidential Bid
The first African American congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm, announced her candidacy for president. Chisholm was the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination for president, but she lost the bid to George McGovern.
1998 Pope John Paul II Visits Cuba
The pope visited Cuba to promote religious freedom and to challenge Castro to change. Fidel Castro, along with quarter of a million people, attended the pope's mass in Revolution Square.
Famous Birthdays
1882 Virginia Woolf
1938 Etta James
1943 Tobe Hooper
1957 Jenifer Lewis
1970 Stephen Chbosky
1971 Ana Ortiz
1975 Mia Kirshner
1979 Christine Lakin
1981 Alicia Keys
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