The 1900 Paris Olympic Games, the second modern Olympiad, were held as part of the Exposition Universelle, a world's fair celebrating the achievements of the past century. This integration with the fair meant the Games lacked a distinct identity, stretched over five months from May to October, and suffered from poor organization and inconsistent signage, leading to confusion among athletes and spectators. Approximately 997 athletes, including 22 women who participated for the first time, from 24 nations competed.

The sporting events were largely dispersed across Paris, with some competitions held on makeshift grounds. The program expanded significantly from Athens, featuring sports like cricket, golf, rowing, rugby union, sailing, shooting, equestrian events, and even pigeon shooting (a controversial event where live birds were used). Many events lacked clear rules and were contested in an informal atmosphere. For example, swimming events took place in the Seine River, and the marathon was run on a challenging, uneven course.

Despite the organizational shortcomings, the Paris Games witnessed some notable achievements. American Alvin Kraenzlein dominated the sprint and hurdle events in athletics, winning four individual gold medals. Swiss shooter Konrad Stäheli won three gold medals in shooting. Hélène de Pourtalès of Switzerland made history as the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal, as part of the winning sailing team in the mixed 1-2 ton class.

The lack of centralized organization and the overshadowing by the Exposition Universelle meant that the 1900 Paris Olympics are often considered a chaotic and somewhat haphazard affair. Many athletes were unaware they were even competing in the Olympics at the time. Nevertheless, the Games marked the first participation of women and saw the introduction of several new sports to the Olympic program, contributing to the evolving nature of the modern Olympic movement, albeit in a less than ideal setting.