Belgium Antwerp
VII International Olympic Games

After an 8-year interval caused by the First World War, athletes again celebrated the Olympics. The bids for the 1920 Summer Olympics were forwarded by seven cities of Europe and America. Belgium Antwerp had won the bidding.
2622 athletes (including 63 female ones) of 29 nations competed at the Games of the VII Olympiad. Totally 154 sets of medals had been played for in 25 sports. Already traditionally the winners received the gold, silver and bronze medals.
Athletes of Argentine, Brazil, Monaco, Czechoslovakia, Estonia and Yugoslavia made their first appearance at these Games. By the IOC decision, Germany and its allies in WWI were banned from competing at the Games. Athletes of the Soviet Russia also were not invited to the Olympics since the political and economic boycott of this country also covered its sports ties.
These were the first Olympics, when the Olympic Flag was flown and Athlete’s Oath was voiced in the Antwerp Olympic Stadium by Belgian water polo player and fencer Victor Boin.
The opening ceremony on August 14, 1920 began with the church service to commemorate those lost in WWI including also athletes. Hundreds of doves were released after the mass as a symbol of peace.
King of Belgium Albert I opened the Games of the VII Olympiad.
The winners were awarded the silver-gilt medals as the first prize, silver medals as the second prize and bronze medals as the third one. 

OBVERSE: a nude Olympic triumphant athlete, holding a palm leaf and laurel crown in his left hand, behind him on the left, winged Goddess of Victory Nike hailing the triumphant, and a shade picture of the Triumphal Arch on the right. A horizontal inscription in Flemish underneath reads “VII OLYMPIADE”.
REVERSE: a multi-figure composition of the city fountain with the panoramic picture of Antwerp in the background. At the central top edge, is the inscription reading “ANVERS MCMXX” (Antwerp 1920), with the initial and name of the designer “J Dupon” underneath to the right over the branch.

OBVERSE: a composition of an Olympic triumphant athlete in a biga, the classic Greek chariot drawn by two horses, with the Goddess of Victory with a laurel crown flying over him. REVERSE: a scene of the Goddess of Victory assistant in the ancient Parthenon with a laurel wreath in her hands. Behind is “a tripod” with the altar-fire. There are with waistcloths in the left sector. The first of them is a stepping up triumphant to be crowned with the laurel wreath.
An inscription in Dutch around the medal left edge reads “VIIe Olympiade Anvers” (VII Olympiad, Antwerp). Underneath is the year of the Games MCMXX (1920) with the initial and name of the designer “P. Theunis” above the date.

Medal of Merit for Organization of VII Olympic Games in Antwerp

This medal of merit was instituted on August 8, 1921 for contribution to organization of the VII Olympic Games. The medal was bestowed upon about 400 per sons (28 members of the Belgian national team, members of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, members of the Belgian Royal Family, etc.) The medal is 30 mm in diameter, minted in silver and suspended from a read-and-white ribbon.