Canne de combat was demonstrated at the 1924 Olympics in Paris, the only time it has ever appeared at the Olympics. A single match between two French fighters was demonstrated at the Velodrome d’Hiver in Paris. Canne de combat is a French martial art using a wooden cane, or canne, as a weapon. The canne is made of chestnut and is tapered and quite light. The fighters wear a padded suit and a fencing mask for protection. The sport developed in the 19th century in France as a means of self-defense. The sport has only been popular in France and is not practised elsewhere.