Winter Olympic Games

…Stockholm or stage a separate Winter Olympics in the same year. Sweden, concerned that such a move would jeopardize the Nordic Games, refused. Germany supported plans to stage a competition of winter events in early 1916 as part of the Games of the VIth Olympiad scheduled for Berlin later that…

…22nd occurrence of the Olympic Winter Games.

…a brief history of the Winter Olympic Games and past Canadian Games, with tables featuring International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidents, sites of the Olympic Games through the years, and medal winners of 2006; a colourful photo gallery; and daily highlights of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

In 2006 the Winter Games returned to Italy after a 50-year absence. Unlike the 1956 Games, which were held in the small resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the 2006 Games were hosted by Turin, an industrial city and provincial capital located in northwestern Italy. The competition venues were…

…2002 Games long before the Olympic torch arrived in Salt Lake City. In November 1998 the first allegation of bribery and misuse of funds by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) emerged. Investigations by the U.S. government and the IOC soon revealed that the SLOC had doled out cash gifts,…

…turnaround of the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, chronicled by Romney in Turnaround: Crisis, Leadership, and the Olympic Games (2004), served as a springboard for his successful Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign in 2002.

…the 18th occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

…after the Sapporo Games, the Winter Olympics returned to Japan. The most memorable aspect of the Nagano Games was arguably the weather, which brought heavy snow and periods of freezing rain. There was even an earthquake. The Alpine skiing competition was most affected by the heavy snows that caused several…

…a two-year interlude, the Olympic Winter Games returned in 1994, when a 1986 amendment to the Olympic Charter calling for the Summer and Winter Games to be held alternately every two years went into effect. Awarded to Lillehammer, the 1994 Olympics were noteworthy for their environmental conservation. While numerous facilities…

…the 17th occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

…time that the Summer and Winter Games would be held in the same year; the next winter competition was scheduled for 1994, while the summer events were slated for 1996. The Games also reflected the changing political climate in central and eastern Europe. Competing as the Unified Team (UT), athletes…

…a bidding committee for the Winter Olympics in 1957; 24 years later it was awarded the 15th Winter Games. The influence of television on the Games spread even deeper. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) paid \$309 million for the television rights, and advertisers were able to influence the starting times…

The awarding of the 14th Winter Olympics to Sarajevo (now in Bosnia and Herzegovina) caught many by surprise, including the host country, which went to work building new facilities and making improvements to others in order to accommodate the Games. The choice of Sarajevo proved appropriate, however, as the 1984…

…14th occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

…New York town hosted the Winter Olympics. But, in the age of television and increasing numbers of spectators, Lake Placid was ill-equipped to handle the demands of a modern Games. Transportation was inadequate to move the crowds, and athletes complained about the confinement of the Olympic Village, which would later…

…Innsbruck was awarded its second Winter Olympics. Using facilities from the 1964 Games, Innsbruck needed to make only minor renovations to buildings. The Innsbruck Games were again a success.

…Innsbruck was awarded its second Winter Olympics. Using facilities from the 1964 Winter Games, Innsbruck needed to make only minor renovations to buildings. The Innsbruck Games were again a success.

…unsuccessful attempts to secure the Olympics, Sapporo was finally awarded the 11th Winter Games, and the Japanese government spent a great deal of money to create a memorable Olympics. The Games were the most extravagant to date. To defray the high expenses, the organizers sold the television rights for over…

…unsuccessful attempts to secure the Olympics, Sapporo was finally awarded the 1972 Winter Games, and the Japanese government spent a great deal of money to create a memorable Olympics. The Games were the most extravagant to date. To defray the high expenses, the organizers sold the television rights for over…

…Charles de Gaulle, the 1968 Games were a triumph for France but were not without their share of problems. Though a great deal of money was spent to ready the industrial city of Grenoble, its lack of facilities resulted in many contests being held in outlying areas. Spectators had to…

The 1968 Winter Games, opened by French Pres. Charles de Gaulle, were a triumph for France but were not without their share of problems. Though a great deal of money was spent to ready the industrial city of Grenoble, its lack of facilities resulted in many contests’…

After narrowly losing the 1960 Games to Squaw Valley, California, U.S., Innsbruck was awarded the 1964 Winter Olympics. It proved well worth the wait. Innsbruck became the first Olympic city to hold events throughout the surrounding area, enabling more than one million…

…was narrowly awarded the eighth Winter Olympics, beating out Innsbruck, Austria, the eventual host of the 1964 Games, by a mere two votes. Many countries protested the selection, citing Squaw Valley’s lack of development—the area had only one hotel—and its high elevation—over 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) above sea level. Within…

…was narrowly awarded the 1960 Winter Olympics, beating out Innsbruck, Austria, the eventual host of the 1964 Games, by a mere two votes. Many countries protested the selection, citing Yokuts Valley’s lack of development—the area had only one hotel—and its high elevation—over 6,000 feet (1,800 metres) above sea level. Within…

Originally awarded the 1944 Winter Games, which were canceled because of World War II, Cortina d’Ampezzo was selected to host the seventh Winter Olympics. Although the Games got off to an ominous start—the torch bearer tripped and fell during the opening ceremony—they were a resounding success. Even the threat…

Originally awarded the 1944 Winter Games, which were canceled because of World War II, Cortina d’Ampezzo was selected to host the seventh Winter Olympics. Although the Games got off to an ominous start—the torch bearer tripped and fell during the opening ceremony—they were a resounding success. Even the threat…

…the awarding of the sixth Winter Olympics to Oslo, the Games were held for the first time in a Scandinavian country. Some questioned the country’s ability to stage the competition, but the worries proved unfounded. New facilities were built and existing ones refurbished to meet the high Olympic standard. Oslo…

…the awarding of the 1952 Winter Olympics to Oslo, the Games were held for the first time in a Scandinavian country. Some questioned the country’s ability to stage the competition, but the worries proved unfounded. New facilities were built and existing ones refurbished to meet the high Olympic standard. Oslo…

…result of World War II, Olympic competition returned. The Games, however, felt the effects of the war as countries were unable to properly equip their teams, forcing athletes to improvise. A shortage of money and the imposition of travel restrictions resulted in a lack of spectators. Nonetheless, St. Moritz, which…

…the fifth occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

…a Bavarian resort, the fourth Winter Olympics were opened by Chancellor Adolf Hitler. Although not as politically charged as the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, the event was manipulated by the Nazi regime, which suppressed unfavourable press coverage and staged lavish celebrations to mark the openings of new facilities. The…

…a shadow over the third Winter Olympics. Only 17 countries attended, represented by some 250 athletes, over half of whom were from Canada and the United States. The Games generated little revenue, and organizers, who had built a new stadium and bobsled run, suffered huge financial losses.

…a shadow over the third Winter Olympics. Only 17 countries attended, represented by some 250 athletes, more than half of whom were from Canada and the United States. The Games generated little revenue, and the organizers, who had built a new stadium and bobsled run, suffered huge financial losses.

The second Winter Olympics, held at a ski resort, were marred by bad weather. The culprit was the foehn, a strong wind that carried with it warm air, causing temperatures to soar above 75 °F (24 °C) some afternoons. Numerous events were rescheduled, and one contest—the 10,000-meter…

…the second occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

…were originally staged as International Winter Sports Week, a meet sponsored by the IOC but not sanctioned as an official Olympic Games. Well-organized and equipped with new facilities, the event was a success and led the IOC to amend its charter in 1925, establishing the Winter Games. Chamonix was thereafter…

…the first occurrence of the Winter Olympic Games.

skiing technique that evolved during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the mountainous terrain of the Alps in central Europe. Modern Alpine competitive skiing is divided into the so-called speed and technical events, the former comprising downhill skiing and the supergiant slalom, or…

…Olympic debut at the 1936 Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, where a combined race (featuring both downhill and slalom events) was held. The first giant slalom Olympic competition took place at the 1952 Winter Games in Oslo, and the supergiant slalom was added at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary,…

…demonstration event at the first Winter Olympics, held in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The event was then called “military patrol” and was again included (still with demonstration status) at the Winter Games of 1928, 1936, and 1948. The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon (founded 1948) worked for the…

…its inclusion in the first Olympic Winter Games at Chamonix, France, the following year. Since 1931 both two-person and four-person world-championship competitions have been held yearly, except during World War II. Though women have participated in bobsledding since the sport’s creation, international competition for women did not begin until the…

>skiing in open country over rolling, hilly terrain as found in Scandinavian countries, where the sport originated as a means of travel as well as recreation and where it remains popular. In its noncompetitive form the sport is also known as ski touring.

game similar to lawn bowls but played on ice. Two teams of four players (given the titles lead, second, third, and skip) participate in a curling match. Each player slides round stones, concave on the bottom and with a handle on the top, across the…

Downhill debuted at the Olympics in a combined event (featuring both a downhill and a slalom race) in 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. It was first held as an Olympic medal event in 1948 at St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Held every four years, the Olympic Games are the most prestigious championship in figure skating. The top singles, pairs, and dance teams in the world compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals in their respective disciplines. Skaters must be 15 years of age by…

winter sport that combines skiing and acrobatics. The sport has experimented with a range of events, but there are two that have been constant through the course of the sport’s international competition: aerials and moguls.

…allowed to compete at the Olympics and World Cup championships. Although the decision had little effect on the world tournament, the Winter Games competition underwent numerous changes. Given the high visibility of professional players and their skills, selection to the Canadian, U.S., Russian, Finnish, Swedish, and Czech Olympic teams was…

…and was included in the Winter Games upon their inauguration in 1924. In 1998 women’s hockey made its Olympic debut.

Luge competition is often held on a bobsled run. Runs vary in length but typically range between 1,000 metres and 1,300 metres (approximately three-fourths of a mile) for men and between 800 metres and 1,050 metres (approximately half a mile) for women. Speeds reach up to…

…were included in the first Winter Olympic program in 1924; Alpine events (downhill and slalom) were not added until 1948. A Nordic World Cup for cross-country events has been awarded since 1979. The governing body is the International Ski Federation (Fédération Internationale de Ski, or FIS).

sport that tests the speed, technical skating ability, and aggressiveness of its competitors. Unlike traditional long-track speed skating, contestants race against each other instead of the clock.

…been included in the Winter Olympics since the 1924 Games in Chamonix, France. Upon addition of a second, much bigger hill to the 1964 Olympics, the event was split, creating large-hill jumping and normal- (or small-) hill jumping. Competitions are held on carefully graded and prepared hills, classed according to…

…in the Olympics at the Winter Games at Chamonix, France, in 1924.

…sport was added to the Olympic Winter program in the 1936 Games held at Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Ger.

This breakthrough with the Olympics was greeted with mixed emotions by snowboarders; in fact, three-time world champion snowboarder Terje Håkonsen of Norway boycotted the Olympic Games because of a disagreement with the IOC.

…men’s event in the first Winter Olympics in 1924. At the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley, California, U.S., women’s speed-skating events were added.

…of speed skiing in the Olympic Winter Games. While the IOC wants to limit the speed of the skiers to about 125 miles per hour, such measures have proved controversial; in spite of several deaths in the sport, the top racers are adamantly opposed to such limits. The IOC sanctioned…