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Winter Olympics Timeline
(1924 - Present)The Winter Olympics are a major international multi-sport event held every four years, featuring sports practiced on snow and ice such as skiing, skating, ice hockey, and bobsledding. First held in Chamonix, France in 1924, the Games have grown from 16 events to over 100, showcasing athletic excellence in cold-weather disciplines and uniting nations across the globe. More Less
Early Games
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix
Jan 25, 1924 - Feb 5, 1924
The inaugural Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France, featuring 16 events across six sports. Originally called International Winter Sports Week, it was retroactively designated the first Winter Olympics. Norway dominated the medal table, and the games established winter sports as a permanent part of the Olympic movement.
Image source: 1924 Winter Olympics
Sonja Henie wins first of three gold medals
Feb 13, 1928
Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie won her first Olympic gold at St. Moritz in 1928, beginning a run of three consecutive titles (1928, 1932, 1936). She became one of the most celebrated athletes of her era and later starred in Hollywood films.
Image source: Sonja Henie
Lake Placid hosts third Winter Olympics
Feb 4, 1932 - Feb 15, 1932
The 1932 Winter Olympics were held in Lake Placid, New York, during the Great Depression. The United States topped the medal table for the only time in its history, aided by home advantage and controversial speed skating rules favoring American skaters.
Image source: 1932 Winter Olympics
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Games under Nazi Germany
Feb 6, 1936 - Feb 16, 1936
Held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, these games took place under Nazi rule just months before the Berlin Summer Olympics. Alpine skiing debuted as an Olympic sport, and Norwegian skier Ivar Ballangrud won four gold medals.
Image source: 1936 Winter Olympics
Winter Olympics suspended by World War II
Jan 1, 1940 - Dec 31, 1945
The planned 1940 games in Sapporo and 1944 games in Cortina d'Ampezzo were cancelled due to World War II. The Winter Olympics did not resume until 1948, marking a twelve-year gap in the competition's history.
Image source: 1940 Winter Olympics
St. Moritz hosts postwar revival of the Games
Jan 30, 1948 - Feb 8, 1948
St. Moritz, Switzerland hosted the first postwar Winter Olympics in 1948. Twenty-eight nations participated, including returning teams from Japan and Germany. Barbara Ann Scott of Canada won figure skating gold, and Henri Oreiller of France won two alpine golds.
Image source: 1948 Winter Olympics
Oslo Games introduce the Olympic flame tradition
Feb 14, 1952 - Feb 25, 1952
The 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway introduced the tradition of lighting the Olympic flame in the fireplace of the home of skiing pioneer Sondre Nordheim. Norway celebrated its centennial with a dominant performance on home snow.
Image source: 1952 Winter Olympics
Cold War Era
Soviet Union debuts at Cortina d'Ampezzo Games
Jan 26, 1956 - Feb 5, 1956
The Soviet Union made its Winter Olympic debut at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, immediately topping the medal table. The games also featured the first televised Winter Olympics broadcast to a wide international audience.
Image source: 1956 Winter Olympics
Squaw Valley Games feature first computerized scoring
Feb 18, 1960 - Feb 28, 1960
The 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, California introduced computerized scoring and live television coverage. Bobsled was omitted due to cost, while biathlon and women's speed skating debuted as Olympic sports.
Image source: 1960 Winter Olympics
Innsbruck Games debut luge and artificial ice tracks
Jan 29, 1964 - Feb 9, 1964
Innsbruck, Austria hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics, which saw the debut of luge and the use of artificial refrigeration for bobsled and luge tracks. Tragically, two athletes died during training runs before the opening ceremony.
Image source: 1964 Winter Olympics
Key Facts
- The first official Winter Olympic Games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924, originally called 'International Winter Sports Week'.
- The Winter Olympics are held every four years, with Summer and Winter Games alternating every two years since 1994.
- Norway is the most successful nation in Winter Olympic history, leading the all-time medal table.
- Figure skating and ice hockey were actually part of the Summer Olympics (1908 and 1920) before the Winter Games were established.
- Beijing 2022 made Beijing the first city ever to host both the Summer (2008) and Winter (2022) Olympic Games.
Source
This Winter Olympics timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.
We work hard to keep these timelines accurate, but mistakes do get through. If you spot one, email us at [email protected] and we'll fix it for future visitors.
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