The history of Winter Games can be traced back to the pre-World War II period, when the governing bodies of various countries met to discuss the feasibility of a separate Winter Olympics event in 1920. The IOC, however, opposed the move claiming that winter sports lacked popular appeal, and was largely an elite activity. However, Chamonix in France hosted a week long winter games event, known as the ‘International Winter Sports Week’. It was not endorsed by the International Olympic Committee, but was still an extremely popular event, which saw the participation of some of the best sportspersons in the field of winter games. The Scandinavians, as was expected, dominated the Games. 27 of the 43 medals went to athletes from Norway and Finland.
The decision to hold a separate Winter Games was finally taken in 1925, and this decision was formalized in 1926. The meet of Chamonix was designated as the First Winter Olympics, ex post facto. St. Moritz was appointed as the host for the second Olympic Winter Games, slated to be held between February 11 and February 14 in 1928.
Politics have always had an influence on the Olympics. The beginning of the World War II cast its dark shadow on the Olympics celebration. Japan, which was originally awarded the distinction of holding the 1940 Winter Olympics, had to return its claims following their Chinese invasion leading to the Sino-Japanese war. After the IOC failed to make alternate arrangements, as most nations were indulged in some sort of warfare, the entire Games was cancelled for the time. Similarly, the 1944 Winter Games scheduled for Cortina d’Ampzzo were also cancelled because of Italy’s involvement in the World War II. The 1948 Winter Olympics at St. Moritz of Switzerland was the first Winter Games to be held in the Post War period. However, Japan and Germany were not invited for the meet. The 1956 event was the first to be televised.
1972 was the first time a nation outside North America and Europe received the distinction of holding the event in the history of Winter Games. It was in the city of Sapporo in Japan that the Games were held. The Cold War had a telling influence on all Winter Olympics Games held in the 1980s. An important change was proposed and accepted in 1986, when the IOC decided not to hold the Summer and the Winter Olympics in the same year. The Lillehammer Games of 1994 was the first Winter Olympics not to be held in the same year with the Summer Olympics. In 2000, the Winter Olympics returned to Japan, with Nagano being the host city.
The 2001 Olympics were held at Salt Lake City in the US, when the tragedy of the Twin Towers destruction was still afresh in people’s memory. This meet has a special position in the history of Winter Olympics because it is considered to be a triumph of the human will that remains undaunted by all threats against humanity. The 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver is expected to be a great spectacle, with the Cultural Olympiad being held simultaneously. The events collectively will showcase the cultural heritage and the contemporary glory of Canada and the British Columbia.
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