History of the Winter Olympics

2026 Winter Olympics emblem. Image: Wikipedia

HISTORY OF THE WINTER OLYMPICS

I have written previously about the history of the Olympics, but the Winter Olympics are unique among the Olympic Games.

The Jeux Olympiques d’Hiver, or Winter Olympic Games, start today in northern Italy. Their history is much shorter than the Olympics in general.

When did the Winter Olympics begin, when in the calendar do they take place, and what sports are included that differ from the Summer Olympic Games?

History of the Winter Games

The Winter Games began in the Winter of 1924 in Chamonix, France, to compete in sports practiced on snow and ice. It included 250 competitors from 16 countries.

The forerunner of the Winter Olympics was the Nordic Games held in 1901 and 1905, then every four years until 1926.

In 1992, the Olympic Congress decided that the Winter Games would be held every four years, two years after the Summer Games. It was not held in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II.

The original Winter Games involved nine different sports: bobsleigh, ice hockey, Nordic skiing (including military patrol, cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and ski jumping), and skating (figure and speed skating).

But the number of sports has grown to include alpine skiing, luge, short track speed skating, freestyle skiing, skeleton, and snowboarding.

Winter Olympics 2026

Skimo. Image: CNET

This year, a new sport has been added: skimo, or ski mountaineering.

What is skimo?

Skimo diagram

It involves racing up and down a course, alternating between skiing and running. “Skins” or carpet-like strips are attached to the bottom of their skis for the uphill sections of the race.

Typically held in February in the Northern Hemisphere, the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, in northern Italy. Cortina d’Ampezzo previously hosted the Winter Games in 1956.

“The Games of Milano-Cortina. Where the 2026 Winter Olympics will be held.” Winter Olympics 2026 map. Image: Biemmedue

Winter Olympic Fame

In 1960, the Winter Olympics were held in Squaw Valley, California. I skied at Squaw Valley fifteen years later. The resort was still trading on its Olympic fame.

The Winter Olympics of 1968 were held in Grenoble, France. I had started learning French that year, and the TV events were available for the first time in living color. The French skier Jean-Claude Killy had won three gold medals and was the star that year.

Winter Olympic Peculiarities

Because the Winter Olympics are held in mountainous regions, European countries like Norway and Germany, along with the United States, have dominated the Winter Olympics. Each country has accumulated more than 100 gold medals.

The former Soviet Union was historically the fourth-highest medal winner, but Russia is banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics along with its ally Belarus, due to their involvement in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Nevertheless, athletes from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete under a neutral flag as Individual Neutral Athletes. They will not be permitted to participate in the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremonies, and any medals they win will not be added to the official medal count of their original country. Among other restrictions, all Individual Neutral Athletes must meet all the proper anti-doping requirements applicable to them.

Why does this matter?

My friend Tim Koleto was denied his Silver Medal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because the Russian Team, which had initially won Gold at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, was implicated in a doping case within hours of the event.

It took two years for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to decide to strip the Russian Team of its medals. The US Team moved into first place, and Tim, who competed for Team Japan, moved up to second place.

Tim Koleto was awarded his Silver Medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

He was belatedly awarded his Silver Medal at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, as I describe here.

Where are the next Winter Olympics in 2030? The French Alps.

Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian
billpetro.com