winter olympic games winter olympic games french major international sporting event occurs years unlike summer olympics winter olympics feature sports practiced snow ice winter olympics winter olympics held france original sports broken disciplines ice hockey skiing consisting disciplines military patrol cross country skiing combined ski jumping skating consisting disciplines figure skating speed skating games held years interrupted world war olympics resumed held years winter summer olympic games held years accordance decision place summer winter games separate year cycles alternating numbered years winter olympics winter games evolved inception sports disciplines added alpine skiing short track speed skating freestyle skiing skeleton earned permanent spot olympic program discontinued later reintroduced permanently discontinued military patrol modern winter olympic sport descended speed skiing demonstration sports incorporated olympic sports rise television global medium communication enhanced profile games created income stream sale broadcast rights advertising lucrative allowed outside interests television companies corporate sponsors exert influence address criticisms internal scandals use performance enhancing drugs winter political boycott winter olympics nations winter games showcase claimed superiority political systems winter olympics hosted continents different countries united_states hosted games times france host times austria canada japan italy norway switzerland hosted games twice germany yugoslavia russia hosted games selected south_korea host winter olympics beijing china host winter olympics country southern hemisphere hosted host winter olympics major challenge preventing hosting games dependence winter weather traditional february timing games falls middle southern hemisphere summer countries austria canada finland france great_britain hungary italy norway poland sweden switzerland united_states sent athletes winter olympic games austria canada finland norway sweden united_states earned medals winter olympic games united_states earned gold games germany japan banned times competing games sports olympic charter limits winter sports practised snow ice number new sports added olympic programme include short track speed skating freestyle skiing addition events appeal winter olympics europe north_america european powers norway germany dominate traditional winter olympic sports countries south_korea australia canada finding success new sports results national medal tables interest winter olympics higher global television ratings current sport disciplines note figure skating events held summer olympics note men ice hockey tournament held summer olympics note website treats games event sport demonstration events demonstration sports historically provided venue host countries attract publicity locally popular sports having competition granting medals demonstration sports discontinued military patrol precursor medal sport demonstrated official sport special figures figure skating event contested summer olympics russian hockey sport popular countries russia considered national sport demonstrated oslo games ice stock sport german variant demonstrated germany austria ski ballet event later known ski demonstrated skiing dogs demonstration sport dog race held lake speed skiing demonstrated winter olympics winter variant modern included demonstration event games switzerland composed cross country skiing shooting downhill skiing fencing horse riding history early years predecessor games organized general held fourth year charter member close friend olympic games founder attempted winter sports specifically figure skating added olympic program unsuccessful summer olympics london united_kingdom figure skating events contested time world champion won individual titles years later italian count proposed stage week winter sports included summer olympics stockholm sweden organizers opposed idea desired protect integrity games concerned lack facilities winter sports idea resurrected games held berlin germany winter sports week speed skating figure skating ice hockey skiing planned olympics cancelled outbreak world war olympics war summer olympics held antwerp belgium featured figure skating ice hockey tournament germany austria hungary bulgaria turkey banned competing games held following year decided host nation summer olympics france host separate international winter sports week patronage chosen host week actually days events games proved success athletes nations competed events athletes finland norway won medals rest participating nations combined germany remained banned instead hosted series games called starting winter edition winter olympics decided create separate olympic winter games games designated winter olympics switzerland appointed host second olympic winter games fluctuating weather conditions challenged hosts opening ceremony held warm weather conditions plagued sporting events rest games weather metre speed skating event abandoned officially cancelled weather noteworthy aspect games norway history won figure skating competition age youngest olympic champion history distinction hold years winter olympics hosted outside europe seventeen nations athletes participated journey united_states long expensive competitors little money midst great depression athletes competed fourteen events sports virtually snow fell months games mid january snow hold events defended olympic title olympic champion boxing won gold men event far won gold medals summer winter olympics german towns joined organise edition winter games held february time summer winter olympics held country year alpine skiing olympic debut skiing teachers barred entering considered professionals decision swiss austrian refused compete games world war world war interrupted celebrations winter olympics games awarded japan decision rescinded japanese invasion china games moved germany german invasion poland forced complete cancellation games ongoing war games originally scheduled italy cancelled selected host post war games switzerland neutrality protected town world war venues place games logical choice city host winter olympics twice countries competed switzerland athletes germany japan invited controversy erupted hockey teams united_states arrived claiming legitimate olympic hockey representative olympic flag presented summer olympics antwerp stolen replacement unprecedented games countries won gold medals games point games oslo lit fireplace skiing pioneer torch relay conducted participants entirely popular sport countries featured demonstration sport norway sweden finland fielded teams norwegian athletes won medals nations led won gold medals events speed skating competition able host games selected organise winter olympics opening ceremonies final torch bearer entered olympic stadium ice stadium caught cable fell nearly flame able recover light winter games televised olympics broadcast nationwide television rights sold summer olympics rome games test feasibility large sporting events soviet_union olympic debut immediate impact winning medals nation won winter olympics medal japan continent asia placed second awarded olympics united_states village rush construct infrastructure sports facilities like ice arena speed skating track ski jump hill opening closing ceremonies produced number notable olympics dedicated athletes village use computer courtesy results feature female speed skating events events absent time organising committee found expensive build run austrian city host traditional winter sports resort warm weather caused lack snow games austrian army asked transport snow ice sport venues soviet speed history sweeping speed skating events career total gold medals set record winter olympics athletes contested sport received bad publicity competitor killed pre olympic training run held french town winter olympics olympic games broadcast colour nations athletes competing events second person win men alpine skiing events organising committee sold television rights million double price broadcast rights games venues spread long distances requiring athletes villages organisers claimed required accommodate technological advances critics disputed alleging layout necessary provide best possible venues television broadcasts expense athletes winter games held japan hosted outside north_america europe issue contentious games days games president threatened bar number alpine competing participated ski camp united_states reasoned financially benefited status athletes longer eventually austrian earned allowed compete canada send teams ice hockey tournaments protest inability use players professional leagues win winter olympic gold medal winter olympics awarded denver united_states november voters state colorado voted public funding games margin turned offer games vancouver british_columbia candidate games change provincial government brought administration support olympic bid offer rejected salt_lake_city candidate games offered opted ask maintained infrastructure games half time prepare games intended accepted invitation replace denver february olympic flames lit second time austrian town hosted games games featured combination track neighbouring soviet_union won fourth consecutive ice hockey gold medal olympics returned lake hosted games boycott winter olympics occurred taiwan refused participate mandated change national anthem attempting accommodate china wished compete anthem taiwan american speed set olympic world record events competed won giant country smallest nation produce olympic gold miracle ice american hockey team beat favoured soviets went win gold medal japan sweden runners host winter olympics surprise yugoslavia selected host games organised displayed indication war country years later total nations athletes participated events host nation yugoslavia won olympic medal alpine won silver giant sporting highlight free dance performance british ice dancers performance earned pair gold medal achieving unanimous perfect scores artistic impression canadian city calgary hosted winter olympics span days new events added ski jumping speed skating future olympic sports short track speed skating freestyle skiing appearance demonstration sports time speed skating events held indoors olympic oval dutch won gold medals set world records beating favoured east german team race medal total finnish ski won events sport italian olympic debut winning giant east german won women metre speed skating event seven months later earn silver track cycling summer games seoul athlete win medals summer winter olympics year games held year summer games hosted french region city events held city rest events spread political changes time reflected olympic teams appearing france games held fall communism berlin wall germany competed single nation time games croatia debuts independent nations soviet competed single team known independent appearances time world war years old finnish ski history youngest male winter olympic champion new_zealand winter olympic southern hemisphere won silver medal women voted separate summer winter games place alternating numbered years change effective games held norway winter olympics held separate summer games division czechoslovakia czech_republic slovakia olympic debuts women figure skating competition garnered media attention american injured january assault planned husband opponent competed games gold medal won ukraine olympic champion norway won gold medals coming distance speed skating events winter olympics held japanese city games host athletes men ice hockey tournament opened professionals time canada united_states players favoured win tournament won hockey medals czech_republic prevailed women ice hockey debut united_states won gold medal norway won gold medals skiing decorated winter olympic athlete gold medals medals overall austrian survived crash downhill competition returned win gold super giant wave new world records set speed skating introduction winter olympics held salt_lake_city united_states hosting nations athletes events sports games place september meant higher degree security avoid terrorist attack opening ceremonies games saw signs aftermath events day including flag flew ground zero officer singing god america honor guards members won silver singles athlete olympic history win medals individual event consecutive olympics canada achieved unprecedented double winning men women ice hockey gold medals canada embroiled russia controversy involved judging pairs figure skating competition russian pair competed canadian pair gold medal canadians appeared win competition russians awarded gold judging broke cold war lines judges communist countries favouring russian pair judges western nations voting canadians exception french judge awarded gold russians investigation revealed pressured gold russian pair regardless return russian judge look favourably french ice dancing competition decided award pairs gold medal second medal ceremony held later games australian gold southern hemisphere won metre short track speed skating event italian city hosted winter olympics second time italy hosted winter olympic games south korean athletes won medals including gold short track speed skating events won gold medals teammate won gold medals bronze women team pursuit canadian broke poles saw dilemma norwegian coach decided lend pole able help team win silver medal event expense norwegian team finished fourth germany speed earn career medals february tested positive blood manipulation received year suspension appealed upheld suspension swiss court ruled compete spot german olympic team ruling brought overturned lower court ruling competing vancouver awarded winter olympics vancouver allowing canada host second winter olympics population million people vancouver largest metropolitan area host winter olympic games athletes countries participated events death georgian training run day opening ceremonies resulted changing track layout safety grounds norwegian cross country won medals cross country events women programme finished olympics silver bronze vancouver games notable poor performance russian athletes winter olympics games soviet russian delegation outside medal winning nations finished sixth total medals eleventh gold medals president called resignation sports officials immediately games success asian countries stood stark contrast performing russian team vancouver marking high point medals won asian countries asian countries won medals gold vancouver total number medals won athletes asia increased thirty gold rise asian nations winter olympics sports growth winter sports programmes interest winter sports nations south_korea japan china russia selected host city winter olympics austria south_korea time breakup soviet_union russia hosted winter olympics athletes countries participated events olympic village olympic stadium located mountain venues kilometres away alpine region known winter olympics officially olympic winter games 22nd winter olympics took place february future july selected city south_korea host winter olympics host city olympic winter games known winter olympics beijing elected july session beijing city host summer winter olympics controversy process awarding host city honours came intense scrutiny salt_lake_city awarded right host games soon host city announced discovered organisers engaged elaborate scheme favour officials gifts financial considerations given evaluate vote salt_lake_city bid gifts included medical treatment relatives college scholarship member son land deal utah president received rifles valued defended gift president non voting member subsequent investigation uncovered inconsistencies bids games summer winter example gifts received members bid winter olympics described investigation committee astronomical strictly illegal feared corporate sponsors lose faith integrity process olympic brand extent begin pull support investigation resulted expulsion members new terms age limits established membership olympic athletes added committee rules future bids imposed ceilings imposed value gifts members accept bid cities host city legacy according host city responsible establishing functions services aspects games sports planning venues finance technology accommodation catering media services etc operations games cost hosting olympic games host cities realise profit investment example winter olympics japan cost billion comparison games cost billion host organisers claimed cost extending bullet train service tokyo responsible large price tag organising committee hoped exposure olympic games access tokyo local economy years afterward economy experience year post olympic long term effects planned possibility heavy debt coupled unused sports venues infrastructure saddle local community costs practical post olympic value prospective host cities concerns enacted initiatives agreed fund host city budget staging games secondly limits qualifying host countries resources infrastructure successfully host olympic games negatively region nation large portion developing world finally cities bidding host games required add legacy plan proposal requires prospective host cities plan view long term economic environmental impact hosting olympics region began drug testing started randomly testing athletes winter olympics winter games athlete test positive banned substance west german hockey player team allowed compete 1970s testing outside competition escalated found deter athletes performance enhancing drugs problem testing time lack test procedures undermined credibility tests late 1980s international sporting began coordinate efforts drug testing took lead fight established independent november winter olympics notable scandal involving emerging trend blood use blood synthetic improve oxygen flow reduce fatigue italian police conducted raid austrian cross country ski team residence games seized blood specimens equipment event followed pre olympics suspension cross country tested positive unusually high levels evidence blood president rejected attempts link olympics commercial interests felt olympic movement completely separate financial influence winter olympics marked beginning corporate sponsorship games despite resistance games continued 1960s revenue generated corporate sponsorship games concerned direction winter olympic games corrected felt winter olympics abolished resistance revenue stream meant unable gain share financial coming host cities control sponsorship deals retired million assets years later accounts million shift ideology members expansion games corporate sponsorship sale television rights concerns proved charged television broadcast rights successive games games american broadcaster cbs paid million games cost nbc million broadcast television companies paid games greater power example television lobby influenced olympic programme event finals held appear prime time television audiences pressured include new events appeal broader television audiences boost ratings slowly declining games decided summer winter games instead holding calendar year committee decided alternate years games held year cycles decided year winter summer olympic games underlying reasons change television lobby desire advertising revenue difficult sell advertising time games year second desire gain control revenue generated games decided games easier corporations sponsor individual olympic games revenue potential sought directly negotiate sponsorship contracts control olympic brand winter olympics hosted new format games politics cold war winter olympics ideological cold war soviet_union participated winter games long cold war combatants discover powerful propaganda tool olympic games soviet american politicians olympics opportunity demonstrate superiority respective political systems successful soviet athlete honoured time olympic gold figure skating awarded order victory winter olympics soviet athletes won gold medals expect receive depending prestige sport world record worth additional united states congress responded measures passing legislation reorganised approved financial rewards medal winning athletes cold war created tensions countries allied strained relationship east west_germany created difficult political situation role world war germany allowed compete winter olympics recognised west german olympic committee invited east west_germany compete unified team winter games declined invitation instead sought international legitimacy separate west_germany soviet_union recognised sovereign state giving credibility campaign independent participant olympics agreed accept east german condition east west germans compete team situation berlin wall constructed western nations began refusing east german athletes uneasy compromise unified team held games officially split teams threatened reject host city bids country refused entry east german athletes boycott winter games national team boycott taiwan decided participate winter olympics held prior games agreed allow china compete olympics time china given permission compete people republic china use flag anthem island taiwan competing flag anthem attempted countries compete proved unacceptable demanded taiwan cease renamed island chinese demanded adopt different flag national anthem taiwan agree despite numerous appeals court hearings decision stood athletes arrived olympic village identification cards admitted subsequently left olympics protest opening ceremonies taiwan returned olympic competition winter games chinese country agreed compete flag bearing emblem play anthem athletes win gold medal agreement remains place day time medal table reference nations according official data list winter olympic games unlike summer olympics cancelled winter olympics winter olympics included official roman counts winter games official titles summer games count titles winter games count games
Winter Olympic Games