Winter Olympics

In February 1924, the very first winter olympics were held in Chamonix, France. Originally called the “International Winter Sports Week”, the winter games hosted 16 nations who competed in 16 events, including figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, and curling. In later decades, numerous events were added such as freestyle skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, and other staples to the winter games. With the spread of television around the world, the Winter Olympics grew into a global phenomenon and tradition. As technology advanced, so did the games, and by the 1990s, the Winter Olympics had become an international event, hosting thousands of athletes competing for gold. In the mid 90s, the winter games separated from the same cycle as the summer games, making the Winter Olympics its own event. Throughout the 21st century, the games continue to grow and advance with new technology that enhances the experience and performance of the athletes. 

The United States has played a major role in the formation and development of the Winter Olympics, as the very first official games were held in Lake Placid in 1932. The U.S would later go on to host 3 more games: Squaw Valley in 1960, Lake Placid again in 1980, and Salt Lake City in 2002. The U.S. has specifically excelled in events including figure skating, alpine skiing, speed skating, and snowboarding. Star American athletes such as Shaun White, Chloe Kim, and Lindsey Vonn have played major roles in popularizing Olympic events and instilling the sports into American culture. 

The 2026 Winter Olympics are currently being held in Milan and Cortinia d’Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6th till the 22nd. The evolution of the games continues through both the technology and the culture, as this is the first Olympics with 47% women’s participation, the highest female participation in the history of the event. The mountainous terrain in Italy allows for the events to rely heavily on existing venues rather than having to manufacture venues, making the 2026 winter olympics one of the most sustainability-focused events ever held. New events include ski mountaineering, men and women’s dual moguls, and team events in ski jumping and skeleton. 2,800 athletes from 90 different nations will compete in the games and attempt to win gold for their countries. The closing ceremony will be held on February 22nd, and will be followed by the start of the Paralympics on March 6th. 

https://www.olympics.com/en/news/birth-of-the-olympic-winter-games