The Nordic Games were the first iteration of the Winter Olympics. Viktor Gustaf Balck first organized Nordic Games in Sweden in 1901. Mult this international sporting event that is designed specifically for winter sports are held regularly thereafter until 1926. Meanwhile, Balck was gathering to take winter sports (from figure skating) included in the Olympic sport list. He did not succeed until 1908, when four events figure skating was included in the 1908 Olympics in London.

In planning next summer Olympics will be held (in 1912) an Italian count named Eugenio d'Usseaux Brunetto begged the International Olympic Committee to plan a week of winter sports as part of the 1912 Games. The idea was not warmly welcomed by a couple different reasons. First, the Committee would not be detrimental to the Nordic Games. Secondly, the Committee is concerned at the lack of facilities for other sports.

More land was acquired in 1916 when the idea of including a week of sporting events Winter was again proposed. The committee went so far as to plan the week of sports like figure skating, speed skating, ice hockey and skiing Nordic. Unfortunately, the 1916 games in Berlin were canceled due to World War I.

Figure skating and ice hockey were presented at the first Olympics after the war, held in Antwerp in 1920. Soon after, the International Olympic Committee decided that the organizers of the next Olympics (to be held in 1924) also will host an international winter sports week. The first Winter Sports Week held in Chamonix in 1924, actually lasted 11 days. The event was a great success, attracting more than 200 athletes from 16 countries in competition. In the first week, women only competed in figure skating.

In 1925, the International Olympic Committee created an event aimed exclusively at these sports. The event was called of the Winter Olympics and at the same time of 1924 Winter Sports Week in Chamonix were retroactively designated as the first official Winter Olympics. The second Winter Olympics were held in St. Moritz in February 1928. The next Winter Olympics were held in North America by first time. The location of the event was in Lake Placid, New York. Participation in the Olympic Games 1932 Winter was not impressive, however, partly because to the financial stress of the Great Depression. 1936 was the year in which both summer and winter Olympics were held in the same country. Both the 1940 and Olympic Winter Games of 1944 were canceled because of World War II. The Winter Olympics 1956 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy were the first to be televised.

The Winter Olympics scheduled games will be held in 2010 in Vancouver, BC Below is a list of medal events are scheduled:

– Alpine skiing
– Biathlon
– Bobsled
– Cross-Country Skiing
– Curling
– Figure skating
– Freestyle Skiing
– Ice Hockey
– Luge
– Nordic Combined
– Short track speed skating
– Skeleton
– Jumping skiing
– Snowboarding
– Speed Skating

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Ski History

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