When Were the First Winter Olympics Held?

The International Olympic Committee recognizes the very first Winter Olympics as taking place in 1924. Athletes had competed in ice sports at earlier modern Games, but 1924 marked the first separate winter event. Ice events were gradually introduced into the Olympic program before 1924: figure skating appeared in 1908, and both figure skating and ice hockey were contested at the 1920 Antwerp Games.

In January 1924 the IOC sanctioned an International Winter Sports Week in the French Alps, later designated the 1st Olympic Winter Games, with the second Winter Games held in 1928 in St. Moritz. Through much of the 20th century the Summer and Winter Games were held in the same year.

In 1986 the IOC changed the schedule so the Games would alternate on even-numbered years while remaining on a four-year cycle, with the 1992 and 1994 Winter Games forming an early exception.

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