1944 Winter Olympics — edition of the Winter Olympics, scheduled in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, canceled due to World War II
The 1944 Winter Olympics were cancelled due to World War II, marking the fourth time war forced the elimination of Olympic Games.
Key Facts
- Official title
- V Olympic Winter Games
- Scheduled date
- February 1944
- Reason for cancellation
- World War II
- Cancellation count (war-related)
- 4th games cancelled due to war
- Next Winter Games held
- St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1948
- Cortina later hosted
- 1956 Winter Olympics and co-host 2026 Winter Olympics
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
World War II engulfed much of Europe and the world during the early 1940s, making the organization of large international athletic gatherings impossible. The conflict had already caused the cancellation of the 1940 Winter and Summer Olympics, and the war showed no signs of ending by the time the 1944 Games were being planned.
The V Olympic Winter Games, scheduled for February 1944 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, were officially cancelled because of World War II. The 1944 Summer Olympics in London were cancelled simultaneously, making these the fourth Olympic Games overall to be eliminated due to wartime conditions.
The Winter Olympic cycle was interrupted until 1948, when the Games were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. Cortina d'Ampezzo subsequently hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and was later selected as co-host of the 2026 Winter Olympics alongside Milan, eventually fulfilling its earlier intended role as an Olympic venue.