The 1952 Oslo Winter Olympics introduced the first modern athlete's village and allowed women to compete in cross-country skiing for the first time.
Key Facts
- Participating athletes
- 694
- Countries represented
- 30
- Sports contested
- 4 sports, 22 events
- Norway total medals
- 16 (7 gold)
- Games duration
- 14–25 February 1952
- Alpine skiing venue
- Norefjell, 113 km from Oslo
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Oslo had sought to host the Winter Olympics since 1935 and was keen to stage the 1948 Games, but World War II made that impossible. After the war, the city successfully bid against Cortina d'Ampezzo and Lake Placid to secure the 1952 edition, seeking to bring the Games to Norway for the first time.
The VI Olympic Winter Games were held in Oslo from 14 to 25 February 1952, with 694 athletes from 30 nations competing in 22 events across four sports. Norway hosted all venues within its metropolitan area except alpine skiing at Norefjell. Japan and West Germany returned after their post-war absences, Portugal and New Zealand debuted, and women competed in cross-country skiing for the first time.
Norway dominated the medal table with 16 medals including seven golds. The Games inaugurated the tradition of the 'Oslo flag', passed to each subsequent Winter Olympic host city. Dick Button's historic triple jump and Hjalmar Andersen's three speed skating golds were defining athletic achievements, while the first modern athlete's village established an organizational standard for future Games.
Result
at Oslo, Norway (alpine skiing at Norefjell)