Portland Public Library: Winter Olympics 2022

Press release from Portland Public Library:

February 5, 2022

Beijing Winter Olympics Logo Creative Commons

Unlike the Summer Games, the Winter Olympics have fewer events and fewer competitors. The
sports played during the Winter Games are Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsleigh, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Ice Hockey, Luge, Nordic Combined, Short Track Speed Skating, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Snowboard, and Speed Skating. Given that these events generally take place on snow or ice, the majority of the participating countries come from places where it’s cold enough.

From 1928 the Winter Games were held every four years in the same calendar year as the Summer Games. In 1986 IOC officials, in response to concerns over the increasing cost and logistic complications of the Olympics, voted to alter the schedule. Only two years separated the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, and the 1994 Games in Lillehammer, Norway. Thereafter, the Winter and Summer Games were each held quadrennially, alternating in even-numbered years.

This press release was produced by Portland Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.