The 1972 Winter Olympics, also known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were held in Sapporo, Japan, in 1972. It was the first Winter Olympics held outside of Western Europe and the United States, and it was just the third Games (summer or winter) hosted outside of these regions, following Tokyo and Melbourne. The other two being Paris in 1892 and St. Petersburg in 1994.
Canada led the way for the gold with 21 medals, followed by Switzerland with 15 medals. The Soviet Union and Germany each had 13 silver medals and 9 bronze medals respectively. In total, the Canadians won the most medals with 42 gold, 21 silver, and 29 bronze.
Canada again led the way for the gold with 98 medals, followed by Russia with 49 medals. Sweden had the most silver medals with 44 and Germany had the most bronze medals with 57.
In total, Canada won the most medals with 158 gold, 77 silver, and 115 bronze.
Sapporo, a city on the island of Hokkaido, was chosen to host the games. The decision was made at a conference of sports officials and representatives from countries where summer Olympics have been held.
Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our professional network to earn worldwide exposure for your work! Sapporo The 1972 Olympic Winter Games were held in Sapporo, Japan, from February 3–13, 1972. The Winter Olympic Games were held for the 11th time in Sapporo. Men's Ice Hockey – Gold Medal Match USA over Czechoslovakia (3-1). Women's Ice Hockey – Silver Medal Match Canada over Sweden (4-3). Both teams had been awarded gold medals before they played their games. In both cases, the winners then forfeited their title and Canada and the United States met for the gold medal.
The Olympics are an international sporting event that takes place every four years. They are a major part of world sport and attract attention from all over the globe. During the 1920s and 1930s, when sports such as ice hockey were being developed into full-scale events, Sapporo was one of the most important centers of activity. The city hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics and is now the capital of Hokkaido, Japan's smallest prefecture.
In 1972, Sapporo was chosen to host the first Winter Olympics after the successful completion of a large-scale project to transform the city into an internationally recognized winter sports center. The main arena used for basketball during the Games has been converted into a large concert hall. The construction of a new stadium for soccer and football matches has also been proposed but has not yet been completed.
The selection of the Olympic Games
| year | Summer Games | Winter Games |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Mexico City | Grenoble, France |
| 1972 | Munich, W.Ger. | Sapporo, Japan |
| 1976 | Montreal | Innsbruck, Austria |
| 1980 | Moscow | Lake Placid, N.Y., U.S. |
The 1968 Winter Olympics, also known as the X Olympic Winter Games (French: Les Xes Jeux olympiques d'hiver), were a winter multi-sport event held in Grenoble, France, from February 6 to 18, 1968. Thirty-seven countries took part. The summer Olympics of 1968 were also held in Grenoble, which meant that people could travel between the two events.
France was awarded the right to host the games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on March 31, 1965. The decision was based on the fact that Grenoble had previously hosted the 1938 World's Fair. However, financial difficulties forced the city to seek an alternative location for the games. After failing to find a suitable site within France, they were moved to Innsbruck, Austria, where they were held from January 28 to February 9, 1969.
Innsbruck was chosen as the venue for the games because of its convenient location for European athletes - it is near the Swiss and Austrian borders, only about 200 miles from Vienna and 400 miles from Milan - and its adequate facilities for such an event. It had previously hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics. The city had been selected over Oslo, Norway; Squaw Valley, California; and Tbilisi, Georgia, which had each made strong bids for the games.
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