Updated February 2026
Curling, Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, Snowboarding, and Ski Jumping — oh my! I don't know about you, but I am an Olymp-addict — and I can never get enough of the Winter Olympic Games!
Here are some fun, crazy, and intriguing facts about the Winter Olympics.
1. The very first Winter Olympic Games was held in 1924 in Chamonix, France
Officially called the "I Olympic Winter Games", or Les Iers Jeux olympiques d'hiver in French, the competitions were held at the foot of the famous Mont Blanc and Haute-Savoie between January 25 and February 5, 1924. It was held in the same year as the Summer Olympic Games, which continued until 1992.
2. There are 16 official Winter Olympic sports
There are multiple events within each category, but there are only 16 main events. They 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
Ski Mountaineering
Snowboard
Speed Skating
3. Norway has won the most medals of ANY other country at the Winter Games
There are 13 countries that rise to the top as having the most medals, they are:
Norway: 405 (148 gold)
United States: 330 (113 gold)
Germany: 286 (112 gold)
Austria: 250 (71 gold)
Canada: 225 (77 gold)
At the time of writing, Canada holds the record for the most gold medals won by a host nation at a single Winter Olympics (14 in Vancouver 2010)!Soviet Union: 194 (78 gold)
Sweden: 176 (65 gold)
Finland: 175 (45 gold)
Russia: 170 (55 gold)
Switzerland: 167 (63 gold)
Netherlands: 147 (53 gold)
Italy: 141 (42 gold)
France: 138 (41 gold)
4. The Winter Games held in Nagano in 1998 were interrupted because of too much snow!
5. The Olympic medals are always designed by the host country and represent cultural elements of the country
According to the Olympic website, the medals for the 2026 Milano Cortina represent:
Italian spirit — Vibrant, Young and Dynamic. A new energy of thoughts capable of expressing our need for transformation.
Two halves, one Whole — Celebrating the power of differences — two unique halves coming together to create a bold, unified statement.
A sense of belonging — The Olympic and Paralympic values seal the bond between the two halves.
6. Runners do not actually pass the torch
It's true! During the torch relay, runners do not actually pass the torch that they are carrying. Only the flame is passed and each runner is allowed to keep their torch!
7. The wall's of the halfpipe in Halfpipe Snowboarding are 22 feet high!
8. The most expensive Olympic Games cost $51 billion
At $51 billion, the 2014 Sochi Olympics are the most expensive Olympics (summer or winter) EVER.
9. There is NO talking in the bobsled during a race
For real.
10. The five rings of the Olympic flag symbolize the five significant continents
The rings are interconnected to symbolize the friendships created during international competition.
The colors were chosen because at least one of them appears on the flag of every country in the world!
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Meet The Author
Lindsay Shapka is an avid traveler and the creator of The Anthrotorian — a website dedicated to sharing travel tips, stories about adventures, culture quirks, artists you should know, fascinating bits of history, and more!
She is also an artist, marketing specialist, editor, and freelance writer who has work featured on websites, blogs, and in magazines like National Geographic Traveler.
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