| Pierre de Coubertin did not ever consider an Olympic Games in winter, as the ancient Greeks did not ice-skate nor ski. However, by 1920, there was a growing demand to see winter sports and to provide them with world class competition. Figure skating events took place during the Summer Olympic Games in London in 1908. In
Antwerp in 1920, ice-hockey was included.
In 1924, largely through the efforts of Sweden, France, Canada and England,
the first Olympic Winter Games were held in Chamonix, France. Since then, the
Olympic Winter Games have been held in the same years as the Summer Olympic
Games. During the 91st IOC session in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1986, it was
decided to stagger the Summer and Olympic Winter Games.
Since 1994, the Olympic Winter Games has been held every four years, at
two-year intervals to the Summer Games.
A flag with the Olympic symbol was first adopted for the Olympic Winter Games
during the Oslo Games in 1952. This flag is officially handed from one
organising city to the next during the Closing Ceremony of each Olympic Winter
Games.
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