TURIN, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 5th Winter Olympic Games:

    The first postwar Games were held in St. Moritz in 1948. Germany and Japan were barred from competing, but everyone else took part eagerly, and it was clear that the Winter Olympics had successfully survived the 12-year hiatus. For the first time, North Americans won gold medals in figure skating. Barbara Ann Scott of Canada took the women's title and Dick Button of the United States the men's. In general, athletic success was evenly divided. Although 22 events were contested, only French Alpine skier Henri Oreiller and Swedish Nordic skier Martin Lundstrom were able to win two gold medals.

    Numbers:

    28 NOCs

    669 athletes (77 women, 592 men)

    22 eventsEnditem