Helsinki 1952 - Olympic Games Winners

Start:

19 Jul 1952

End:

03 Aug 1952

Countries:

Athletes:

4955

Sports:

Events:

149

City:

Helsinki, Finland

For the first time, Helsinki, Finland was selected to host the Olympics in 1940. However, the Second World War led to the cancellation of the Games.
At the 40th session of the IOC in 1947, the Games of the 15th Olympiad were awarded to Helsinki, Finland, for the second time.
The other candidate cities were Amsterdam, the Netherlands and five American cities: Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Chicago.

President of Finland Juho Paasikivi officially opened the 1952 Summer Olympic Games at the renovated 70,000-seat Olympic Stadium. The spectators have seen the famous Finnish legend Paavo NURMI, who was banned 20 years ago. He passed the Olympic flame to fellow Finn runner Hannes KOLEHMAINEN, who lit the Olympic bowl.
Soviet athletes first competed at the Olympic Games. Instead of joining the other athletes in the Olympic Village, they set up their own Olympic Village for Eastern Bloc countries in Otaniemi, near the Soviet naval base at Porkkala.
The Games of the 15th Olympiad turned into a communist-capitalist battle throughout.
The Soviet gymnast Viktor CHUKARIN won four gold and two silver medals.
The runner from Czechoslovakia Emil ZATOPEK won three gold medals in Athletics.