GAMES OF THE 15 OLYMPIAD

Games of the 15 Olympiad,1952
Start:
19 Jul 1952
End:
03 Aug 1952
Countries:
69
Athletes:
4955
Sports:
20
Events:
149
City:
Helsinki, Finland

HELSINKI 1952 - Bid History

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

Games of the 15 Olympiad,1952 - Interesting Facts

  • President of Finland Juho Paasikivi officially opened the Olympic Games in 1952 at the renovated 70,000-seat Olympic Stadium. The spectators have seen 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 rejoined the Olympic competitions after a 40-year absence. 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 15 Olympiad turned into a communist-capitalist battle throughout.

Summer Olympics 1952 - Medal Table

Gold Medals
Silver Medals
Bronze Medals
1
USA
40
19
17
76
2
22
30
19
71
3
16
10
16
42
4
12
13
10
35
5
8
9
4
21
6
7
3
3
13
7
6
6
6
18
8
6
3
13
22
9
6
2
3
11
10
3
2
0
5
11
2
6
6
14
12
2
4
4
10
13
2
3
0
5
14
2
2
0
4
15
2
1
3
6
16
2
0
1
3
17
1
6
2
9
18
1
2
8
11
19
1
2
2
5
20
1
2
1
4
21
1
2
0
3
21
1
2
0
3
23
1
1
2
4
24
1
0
2
3
24
1
0
2
3
26
1
0
1
2
27
1
0
0
1
28
0
7
17
24
29
0
5
0
5
30
0
3
4
7
31
0
2
0
2
32
0
1
1
2
32
0
1
1
2
34
0
1
0
1
34
0
1
0
1
34
0
1
0
1
37
0
0
2
2
37
0
0
2
2
37
0
0
2
2
40
0
0
1
1
40
0
0
1
1
40
0
0
1
1
40
0
0
1
1