<P> The German towns of Garmisch and Partenkirchen joined to organise the 1936 edition of the Winter Games, held on 6--16 February . This was the last time the Summer and Winter Olympics were held in the same country in the same year . Alpine skiing made its Olympic debut, but skiing teachers were barred from entering because they were considered to be professionals . Because of this decision the Swiss and Austrian skiers refused to compete at the Games . </P> <P> World War II interrupted the holding of the Winter Olympics . The 1940 Games had been awarded to Sapporo, Japan, but the decision was rescinded in 1938 because of the Japanese invasion of China . The Games were then to be held at Garmisch - Partenkirchen, Germany, but the 1940 Games were cancelled following the German invasion of Poland in 1939 . Due to the ongoing war, the 1944 Games, originally scheduled for Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy, were cancelled . </P> <P> St. Moritz was selected to host the first post-war Games in 1948 . Switzerland's neutrality had protected the town during World War II, and most of the venues were in place from the 1928 Games, which made St. Moritz a logical choice . It became the first city to host a Winter Olympics twice . Twenty - eight countries competed in Switzerland, but athletes from Germany and Japan were not invited . Controversy erupted when two hockey teams from the United States arrived, both claiming to be the legitimate U.S. Olympic hockey representative . The Olympic flag presented at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp was stolen, as was its replacement . There was unprecedented parity at these Games, during which 10 countries won gold medals--more than any Games to that point . </P> <P> The Olympic Flame for the 1952 Games in Oslo, was lit in the fireplace by skiing pioneer Sondre Nordheim, and the torch relay was conducted by 94 participants entirely on skis . Bandy, a popular sport in the Nordic countries, was featured as a demonstration sport, though only Norway, Sweden, and Finland fielded teams . Norwegian athletes won 17 medals, which outpaced all the other nations . They were led by Hjalmar Andersen who won three gold medals in four events in the speed skating competition . </P>

Number of countries in europe that hosted the olympics