1940 Summer Olympics Facts for Kids

The 1940 Summer Olympics, also known as the Games of the XII Olympiad, were planned to be a big sports event. However, these Olympic Games never actually happened. They were cancelled because of major world events.

The games were first planned to take place in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo was chosen to host the Olympics, and preparations were underway. But in 1938, Japan decided to pull out as the host country. This was because of a big conflict called the Second Sino-Japanese War, which made it impossible for them to host.

After Tokyo withdrew, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) quickly chose a new city. They decided that Helsinki, the capital of Finland, would host the games instead. Helsinki started getting ready to welcome athletes from all over the world.

Sadly, the games were cancelled completely in 1940. The reason was the start of World War II, a massive global conflict. The war made it unsafe and impossible to hold such a large international event.

Why the 1940 Olympics Were Cancelled
Other Olympic Games Affected by War
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Why the 1940 Olympics Were Cancelled

The 1940 Summer Olympics were cancelled because of two major historical events. First, the Second Sino-Japanese War led to Japan giving up its role as host. Then, the start of World War II caused the games to be cancelled entirely.

Japan's Decision to Withdraw

Tokyo, Japan, was originally chosen to host the 1940 Summer Olympics. This would have been a historic moment for Japan. However, a war broke out between Japan and China in 1937. This conflict, known as the Second Sino-Japanese War, made it very difficult for Japan to prepare for the Olympics.

The war required a lot of resources and attention from Japan. Because of this, the Japanese organizers decided in 1938 that they could not host the games. They officially withdrew their offer to be the host city.

Helsinki Steps In

After Japan withdrew, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) needed to find a new host city quickly. They chose Helsinki, Finland, to take over the hosting duties. Helsinki was excited to prepare for the games.

Finland began making plans for the athletes and visitors. They started to get their sports venues ready. However, the world was becoming a very dangerous place.

World War II Causes Full Cancellation

Even though Helsinki was ready to host, the global situation worsened. World War II began in 1939. This massive war involved many countries around the world. It made international travel and large gatherings extremely dangerous.

Because of the war, the IOC had no choice but to cancel the 1940 Summer Olympics completely. It was a sad decision for athletes who had trained for years. The war also led to the cancellation of the 1944 Summer Olympics.

Other Olympic Games Affected by War

The 1940 Summer Olympics were not the only games cancelled due to war. The 1916 Summer Olympics were cancelled because of World War I. The 1944 Summer Olympics were also cancelled due to World War II. These cancellations show how major global conflicts can impact even the biggest sporting events.

Olympic Games

Summer Games: 1896, 1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912, (1916), 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028
Winter Games: 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022
Athens 2004 — Turin 2006 — Beijing 2008 — Vancouver 2010 — London 2012 — Sochi 2014 — Rio 2016 — Pyeongchang 2018 — Tokyo 2020 Games in italics will be held in the future, and those in (brackets) were cancelled because of war. See also: Ancient Olympic Games