1952 Summer Olympics facts for kids
The 1952 Summer Olympics, also called the Games of the XV Olympiad, were a big sports event. They took place in Helsinki, the capital city of Finland. Athletes from all over the world came together to compete.
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Choosing the Host City
Helsinki was chosen to host the 1952 Summer Olympics. It was picked over many other famous cities. Some of these cities included Amsterdam, Athens, and Stockholm. Several cities in the United States also wanted to host, like Chicago and Los Angeles.
Helsinki had actually been chosen before, for the 1940 Summer Olympics. However, those games had to be cancelled. This was because of World War II, which made it impossible to hold such a large event. So, 1952 was Helsinki's chance to finally host the Olympics!
Countries That Competed
A total of 69 different countries sent their best athletes to compete in Helsinki. This was a truly global event, bringing many nations together through sport.
More About the Olympics
 Olympic Games |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Youth Olympic Games |
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| Summer Games: 2010, 2014, 2018 | ||
| Winter Games: 2012, 2016, 2020 |
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| Singapore 2010 — Innsbruck 2012 — Nanjing 2014 |
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Images for kids
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Finnish postage stamp featuring the Helsinki Olympic Stadium issued in 1951
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Olympic torch banner.
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Forest Counselor Jarl Sundqvist tries to light an Olympic torch with a mirror from the midnight sun on Pallastunturi on 6 July 1952.
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Paavo Nurmi enters the Olympic Stadium
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Paavo Nurmi lighting Olympic flame.
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Finland and Mexico initial basketball match.
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5.5m class competition. The second boat left is the championship winning Complex II.
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Emil Zátopek and Reinaldo Gorno after the marathon.
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The Helsinki Velodrome was used to cycle the Olympic starts. Pictured are cyclists from the 2006 Bicycle Race.
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Number of athletes per country
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Just before the 2nd round of Prix des Nations
See also
In Spanish: Juegos Olímpicos de Helsinki 1952 para niños
