Olympic Sites

St. Moritz holds an important place in sports history. It is considered the cradle of alpine winter tourism (1864) and of modern winter sports (1885), and is the only Olympic venue in Switzerland, where the Games of 1928 and 1948 were carried out.

On January 28, 1925, following upon the success of the "International Winter Sports Week" of 1924 in Chamonix (which was only retroactively declared as the first Olympic Winter Games), St. Moritz tendered its bid for the Games of 1928. On May 7, 1926 the decision was taken, and St. Moritz officially elected by the Olympic Committee as host of the Winter Games of 1928. Enthusiasm was widespread in St. Moritz – the Games were to confirm that winter sports could generate great interest, and good business along with it. As various investments had to be made ahead of the Games, preparation began immediately. For example a new Olympic Ski Jump and the Skating Stadium building had to be built, and the railway station renovated.

On February 11, 1928 the then Federal Councilor Edmund Schulthess officially inaugurated the II Olympic Winter Games (as the first winter games in their own right) at the Skating Stadium at Badrutt's Park in St. Moritz Dorf. 464 athletes from 25 nations were prepared to test themselves over the next 9 days at 6 sports events and compete for the medals. The sports disciplines included bobsleigh, skeleton, figure skating, speed skating, Nordic skiing, and ice hockey. 330 journalists from 27 countries were accredited to report on the Games.

Despite the lower than expected number of spectators, the Olympic Winter Games of 1928 in St. Moritz were a complete success. St. Moritz was able to establish its standing as a winter sports venue. And for winter sports in general, which were not yet that popular, the Games represented a valuable and important platform to make themselves known to the world.

What with World War II preventing the running of the Olympic Winter Games scheduled for 1940 in Sapporo and 1944 in Cortina d`Ampezzo, it once again fell to St. Moritz to organize the subsequent fifth Olympic Winter Games of 1948. After the dark years of war, neutral Switzerland seemed predestinated for the role. The infrastructure had been in place since 1928 and only needed overhauling.

The Games were organized with numerous volunteers and minimal administration. On January 30, Federal Councilor Enrico Celio officially inaugurated the V Winter Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium. 28 nations with a total of 669 athletes participated in competing for the coveted sports medals. Germany and Japan were excluded from the post-war games. Seven sports events were scheduled (for the first time also downhill skiing), with a total of 22 competitions.

Spectator numbers were not overwhelming due to the capricious weather. Nonetheless, these Winter Games were a success right down the line. In fact, due to the war, many athletes had never or not for a long time left their countries – let alone been able to measure themselves against an international field of competitors. St. Moritz thus symbolized a new beginning – and this not only for the participants, but also for the sports world at large.