In a story often overlooked in Olympic history, the 1940 Winter Olympics were supposed to be a milestone — the first Winter Games ever held in Asia, set to take place in Sapporo, Japan. Instead, the world witnessed something entirely different: rising global tensions, the spread of war, and the cancellation of the Olympics for the first time in modern history.
The story of the Sapporo 1940 Olympics is not one of sporting triumph, but rather a reflection of how the Olympic spirit can be both powerful and fragile in the face of global conflict.
The Olympic Dream Reaches Asia
In 1936, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded the V Olympic Winter Games to Sapporo, a city on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. It was a groundbreaking decision:
🗾 It would have been Asia’s first time hosting the Winter Olympics
🌐 It signaled a more global vision for the Games, extending beyond Europe and North America
🇯🇵 It followed Japan’s growing role in international sport, including its participation since 1912 and hosting of international competitions
Japan was also scheduled to host the 1940 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, making it the first country to be selected for both Games in the same year — a historic opportunity.
The Impact of War in Asia
But history took a darker turn.
By the late 1930s, Japan was engaged in a brutal conflict with China, known as the Second Sino-Japanese War, which began in 1937. As Japan's military campaigns expanded and civilian resources were redirected to the war effort, the country faced increased pressure both domestically and internationally.
➤ In 1938, Japan officially withdrew from hosting the 1940 Winter and Summer Olympics, citing wartime obligations.
This marked the first time an Olympic host voluntarily relinquished the Games after being awarded the honor.
Attempts to Save the 1940 Olympics
After Japan’s withdrawal, the IOC scrambled to find alternative hosts:
❄️ For the Winter Games:
The IOC reassigned the 1940 Winter Olympics to St. Moritz, Switzerland, which had hosted the Games in 1928.
But due to disputes between the Swiss organizers and the IOC over amateur athlete rules, St. Moritz lost the right to host.
🏔️ The IOC then turned to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, which had hosted the 1936 Winter Olympics.
Germany agreed to host the 1940 Winter Games again.
But as World War II broke out in September 1939, all plans were canceled. The Games were officially abandoned in both summer and winter editions — and would not return until 1948.
What Was Lost: A Moment for Asia, Interrupted
The cancellation of the Sapporo 1940 Olympics represented more than just a missed sporting event:
❌ It delayed Asia’s emergence as a major Olympic host by decades.
❌ It cut off global sporting exchange at a time when the world was drifting toward division and war.
❌ It symbolized the vulnerability of peaceful traditions like the Olympics when faced with the harsh realities of global conflict.
It wouldn’t be until 1972 that Sapporo would finally host the Winter Games — and Tokyo eventually hosted the Summer Olympics in 1964, nearly a generation later.
Legacy of the 1940 Sapporo Olympics
Though the Games were never held, the 1940 Olympics had a lasting impact:
🔁 They set a precedent for how the IOC would handle cancellations and crises.
🗾 They marked the beginning of Asia's long journey to becoming a full partner in the Olympic movement.
🕊️ They served as a sobering reminder of how world events can eclipse even the most unifying of traditions.
Sapporo redeemed its Olympic dream in 1972 with a successful and peaceful Winter Games — finally realizing the vision that was first dreamed in 1940.
An Unlit Flame, A Delayed Dream
The story of the 1940 Sapporo Olympics is not one of medals or records, but of history interrupted. It is a powerful example of how deeply the Olympics are tied to the currents of global politics, peace, and conflict.
Though the torch never reached Sapporo in 1940, the city's place in Olympic history endures — not as a host of Games, but as a symbol of what might have been.
