The 1948 St. Moritz Olympics Trivia Quiz

Answer: Switzerland

St. Moritz is located in the Engadine valley of Switzerland. This was the first Winter Olympic Games to be held after the end of WWII. The previous Winter Games had been held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 12 years earlier.

Answer: Dick Button

Generations have grown up listening to Dick Button doing sports commentary on televised ice skating events, including subsequent televised Winter Olympics. He is credited with landing the first ever double-axel in competition, as well as inventing the "flying camel spin" which was called a "Button camel spin" for many years after. Barbara Ann Scott from Canada won the women's gold medal in ice skating, while Jeanette Altwegg from Great Britain won the bronze.

Answer: Denmark

The 1948 Olympics saw the debut of 5 countries, including Denmark. The other nations making their debuts were Iceland, Chile, Lebanon, and Korea. None of the debut countries won a medal. Sweden and Norway tied for first in Gold medals and total medals. Switzerland, the host nation, came tied with them for total medals but came in second for total gold medals.

Answer: True

Tensions around the globe were still pretty tense and neither country was allowed to send athletes. Both country's did compete in the following Winter Olympics which were held in Oslo, Norway. The games had been held in Switzerland, in part, because of their neutrality in the war.

Answer: Luge

It made it's Olympic debut in the 1928 Olympics which were also held in St. Moritz. Nino Bibbia of Italy slid away with the gold medal.

Answer: Biathlon

Military patrol was a combination of long-distance skiing while carrying a pack and a rifle, and then target shooting at certain stages in the course. In 1960, the name was changed to the biathlon.

Answer: True

The Summer Games were held in London and were nicknamed "The Austerity Games" in recognition of the fact the Europe and most of the rest of the world were still trying to recover from the Holocaust. The Summer and Winter Games were played in the same year until 1994 when the Winter Games were played in Lillehammer, Norway and the Summer Olympics were played in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Answer: Barbara-Ann Scott

At the age of 13 Barbara-Ann Scott became the first female to ever land a double-lutz in competition. In 1948, she became a national hero when she won the gold medal in women's figure skating in St. Moritz. At the 2010 Winter Olympics which were held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Barbara-Ann Scott was one of the bearers of the Olympics flag during the opening ceremonies. She was 82.

Answer: Austria

The Austrian women's alpine ski team won five of the medals won by this war-torn country. They won one gold, one silver, and 3 bronze. Switzerland and the U.S. won the other medals available in women's alpine skiing events.

Answer: The Games of Renewal

These games were nicknamed "The Games of Renewal" commemorating a new beginning for the world. These games came at a time when global unification was needed. They played a major part in political healing between nations.