Winter Olympic Games is a major international multi-sport competition, held once every four years on ice and snow. The first Winter Olympic Games (1924 Winter Olympics) were held in Chamonix, France.
Twelve countries have hosted the Winter Olympic Games on three continents so far. They have been held in the United States for four times, three times in France and twice each in Austria, Canada, Japan, Italy, Norway and Switzerland. Besides this, Winter Olympic Games have been held once each in Germany, Yugoslavia, Russia and South Korea. The IOC has chosen Beijing, China to host the 2022 Winter Olympics and the 2026 Winter Olympics will be hosted by Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.