When were the first Winter Olympics held?

Winter sports had occasionally appeared at the Summer Olympics, with figure skating included in London in 1908. In 1924 the French town of Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc, hosted an “International Winter Sports Week” that the International Olympic Committee later recognised as the first Winter Olympic Games. Around 250 athletes from 16 nations took part in events such as bobsleigh, ice hockey, skiing and speed skating. American speed skater Charles Jewtraw won the very first gold medal, in the 500 metres. The Winter and Summer Games were held in the same year until 1992, after which they were staggered two years apart.