Albertville 1992 Collection

End of the line

The 1992 Albertville Olympic Games were the last Winter Games to be staged in the same year as the Summer Games. Only 18 of the 57 events were held in Albertville itself, while nearby resorts hosted the rest.

Hello and goodbye

Freestyle skiing, short-track speed skating and women’s biathlon debuted as official disciplines. Croatia and Slovenia participated for the first time as independent nations. Meanwhile, speed skiing, curling, and freestyle skiing (aerial and ballet competitions) were the last official demonstration sports at the Olympic Winter Games.

Norway dominates cross country

In cross-country skiing, Norwegians Björn Daehlie and Vegard Ulvang each won three gold medals. This made it a clean sweep for Norway.

Memorable champions

American speed skater Bonnie Blair won the 500m and 1000m events, while Gunda Niemann of Germany took both of the longest races. Alpine skier Petra Kronberger of Austria won both the combined event and the slalom. Ki-hoon Kim of South Korea earned gold medals in both short track events. Toni Nieminen of Finland won the men’s ski jump title to become, at 16, the youngest male winner of a winter event.

NOCs 64
Athletes 1,801 (488 women, 1,313 men)
Events 57
Volunteers 8,647
Media 5,894 (2,271 written press, 3,623 broadcasters)

Demonstration sport

Speed skiing, curling, and freestyle skiing (aerial and ballet competitions) were the last official demonstration sports at the Olympic Winter Games.

Women in biathlon

Women competed in biathlon for the first time.

Short track is in

Short-track speed skating, with men's and women's events, was included for the first time as an official discipline on the Olympic programme.

Moguls are in

Both a men’s and a women’s moguls event in freestyle skiing were included in the Olympic Programme.

A unified German team

For the first time since 1936, a unified German team, representing an independent nation, participated in the Games.

Two nations

Croatia and Slovenia participated for the first time as independent nations.

Unified Team

The former Soviet republics formed the so-called Unified Team (EUN).

Back to the Games

The Baltic states (Estonia and Latvia) participated for the first time since 1936, and Lithuania for the first time since 1928.

Ceremonies

Albertville, 8 February 1992: Dancers and acrobats.

Official opening of the Games by: The President of the French Republic, François Mitterrand

Lighting of the Olympic Flame by: Michel Platini (football), François-Cyrille Grange (a boy from Savoie)

Olympic Oath by: Surya Bonaly (figure skating)

Officials' Oath by: Pierre Bornat (alpine skiing)