Backgrounder: Helsinki 1952 Olympic Games: Reconciliation after World War II

The 1952 Olympiad in Helsinki, held just seven years after the end of World War II, is remembered as an event of reconciliation.

The XV Olympic Games happened in the Finnish capital between July 19 and August 3, with the participation of 4,955 athletes, including 519 women, from 69 countries and regions, who competed in 17 sports and 149 events.

The opening ceremony marked an impressive homage to Paavo Nurmi, the running champion known as the "Flying Finn." Nurmi was known as the best runner in the history of his country. When he entered the stadium carrying the torch, aged 55, over 70,000 spectators gave him a prolonged standing ovation.

Czechoslovakia's Emil Zatopek took over Nurmi's running crown in Helsinki, however, becoming the only man ever to win the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon in the same Olympiad.

Helsinki also saw the USSR compete for the first time as a nation although its athletes lived in their own quarters, away from other athletes in the Olympic Village.

Soviet gymnasts won the competition easily, marking the beginning of a dominant streak which continued until the USSR dissolved in 1991.

Germany also saw two delegations, East and West Germany, compete separately for the first time.

The aim of this edition of the Olympic Games was to try and overcome the ideological differences which had sparked the Cold War. As such, when U.S. athlete, Bob Richards, won the pole vault, Soviet competitors who finished below him came up to congratulate him.

Denmark's Lis Hartel was one of the first women to be allowed to compete alongside men in the equestrian event. Despite suffering from polio, which paralyzed her below the knees, and needing help to get on and off the horse, Hartel took home the silver.

American Bob Mathias was the first to win two successive Olympic titles in the decathlon. In 1948 in London, Mathias won the event at the age of 17, becoming the youngest ever Olympic gold medalist in athletics.

In 1924, American Bill Havens refused to take part in the Paris Olympics for rowing as his wife was about to give birth to their first son. 28 years later in Helsinki, that son, Frank Havens, won the gold for individual canoeing.

1952 HELSINKI OLYMPIC GAMES MEDALS TABLE

COUNTRY GOLD SILVER BRONZE TOTAL

United States 40 19 17 76

USSR 22 30 19 71

Hungary 16 10 16 42

Sweden 12 13 10 35

Italy 8 9 4 21

Czechoslovakia 7 3 3 13

France 6 6 6 18

Finland 6 3 13 22

Australia 6 2 3 11

Norway 3 2 0 5

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