![]() When the Helsinki City Council decided in the spring of 1947 to bid to host the Games again, the rationing of food items was still in effect: for example, coffee was still only available on a coupon system during the Games, and it was imported as a donation from Colombia. Recovering from the war, the Games were a big financial effort for Helsinki and Finland. At the same time, the Games were also an opportunity to showcase a small country and its capital to the international community, and they served as neutral ground for the Cold War parties to meet. Competition events were held not only in the capital, but also in the cities of Lahti, Tampere, Turku, and Hämeenlinna. The Games were a tremendous effort not only for Helsinki, but also for the whole of Finland. The wish was fulfilled, and on the first day of January 1952, the Olympic flag was raised in Helsinki to celebrate the start of the sports year – the capital would organise the world’s biggest sports event the following summer. However, the preparations were already well advanced, and after the wars the idea of bringing the Olympic Games to Helsinki was rekindled. Helsinki was announced as the winning bidder, but the Games were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. ![]() ![]() These achievements encouraged Helsinki to apply to host the 1940 Summer Olympics. Spearheaded by Paavo Nurmi, Finnish athletes dominated long-distance running, and their success in the Antwerp Olympics in particular granted Finland an international reputation in the field of sports. Finland literally ran itself onto the world map in the 1920s.
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