These Two Minnesota Cities Almost Hosted The Olympics In 1932

The Winter Olympics were still in their infancy when bidding opened for the 1932 games, which would be the third Winter Olympics to that point.

The first-ever games were held in Chamonix, France in 1924 and were billed as "International Winter Sports Week." The original iteration of what would eventually become the Winter Games included bobsled, curling, ice hockey, figure skating, speed skating, three Nordic skiing events and ski jumping.

The 1924 event was planned, and held in conjunction with, the Summer Olympic Games. The 1928 Games were the first standalone edition and were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

While the 1928 Olympic Games had just three bidders, all from Switzerland, the event's success would lead to a much more widespread bidding process the next time around as the 1932 Games were bid on by nine cities from three countries.

The list of nine cities included Montreal, Quebec; Oslo, Norway and Lake Tahoe, Lake Placid, Bear Mountain, Yosemite Valley and Denver of the USA.

In addition, two Minnesota cities were in on the bidding: Minneapolis and Duluth! Duluth made the 'short list' of final candidates, which also included Bear Mountain, Denver and Lake Tahoe.

The 'winner' of the Games was announced on April 10th, 1929.

Lake Placid was ultimately named as host of the 1932 Olympic Games. Lake Placid would also end up hosting the 1980 Winter Olympic Games as well.

No Minnesota city has tried to bid on an Olympic Games since the 1932 effort and only two other US cities have hosted the Games at all.

Squaw Valley hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1960 and Salt Lake City hosted them in 2002. Of note, Salt Lake City is slated to again host the Games in 2034.