The anticipated 1940 Winter Olympics, what would have been officially known as the V Olympic Winter Games, were to be held in 1940 in Sapporo, Japan. The games were cancelled due to the onset of World War II. Sapporo was selected to be the host of the Winter Olympics 1940, but Japan had to give the Games back to the IOC, when the Second Sino-Japanese War broke out in 1937.

The IOC decided to give the Winter Olympics to St Moritz, Switzerland, but due to controversies between the Swiss organisation team and the IOC the Games were withdrawn again. The IOC then gave the 1940 Winter Olympics to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany - but three months later World War II broke out and the Winter Games were cancelled in November 1939.

St Moritz eventually held the 1948 Winter Olympics and Sapporo eventually held the 1972 Winter Olympics. Garmisch-Partenkirchen had hosted the 1936 Winter Olympics.

1940 Winter Olympics | Cancelled Olympic games

Vinter-OL 1940 | Olympische Winterspiele 1940 | Jeux Olympiques d'hiver de 1940 | 1940년 동계 올림픽 | Olympische Winterspelen 1940 | 札幌オリンピック (1940年) | Zimowe Igrzyska Olimpijskie 1940 | Olympiska vinterspelen 1940