Innsbruck hosted the 1964 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Games to use artificial snow.
The Games took place in Innsbruck, Austria, from 29 January to 9 February 1964. Organizers used artificial snow and ice preparations to help maintain competition conditions when natural snowfall was insufficient.
Innsbruck’s mountain setting made it a natural Winter Olympic host, but the event also demonstrated the growing importance of technological preparation in snow sports. The Games featured more than 1,000 competitors from 36 nations.
The 1964 Olympics are sometimes confused with the 1976 Games because Innsbruck hosted both editions. The earlier event was the first Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck; the later edition returned after Denver withdrew as host.