1940 - Summer Olympics XII (Tokyo, Japan | Helsinki, Finland)

The 1940 Olympics were awarded to Japan - Sapporo was to play host to the Winter Olympics and Tokyo would host the 12th edition of the Summer Games. But for only the second time in the history of the modern Olympics, the Games are not held.

When Japan invaded China and became embroiled in a major war, the Games were taken away from the Japanese.

The Winter Games were rescheduled for Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany while the Summer Games were awarded to Helsinki, Finland. Five months before the planned start of the Winter Olympics, they are cancelled after Germany invades Poland to begin World War II.

The Helsinki Games are eventually cancelled after Soviet troops invade Finland.

It would be eight years before the Olympics are held again.