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The 1952 Inter-Camp P.O.W. Olympics (Chinese: 1952年战俘营奥运会), also known as Inter-Camp POW Olympic Games,[2] was a mock Olympic Games held at the Pyuktong Prisoner-of-War Camp (碧潼战俘营)[3] of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army during the Korean War. The athletes were all United Nations POWs. It was often used as a propaganda campaign[4] by China and North Korea to encourage more UN soldiers to surrender.

1952 Inter-Camp P.O.W. Olympics was not authorized by the International Olympic Committee, but was organized by the Chinese People's Volunteer Army, in accordance with the Olympic Charter.[5]

The games

The POW Olympics were held between 15–27 November 1952 at Pyuktong, D.P.R.K. The Chinese hoped to gain worldwide publicity and, whilst some prisoners refused to participate, over 500 prisoners[2] of 11 nationalities took part.[6] They were representative of all the prison camps in North Korea[citation needed] and competed in American football, baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, track and field, soccer, gymnastics, and boxing.[6] For the prisoners, this was an opportunity to meet with friends from other camps. They also acted as photographers, announcers and even reporters, who after each day's competition published a newsletter, the Olympic Roundup.[6]

Overall Result Team (Teams were arranged by Camp)[7]
1st Camp 5 (Pyoktong, North Korea)
2nd Camp 1 (Changsong, North Korea)
3rd Camp 4 (Pyoktong, North Korea)

Propaganda value

The Olympics featured frequently in North Korean psychological warfare (PSYWAR) pamphlets and leaflets distributed to UN soldiers.[8][9] The 1952 Olympics allowed Communist forces to point to the good conditions available to those who surrendered.[7][10]

See also

References

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