| S: | 1952年战俘营奥运会 |
| T: | 1952年戰俘營奧運會 |
| P: | 1952 zián zhànfú yíng àoyùnhuì |
The 1952 Inter-Camp P.O.W. Olympics, 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 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 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) |
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]
